Where is the Manual ?

Select MacLoggerDX Help from the Help menu and it will display the top level help screen. macOS looks for the help files contained in the app in the Applications folder.

There is an online reference manual here which is also available under the MacLoggerDX File menu and is updated several times a week - much more frequently than a PDF could be published. This is a reference guide - not a user manual with step-by-step instructions.

Most of the controls will display tool tips that describe what they do when you mouse over them.

If you don't find an answer to your questions here in the FAQ or in the user videos on YouTube then please refer your question to one of the support email reflectors. There are lots of knowledgeable people there who can help you:

• MacLoggerDX Google Group
  
  
• Dog Park List

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I can't connect to my radio, what now ?

Enable the Debug Log check box in the Radio prefs panel, restart MacLoggerDX, try to connect to the radio with the Radio panel check box and then from the File menu select Show Debug Log to examine it or select Email Debug Log to send it to us. Please include a screen shot of your Radio prefs in the email.

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I'm not a computer expert, how do I configure all this ?

You don't have to be a computer expert to configure and run MacLoggerDX but we do assume that as a Ham, you are somewhat technically inclined and able to operate your Mac. Introductory instruction on the Mac hardware and macOS are widely available on the internet and are beyond the scope of our documentation and support.

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I'm getting a "Can't write to MacLoggerDX Log Folder" error, how can I fix this ?

If macOS asked for permission for MacLoggerDX to access the Documents folder etc. and you answered “No” then you can later allow this in the System Preferences / Security & Privacy / Privacy panel Files and Folders.

The BitDefender Anti-Ransomware Safe Files option can also generate file access errors - even if you add MacLoggerDX to it's list of Trusted Applications with the Application Access button. Turn off the BitDefender Safe Files option - macOS already has this covered.

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How do I report a bug or a crash ?

• Send us a description of the problem and the steps required to reproduce it reliably, if we can reproduce it - we can fix it.
• If it's a crash please send the trace-back, if it's unexpected behavior send a screen shot.
• If it's a radio or rotor problem enable the Debug Log check box in the Radio or Rotor prefs - if not disable both.
• When you encounter the problem, select Email Debug Log from the File menu and include a description and any screenshots in the generated email.
• If MacLoggerDX exits before you can do this, the debug logs are saved in ~/Documents/MLDX_Logs/debug_log_files/.

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How do I log a QSO ?

Enter a call sign in the DX panel Call field, press return to do a Look Up and then press the Log QSO button. All the information in your DX or Contest panel for that QSO will be entered into the log.

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I sometimes forget to do a lookup before I log a QSO and log stale data, how do I avoid this ?

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LoTW is reporting "No Records to Upload",  what does that mean ?

Where is my Log file ?

You can open a new log file anywhere you want on your Mac but the default log file is your_home_directory/Documents/MLDX_Logs/MacLoggerDX.sql.

Don't forget to back up your log file every day - just as you would any other important data on your computer.

The current log is displayed in the File Menu/Open Recent sub-menu and in Log panel.

If you are having trouble finding your log file, make sure you haven't accidentally moved it to iCloud with Desktop & Documents Folders sharing.

MacLoggerDX accesses a lot of files in your Documents folder - not just your logs, so we recommend that you not move your entire Documents folder to iCloud:
System Preferences / AppleID / iCloud Drive / Options / Desktop & Documents Folders.

You can store your log file on your LAN, in your DropBox, Google Drive or iCloud Drive folder and have your changes instantly available on multiple Macs. Copy your current Log file in the Finder to your Shared/DropBox/Google Drive folder and Open Log File... from the MacLoggerDX File Menu (Make sure you don't try and change your log from more than one location at once, you may also experience synchronization errors if there are problems with your Internet connection).

You can have multiple logs and switch between them - File menu New Log File, Open Log File and Open Recent...

If you operate with multiple Call signs or prefixes, you can store your QSO's in different log files or all in the same log file since your Station prefs Call Sign is stored in each QSO logged as My Call. The Locations editor button in the Station prefs will allow you to maintain a list of locations and switch between them. Each location contains a call sign, registration number, grid square, LoTW Location name, eQSL Nickname, QRZ Logbook API Upload Key and HRDLOG Upload Code. You can add, delete edit or apply any of the saved locations which are maintained across sessions. When you Apply a  Location, it won’t change previously logged QSOs, and is applied to subsequent logging.

If you create any Note files they will be stored in the ~/Documents/MLDX_Logs/note_files/ folder based on Spot or QSO call sign, for example VE3VRW notes.txt.

Where is the Log file backup procedure ?

There isn't one. Backup is an operating system function not an application feature but it is easy to do in a number of ways...

• Use Time Machine which is built into every Mac to back up the log automatically.
• Keep your log in your DropBox, iCloud, or Google Drive folder which is backed up automatically.
• Select Show Log from the File menu and it will highlight your log file in the Finder and you can drag it to your Backup disk or Thumb Drive.
• You can also select Compress Log from the File menu and it will highlight the compressed .zip file of your log in the Finder and you can drag it to your Backup disk or Thumb Drive.

How can I download QSOs from QRZ Logbook into MacLoggerDX ?

Download your QSOs from QRZ Logbook in ADIF format and then import them into MacLoggerDX with the “reject duplicates” option.

How can I quickly enter old paper logs and QSL card QSOs into MacLoggerDX ?

Select Speed Log from the File Menu and enter them in the dialog.

I just received a notification that my debug log had grown to 47 MB. What should I do ?

You can ignore it, or you can turn off the Radio, Rotor and Clusters preferences Debug Log check boxes and restart the application. We never purge an open debug log, but we do start a new one and purge the old ones each time you restart the application. Some users were running the application 24/7, leaving the Debug Log check boxes enabled and filling up their hard drives.

How do I create a Cabrillo file after a contest or Field Day ?

Most people use a dedicated Contest Logger like N1MM or SkookumLogger for serious contesting and export their contest logs back into MacLoggerDX after submission. Field Day does not require Cabrillo.

How do I move MacLoggerDX from one Mac to another ?

The macOS Migration assistant should take care of your Log, settings and credentials but LoTW / TQSL needs to be moved according to the ARRL instructions…

As a fall-back...

• Take screen shots of all your MacLoggerDX Prefs panels on the old Mac.
• Download MacLoggerDX on the new Mac and enter your call sign and registration number.
• Set your prefs on the new Mac and quit MacLoggerDX.
• Move your log file(s) from the old mac to the new Mac using your LAN, removable media or email and place them in the same relative spots on your new Mac.
• Move any files you have customized (band plan, keyer macros etc.) from the old Mac to the new.
  
• Start MacLoggerDX on the new Mac and open the log file you want to use from the File menu.

Moving the prefs file is not supported, or for the faint of heart, but your MacLoggerDX preferences reside in this file: your_home_directory/Library/Preferences/com.dogparksoftware.MacLoggerDX.plist.

How do I Merge Logs?

You can merge any log into any other log.
Only use ADIF when transferring between MacLoggerDX and other software programs.

• Select the log that is going to hold everything with File menu Open Log File...
• Merge any other log file into it with the File menu Merge Log File... command.
  (it will prompt you to select the log file to merge in).

How do I upload my QSOs to LoTW, Club Log, eQSL, QRZ Logbook and HRDLOG ?

MacLoggerDX supports all the popular logbooks with standard ADIF files. QSO's can be exported to ADIF, signed (using the ARRL supplied applications) and uploaded to LoTW. MacLoggerDX uses LoTW and eQSL ADIF confirmation files to update the QSL Received status of your logged QSOs (See the Confirm QSOs with ADIF File... Menu command under the Log Menu).

MacLoggerDX supports on-demand LoTW and eQSL confirmations where QSL Received is time stamped when QSOs are matched, and real-time upload of your QSO's to LoTW, eQSL, Club Log, QRZ Logbook,and HRDLOG when they are logged, optionally, QSL Sent can be time stamped for each QSO uploaded. Individual QSOs can be uploaded and confirmations requested in the Log panel contextual (right-click) menu.

LoTW, QRZ Logbook, Club Log, eQSL and HRDLOG are all configured in the MacLoggerDX Look Up prefs.

If QSO upload or confirmation errors occur, MacLoggerDX will display short error descriptions in the Look Up prefs error status field for each service and in an Error Alert or Notification. Longer error descriptions can be found in the Debug Log or in the case of Confirmations in a popup error window. If you do not have the preferences configured correctly or there is some other problem with the QSOs you are trying to upload, the Debug Log will tell you what the error is.

When an error occurs, select Show Debug Log from the File menu and view the file, or select Email Debug Log from the File menu to send it to us.

A confirmations log is also kept in your ~/Documents/MLDX_Logs/adif_confirmations folder.

How come there is only one QSO in my exported ADIF file ?

The Export ADIF... File Menu command will export the QSOs selected in the Log Panel or if none are selected, the entire log.

How come there are no dx cluster spots plotted on my 2D map ?

Enable the 2D Map Prefs DX Spots/Show Spots and Show Spot Labels check boxes and enter 1000 in the Max Number of Spots field.
The log spots displayed are also affected by the search criteria you have set in the log panel.

I have just imported some QSO's and a lot of the fields are empty (Band TX, Band RX, DXCC). Do I have to enter those all manually ?

No, Select Update Selected Log Entries from the Log Menu and the missing fields will be filled in. This will perform an Internet Call Book look up for all selected log entries and add the found data to any blank fields in the entry, one at a time. This will ONLY update empty fields (or "0" in the case of DXCC), it will never overwrite existing data. MacLoggerDX will post an alert if you try to process more than 250 QSOs at once but the actual number that are practical to update at one time will depend on your Mac, OS version, your Call Book service and your Internet Connection speed. Keep in mind that some Call Book servers will throttle their response if you overload them.

How does MacLoggerDX determine the Map position for a call/prefix ?

The Locator field in the DX and Contest Panels will tell you what Geolocation method MacLoggerDX has used for each lookup:

• Locator: Country: MacLoggerDX resolves all call signs to the DXCC country level using the data published in the ARRL Operating guide.
• Then it resolves specific prefix based locations...
  • Locator: Call.ex - exact match with internal db or previous cached lookup.
  • Locator: Call.bm - best match with other calls.
  • Locator: Call.be - prefix match with prefix bearing file.
• Locator: Zip: QRZ, HamCall or WM7D.net lookup may provide a zip code which can be resolved to US post office.
• Locator: City: If the city is known and found the latitude and longitude can be resolved.
• Locator: Log GS: If the call is in your log, that location data is found in a lookup.
• If QRZ, HamCall or WM7D.net Internet Lookup is enabled and if there is geolocation data provided on the Internet this will be used:
  
• Locator: iNet LL, iNet G: this is usually accurate since the operator has provided this data himself.
• Locator: SOTA: If the dxcluster spot includes a valid SOTA reference MacLoggerDX will translate this to a grid reference.
• Locator: POTA: If the dxcluster spot includes a valid POTA reference MacLoggerDX will translate this to a grid reference.
• Locator: WSJT: Grid Square supplied by WSJT-X message with precision enhanced by Call Book if the first 4 digits agree.
• If you have Include Comments enabled in the Lookup Prefs, then qrzloc: in the Notes field will show you where QRZ XML got it’s data (user, dxcc, zip, etc).

How can I customize my list of dxclusters and commands ?

In the downloaded Sample Files folder edit the dxcommands.dat and/or dxclusters.dat files and place them/it in ~/Documents/MLDX_Logs and restart MacLoggerDX.
This will also work for the CW Keyer Macros in cwmacros.dat.

How do I log a POTA reference ?

MacLoggerDX does not include any fields in the log that cannot be imported/exported to ADIF.
You can however use the SIG (special interest group) tags in the Comments field to export POTA ADIF references.
MY_SIG:POTA, MY_SIG_INFO:designator (of the park that you activated), SIG_INFO:designator (of the other park for park-to-park contacts).

Starting with v6.45 you may enter the POTA ref directly into the DX panel, it will be stored in the Log and exported with the new ADIF POTA_REF tag.

Do I have to use Preview to print my QSL cards ?

No, MacLoggerDX creates a standard .png file named "MacLoggerDX_qsl_to_CALLSIGN.png", places it in your "~/Documents/MLDX_Logs/" folder and then asks Preview to display it but you could print the file from any application.

What is the "Export Google KML File..." File Menu command for ?

MacLoggerDX can export your Log to a Google KML file which will display your logged QSLs in Google Earth Pro. Simply drag the exported KML file onto Google Earth Pro and you will see all your logged QSOs displayed on the Google 3D Map.

What do the color codes mean ?

Color Codes:

Log Table, Awards Tables:

• Red - QSL Sent but not yet received.
• Green - QSL Received.
• Black - QSL neither sent nor received.
• Grey - QSL Sent field set to "I" for Ignore or DXCC ID is equal to zero.

DX Panel: Call, Mode (dxcc), Band (dxcc), Grid (first 4 character), ITU, DXCC, CQ Zone, IOTA, State Text Color

Spots, Cluster (dxcc) and History (dxcc) Panels:

• Brown - Worked but Not Confirmed.
• Green - Worked and Confirmed.
• Red - Not Worked.
• Blue - Manual Lookups (Spots and History Panels).

Spots on 2D Map and Bands Panel:

• Red - Less than 5 minutes old.
• Yellow - Between 5 and 30 minutes old.
• Gray - Older than 30 minutes.
• Spots older than 8 hours are removed.

2D Map Marker Shapes:

• Box - Internet or Log Grid Square.
• Circle - Internet Latitude and Longitude.
• Cross - Call sign database.
• X - City database.
• Z - US Zip Code database.

The Log prefs allow you to change the default colors for Confirmed, Un-Confirmed and Worked QSOs .You can change the System Preferences / General / Accent color if you don't like the effect on the selected row in the table panels. You can also choose between Light and Dark Windows in the Station prefs.

How do I change the radio VFO from the keyboard ?

Select Focus VFO from the Shortcuts menu, or click on the large frequency display and then press tab. Don't forget to enable All Controls in the System Preferences/Keyboard & Mouse/Keyboard Shortcuts Panel.

The VFO stepper up/down arrows will change the radio VFO 10 Hz up or down with each click of the keyboard up/down arrows, or you can set up the Griffin PowerMate to send up/down arrow clicks.

With the Shift Key Pressed the frequency will change 100 Hz up or down.
With the Control Key Pressed the frequency will change 1 KHz up or down.
With the Option Key Pressed the frequency will change 10 KHz up or down.
With the Command Key Pressed the frequency will change 100 KHz up or down.

You can also position the mouse pointer over the VFO Stepper or Band Panel Sliders and use the mouse scroll wheel or Magic mouse scroll surface to scrub the frequency up and down.

What is the Modes prefs panel for ?

DXClusters transmit the spotted station's frequency not the mode. MacLoggerDX uses your Band plan to determine the mode the QSO is in.

The Radio panel Mode popup reflects what mode the radio is actually set to (CW, USB, LSB, USB-D etc.)
You can change the mode mapping of USB-D to FT8 (or anything else) with the mode mapping pref and when you select USB-D from the mode popup it will display and log as FT8.
If you want to assign specific modes to specific bands or sub-bands then edit the sample band plan delivered with MacLoggerDX and add the actual radio modes desired for each sub-band and select it in the Band Plan Prefs.
Note: sub-bands exist as a convention - not a law,  and you may occasionally encounter spots describing QSOs carried out in a different mode - check the spot comments for hints.

Editing the Mode text in the DX panel will automatically adjust the mapping so that your change will "stick" until you edit it again or change the Mode Mapping in the Prefs..

• Your Band Plan maps the frequency to a native radio mode (i.e. 14.074 - > USB-D).
• Mode Mapping maps the native radio mode to a display and logging mode (i.e. USB-D -> FT8).

How come Look Up doesn't work ?

Make sure you have the Call Book popup set to QRZ XML (or the Call Book of your choice), your account is up to date and your Username and Password are correctly set.

Does MacLoggerDX work with FlexRadio SmartLink ?

Not directly, but MacLoggerDX can log remote SmartLink-ed Flex radios through dogparkSDR. If the Tune MLDX check box is enabled in the Radio prefs, MacLoggerDX will automatically track the active slice frequency and mode without being connected to the radio. This can be usefull when working a remote radio through SmartLink since MacLoggerDX will not need a radio connection of it's own and will log the frequency and mode sent to it by dogparkSDR.

If I use the split function in MacLoggerDX, the log records the tx and rx frequencies but when I set split from the radio front panel, the log only records the receive frequency ?

Some radios do not report split status or split frequency so that MacLoggerDX only knows about split for those radios if it is set from within the program.

What are caches and how do I get rid of them ?

MacLoggerDX caches or stores the QRZ Online QSL pictures and the Lookup data for varying periods of time to reduce the load on your internet connection and speed things up. If you want to see a change you have made to the Online lookup data or your QSL picture immediately just do a manual lookup (enter the call and press return) which will bypass the cache or quit MacLoggerDX and rename or delete this folder:

~/Library/Caches/com.dogparksoftware.MacLoggerDX/

You can also selectively remove one or more stale cached thumbnails from ~/Library/Caches/com.dogparksoftware.MacLoggerDX/Cached Thumb Pics by dragging them to the trash.

Selecting Remove Old QSL images from the Shortcuts menu will remove any QSL pictures and thumbnails older than one year from the cache.

I'm using MacLoggerDX without a connected radio. How do I get the frequency and mode data into the log without manually correcting each entry ?

With no radio connected, whatever you enter in the DX/Contest Panel Frequency, Mode and Band text edit fields will be logged, these fields will stick until they are changed.

Why doesn't MacLoggerDX save the QRZ URL for Bios in the Log?

MacLoggerDX doesn’t save the URL when it is a QRZ bio with a session key, since the session key will eventually expire and not be valid in the future. If you click on the bio url in the DX panel and press return, your web browser will be redirected to the station's QRZ bio.

How do I Uninstall MacLoggerDX ?

MacLoggerDX doesn’t install any system extenstions so removing it from your Mac is fairly simple:

• Delete the MacLoggerDX application in the Applications folder.
• After you have archived or exported your log file delete the MLDX_Logs folder in your Documents folder.
• Delete all the com.dogparksoftware.MacLoggerDX files in your_home_directory/Library/Preferences folder.