SkookumLogger

About SkookumLogger

SkookumLogger is a contest logging program for macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later. The app is self-contained, except that you will need to install drivers for your serial hardware if it uses a type of USB-serial adapter not supported by macOS. Release and latest beta versions are available on the downloads page.

The SkookumLogger Guide documents everything about SkookumLogger. The guide is available in the Help menu. You can interact publicly with me and other users via the SkookumLogger group at groups.io.

If you are experienced with other contest logging software, beware. SkookumLogger is not like Windows loggers, and you may become confused and frustrated. Consult the Introduction and Setup sections in the SkookumLogger Guide to get started. Also, ask questions on the groups.io SkookumLogger forum. Do not waste your time asking me to add features from Windows loggers. Try asking the Windows logger authors to support macOS.

Some SkookumLogger Features

The SkookumLogger feature set is driven by a combination of my personal interests (HF CW contests) and requests from serious users.

Any number of QSOs per log
Realtime testing for valid log entries, marking QSOs that have issues with XQ (eXcluded QSO) and optionally exporting marked calls as X-QSO in Cabrillo
Explanation of XQ issues for logged QSOs, available on request via a menu item
Editing of logged QSOs to address XQ issues, with optional immediate rescoring when changes are made
Two QSO entry boxes supporting interleaved SO1R, SO2V, and SO2R/2BSIQ with one keyboard
Checking for duplicates and needed multipliers as call signs are entered
Exchange pre-fill from log and from Exchange Archive (personal call history file)
Partial callsign matching against log, Exchange Archive, and Super Check Partials (SCP) database
Integrated download of the SCP and cty.dat databases
Simultaneous activity table windows (like band maps) for each contest band
Checksheets for countries, regions, prefixes, zones, grids, and 'other' multipliers
Time Tracker and Rate Tracker panels
Score window with band breakdown
Bidirectional DXCluster spotting interface for four types of cluster nodes, with skimmer and QSX support
CW call type-ahead and CW keyboard mode
Context-sensitive, queued message sending for CW, SSB (using radio DVR), FSK/PSK (using radio encoder)
Magic Message, like ESM with user-defined trigger key
Stateless ESM triggered by the return key
Voice Keyer to send SSB messages using Apple's text-to-speech and Personal Voice technologies
Audio recorder for QSOs, entire contests, arbitrary snippets
Great circle map with target vector, terminator, and antenna pattern overlays
Optional great circle map with labeled ITU zone boundaries
Grid map with labeled grid boundaries and the same overlays
SkookumNet networking for multi-operator/multi-transmitter configurations
Amplifier standby/operate and drive power controls
Rotator direction display and control
Panadapter and mini-pan displays with graphical known-activity overlays and radio frequency control for Elecraft K4 and Icom IC-7610
K1EL WinKeyer with KEY1/KEY2 management
YCCC SO2R Box+ and YCCC SO2R Mini interfaces, including their WinKeyer emulations
YCCC MOAS antenna switch interface
XK-24 Keypad interface with red/blue backlight status indicators
Cabrillo export for submitting log entries
Automatic Cabrillo upload to support SCP
ADIF and CSV export for moving contest QSOs to a general-purpose logger
Automated log submission via Apple Mail or web browser
Statistics report web page for post-contest analysis of your contest log
CW contest practice mode for SO1R and SO2R/2BSIQ, simulating run and pounce pileups with realistic lid behavior and propagation, and per-QSO adjudication

Log Window

Note: This example log was created by importing the KC1XX Cabrillo log in order to leverage SkookumLogger's statistics reports. The score breakdown for the import exactly matches the score breakdown for the logger used during the contest (WinTest). SkookumLogger response to user input is unaffected even with this massive QSO total. Also, I added the JE6RPM QSO that is outside the contest period to illustrate the appearance of an eXcluded QSO.

The boxes labeled Run and Pounce contain the logging data entry fields; for a two-radio operating configuration, they are labeled Radio 1 and Radio 2. These entry boxes enable interleaving QSOs, allowing you to type into either box while transmitting QSO information for the other. The number of QSO entry fields depends on the contest rules. To complete a QSO, type a call sign into the Call field, press the spacebar or Tab to navigate to the next field, and press the Return key to add the QSO to your log. Call signs that are duplicates or multipliers are displayed using user-defined fonts and colors. The panes to the left of the QSO entry boxes show partial-call completions, with brackets identifying the source of the match.

The log table columns can be resized, reordered, and hidden/shown. The table can be sorted on any column. You can filter the log table on the Band, Call, Mode, Notes, Received, and Sent columns using the search field. The XQ (eXcluded QSO) column contains a checkmark when the app detects something wrong with the logged QSO — you can ask SkookumLogger to explain what is wrong with a selected XQ table row, or with all selected XQ table rows.

Radios

SkookumLogger has custom support for many radios, with support limited to features that matter for contesting. The supported radios as of version 6.0 are:

Elecraft

Flex

ICOM

Kenwood

TenTec

Yaesu

Other

Contests

Every contest supported by SkookumLogger is either one I operate myself or one requested by a current user. I will add support for other CW/SSB contests upon request, as long as the rules are not too different from other contests. Please make requests at least a month before the next event. But first, consider whether one of the Generic or Nontest contest modules listed below will be satisfactory for casual participation.

The supported events as of version 6.0 are:

ARRL Contests