I agree. One of the reasons I don't use my computer is that it takes too much
time logging my contacts from my paper log. That's time that I could be
operating. Also, the noise that my computer makes is distracting. Like you,
I work on a computer all day long. I like to work on my computers at home and
I also build my own which I'm sure that most of us do. Computers are fun and
ham radio is fun but, I don't like to mix the two.
I've been a ham for 25 years and it's nice to look back through my logs and
see how my handwriting has changed, who I worked, notes etc. Like you said, I
don't need a computer to do it. There's a certain spiritual aspect to it that
you can't record with a computer. I'm an artist and I tell my students that
when they draw or paint, part of them is in the painting. For me, it's the
same with log books.
Gary, N7HTS
On Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:11:05 -0600
"Dr. Gerald N. Johnson" <geraldj@storm.weather.net> wrote:
> On Wed, 2008-10-08 at 14:15 -0400, george wrote:
>> John;
>> Best suggestion I could make. Start computer logging. If you don't already!
>> There are so many good free logging programs out there for you to choose
>> from.
>
> Yah, dat's nice, until the computer croaks. My 53 year old paper logs
> are still as readable as they day they were made. My 30 year old
> computer media (8" floppy disks) probably isn't readable though I do
> have drives that may work to try them. Many floppies that are younger
> can't be read anymore and the media in the 8" ones wasn't very sturdy,
> some wore out rapidly. And I have a bucket full of hard drives that have
> failed since the first one I bought that held a grand 5 MB died in 29
> days of operation.
>
> Besides, after all day programming at the computer or building custom
> computer hardware, using a computer in the hamshack is not all that much
> fun, neither is listening to the computer and monitor hash on various
> bands. I live way out in the country to get AWAY from such noises and I
> won't put up with them from my computers, so when I get on, my computers
> (except when working digital modes) get turned OFF which makes them poor
> at logging.
>
>> It boggles my mind why you would still want to pen each qso. Logging
>> programs do much more than just logging a QSO such as QSL mailed, QSLs
>> received, and on and on.
>
> Paper works there too, in reasonable quantities though it would be a
> bigger bother doing QSLs by the thousand. But the box of 1000 QSLs that
> I bought in 1977 still has cards in it though the post office has moved
> me several times. A file folder label is just right to change the
> address lines. I don't think my laser printer will pass card stock
> happily, though I've not tried it. Having the cards already cut is handy
> too, though I could cut them with my paper shear if I had to.
>
> During contests like FD I get along faster with manual logging than
> those using computers. Used to be when I called a station on Sunday they
> could know to come back instantly from the old paper dupe sheet, but now
> it takes seconds, up to 5 or ten for their computer to tell them its not
> a dupe. That slows things down to make it hard to do 120 contacts an
> hour!
>
>> I live around the corner from you if you need help. I'd be glad to lend a
>> hand.
>> George W2YJ
>>
> I'll still with paper, thank you.
>
> 73, Jerry, K0CQ
>
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