[CQ-Contest] Logging software prefs, was Spam Alert: Re: OKDX contest

[Mark Bailey]

Hi Mike:

There is a large investment of time and effort required to implement
and use a new logging program - many, many hours.  If, as I do, you
work in multi-operator contests, the effort is even greater.  Heck, the
keystrokes are different just for basic operations, as well as the
location of information on the screen.

It takes even longer to learn the "gotchas" of these programs and
how to deal with the quirks that arise.  It's taken me years to
get reasonably competent with the two programs I use often and
I'm still no expert!

For me to learn a new program, I have to see a real benefit because
of the time and effort involved.

I'm using CT (DOS) and TR-Log for most contest activities and, so far,
don't believe that switching would increase my scores or the amount
of fun I have doing contests.

73,

Mark, KD4D



Michael Coslo wrote:
> I thought I'd take this to a topic I haven't seen here before.
> 
> Over time, I have found that users are passionate - to say the least -  
> about the software they use for contesting. In truth, different  
> software performs differently for different functions, and some work  
> great for some contests, and not others.
> 
> There is another effect, that I never see mentioned, and that is the  
> "Version effect". This is where s software has been rewritten to fix  
> an earlier problem, say an incorrect summary calculation. But a lot of  
> users still use an older version of the software. So now, there are  
> multiple issues, even from one logging program.
> 
> So my question is, why are so many users so attached to their logging  
> software? I've been asked to change my test in order to have some  
> logging programs score it correctly - and when I pointed out that  
> every one else would have to change their software if I changed the  
> contest to accommodate, the response was an equivalent "so what?" I  
> then realized that in some respects, we're sitting at the corner gas  
> station, arguing about "Ferds and Chivvys".
> 
> Point is, should we not use the tool best suited for the job? I use  
> several logging programs, the choice being based on whatever does the  
> best at what I'm doing at the moment.
> 
> -73 de Mike N3LI -
> 
> 
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