[UK-CONTEST] Paper Logs/Time to Stop!

[Dave Sergeant]

Some further comments on the postings of the last 24 hours, some of 
which have deviated from the basic question of paper logs for 
entries.

Clearly the serious big entrants are all using computer logging these 
days as the advantages are obvious.  However for the smaller events 
logging manually and entering into the computer afterwards is 
sensible - I still use a manual logbook (and prefer it) so I don't 
have to paste printouts in the logbook.  And the main computer is the 
other side of the shack and used for other things. For Low Power 
Field Day, which I did as a minimalistic /P station it was not 
practical to have computer logging on site. It is easy to keep track 
of 70 QSOs in one's head, I only had one dupe.  Until we located a 
laptop which would run off 12V we were even considering paper logging 
for NFD to keep with our total battery powered entry concept - a pain 
to post enter, but better that than not be on.  But of course I 
always now enter electronically.

As to using the logging software to send the code, I have never seen 
the need.  Sending CW with an el-bug is so effortless there seems to 
be little point, you have total flexibility, and sending the code is 
half the fun.  It is obviously a personal preference, and has 
absolutely no bearing on the log produced.

The suggestion of using OCR software to enter paper logs is worth 
investigating.  I guess this has improved enormously over the years.  
I always took the view that it was far quicker for me to type it all 
in in the first place than sort out all its errors afterwards.  But I 
taught myself touch typing many years ago and have never regretted 
it.

If the contest committee is looking for more volunteers to manually 
enter paper logs I would be willing to help share the load - please 
contact me off line (I shall probably regret saying this!).

But yes, all points noted, but please don't discourage those who 
still prefer paper logs.

73s Dave G3YMC

dsergeant at iee.org
dsergeant at btinternet.com
http://www.dsergeant.btinternet.co.uk