[Dxbase] DXBase

Tue Jun 17 22:45:27 EDT 2008

Being an amateur radio operator for almost 50 years I've seen a lot 
of things started and a lot of them vanish. I remember when CW, AM 
and FM were pretty much the main communicating modes of ham radio 
along with some RTTY, now look at everything we have. With all the 
modes, devices and everything else you can do by adding a computer is 
almost mind boggling. Even as one that has been in the electronic 
field for the same amount of time I still pretty much stick with 
Phone and CW communications, I have tried many different modes but 
still like to hear a voice from the other end saying more that 5/9 73.
But let me get to the main point of my post, Logging Programs and 
mainly my reason for staying with DXBase. Let me state that I 
probably tested more logging programs then most since back when 
computers first became available I started writing logging programs 
in basic and assembly language mainly for contesting. Just writing a 
logging program to handle 2 or 3 thousand Qs for duping with a 48K 
Atari was a real challenge, but we did it. Now with modes, controls, 
awards and everything else you can throw in makes for one big 
nightmare. When DXbase first came out as a DOS program it did 
everything I wanted it to do, kept my log, kept track of DXCC awards 
and printed QSL labels. When radio control was added, it was 
probable the last update I ever needed. But things get faster and 
easier to do so I always have updated when it was available.
I don't know when DXBase was first released, but I'll bet you can 
count on one hand the logging programs that are as old, still up to 
date and still backed as well. I'm talking about everyday logging 
programs, contest logging programs are a speciality all of there own 
but DXBase has many of the features of those even built in with 
ability to import logs from the others.
So as far as I'm concerned, if another update isn't available for 
another two years, no big deal. As long as the reflector has the 
backing by a many good people it has had like Joe and many others, 
and information is available to update data files to keep up with 
prefix and country changes it is still is top notch.
Thanks to everyone that has anything to do with DXBase for one 
fantastic program.
Terry, K8SMC . . .
PS: Even Microsoft isn't sure Vista was a great move.