[Dxbase] To be or not to be?

Mon Mar 16 22:36:17 EDT 2009

I've been using DX Base since 2002 and I think I've pretty well mastered it,
inside-out and backwards. Joe's add-ons and reports make a great
intermediate step but it's getting to be time to either bring in some badly
needed changes or for us die-hards and power-users to start looking
elsewhere. LoTW is only one very small component; Joe's AutoLOTW helper
application does a decent job in that department, as does AXETTY and all the
custom reports and labels. I think it's more fundamental than that.
We all know what's right with it; I won't sit here and praise all the great
things DX Base does (and does well) because, frankly most of us wouldn't be
here if it were otherwise. Yes, it's a damned good application. But it's an
application stuck in an earlier age of software and desperately in need of a
re-write and some new, creative functionality.
We're at a familiar crossroads in terms of software development, such as we
saw when DOS and Win3.1 gave way to Windows 95, and later when Win98/ME gave
way to XP and Win2K. Old apps that refuse to let go of the old ways
eventually wither on the vine and pass from view. For as much as people
dislike Vista and love XP, the reality is Windows 7 is coming out this
September, and, unlike Vista, it promises to be a major success based on the
comments in the various tech blogs and user groups (and from this user's
ongoing beta/RC trial). The problems many users are facing while trying to
operate DX Base under Vista will not go away. It's also likely that even
more DX Base users will abandon the software when faced with having to
replace their old, dying XP boxen with new, powerful and inexpensive
Win7-based computers.
I've investigated other powerful loggers (and even went as far as buying
CommCat--which is actually a very decent application), but there's NOTHING
in the DX logger marketplace, free or paid, that has DX Base's power and
lack of clutter. Make it fully Vista/Win7 compliant, add a band-map, full
cluster e-mail alerting, fix the second monitor drop-down box bug, allow
unlimited Operator calls, the ability to have multiple logs open at once
(for QSL managers and DXpeditions), add 5B WAZ tracking/reporting and
integrate some of Joe's helper apps and that would make a great start. I
could also come up with a couple of dozen other suggestions, too, if asked.
By now, I think most of us know that Jack's full time job is taking up huge
amounts of time, and in this economy, heaven only knows how good a thing
that is. By the same token, many loyal hams who've invested money and lots
of their own time to mastering a great program want to know if it's time to
either hang on or move on, and if it's hang on, for how long. We've all been
in airport or train station waiting rooms...how comfortable is it when you
have no clue if the airplane you're waiting to board is even in the same
time zone or if the train isn't stuck in a siding somewhere waiting for 50
freights to clear. That's how it feels to be a loyal user of this app. I'd
rather be told by the stationmaster that the train's been cancelled or by
the airline that due to weather in England the flight won't operate today,
and make alternate arrangements. And if it's going to just be another short
wait and we'll be underway, great! I'll gladly stick around.
Speaking for myself, I seriously don't want to learn all the intracacies of
new logger if I don't have to.
-----------------------------------
Regards,
Peter,
W2IRT
-----Original Message-----
From: dxbase-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:dxbase-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Crownhaven
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 7:29 PM
To: KB2000a
Cc: dxbase at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Dxbase] To be or not to be?
I agree with you regarding LOTW. And, I agree with you regarding the
downloadable country database. That would also be nice.
Steve, N4JQQ
KB2000a wrote:
> Definitely no plans to change from DXBase!
>>>> I think the problem with LOTW is with LOTW, not DXBase, and that ARRL
needs to make it easier, but still secure, on their end.
>>>> I would like to see more selectivity options in the 'Alerts' options (like
I only want new cw on 20 mtrs, but new any mode on 160; or new band/mode
only if it is cw (if I've worked a country on SSB, I still want to get it
cw; but if I've already worked it cw, I don't want an alert for SSB). Things
like that.
>>>> Possible to map F1 to use to send CQ, like in the contest programs?
>>>> A downloadable country database would be nice, instead of having to
manually update for every new/changed country. They are usually available
for the contest programs.
>>>> Thanks Jack!
> Keith
>> N5RA
>> KB
>>>>>>> Date: 2009年3月16日 17:58:20 -0500
>> From: crownhaven at bellsouth.net
>> To: kq5s at kq5s.com
>> CC: dxbase at mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: Re: [Dxbase] To be or not to be?
>>>> I am a loyal DXBase user. No plans to change. It took me too long to
>> learn what I know now which isn't much. However, of all the things that
>> I would like to see added, if it is ever possible, is the feature
>> described where one is able to get around all the keystrokes,
>> memorization of steps, etc., to upload and download LOTW contacts. Based
>> on the price of postage, LOTW is the future unless one is wealthy.
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Steve, N4JQQ
>>>> kq5s at kq5s.com wrote:
>>>>> I agree with Bill. Other programs have passed it by on adding new
features
>>> and simplification such as one click LOTW updates both to LOTW and from
>>> LOTW. Other programs also offer interfaces to many other newly developed
>>> ham applications. I was using DXBase back in the DOS version and the
>>> windows version. Frankly I quit using it when I discovered the DXLabs
>>> suite of programs and the support that the author gives. These programs
>>> are free and perhaps that is the delima that Jack has ran into. I keep
>>> checking the DXBase site for news of a major update hoping that one is
>>> coming.
>>>>>> 73,
>>> Tom
>>> KQ5S
>>>>>> On 2009年3月16日 17:25:23 -0500, "Bill Parry" <bparry at rgv.rr.com>
wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> Interesting discussion. I have to be one of the "longest using"
>>>>>>>>>>> customers
>>>>>>>>>> of DXBase because I was using it back when it was DOS based. I have
>>>>>>>>>>> always
>>>>>>>>>> upgraded to the next newer version when it have came out. I have not
been
>>>> interested in changing to a different logging program because there was
>>>> never any need. The newer version came out every year about time for
>>>> Dayton. I have shown my logging program to others and they always
seemed
>>>> to
>>>> feel that what I had was great. Lately, friends have mentioned things
>>>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>>> their logging programs would do that mine won't. Also, there doesn't
seem
>>>> to
>>>> be much in the way of discussions about what the next version might
have
>>>> in
>>>> it. (There was always a lot of anticipation.)
>>>>>>>> It is hard for me to imagine changing to a different logging program
>>>>>>>>>>> after
>>>>>>>>>> all these years using DXBase. Maybe, if Jack has lost interest, or
can't
>>>> make money selling this product any more, we'll have to change
sometime.
>>>> (I
>>>> am not in the software business so I have no clue.)
>>>>>>>> However, I certainly haven't given up on DXBase yet. How could you miss
>>>> with
>>>> Joe always there to help!
>>>>>>>>>>>> Bill W5VX
>>>>>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: dxbase-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>>>> [mailto:dxbase-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
>>>> On Behalf Of Dick Williams
>>>> Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 1:20 PM
>>>> To: dxbase at mailman.qth.net
>>>> Subject: Re: [Dxbase] To be or not to be?
>>>>>>>> Allan,
>>>>>>>> I have been using DXBase for more years than I care to think about; and
I
>>>> have to say that the program right now does all (and a lot more) than I
>>>> need. It generates more reports than I could ever use (I only generate
>>>> one, and that is QSLNOREC).
>>>>>>>> You specifically mentioned LOTW, and it does that now; I upload quite
>>>> often
>>>>>>>> and find it very easy to do. I don't use eQSL so I can't comment on
>>>>>>>>>>> that.
>>>>>>>>>> I am wondering exactly how it would work with online logs? Right now I
>>>>>>>>>>> go
>>>>>>>>>> to the web and see if I am in the log.
>>>>>>>> I have looked at other logging programs the last couple of years to see
>>>> what
>>>>>>>> they offer; and I have to say none match my needs better than DXBase;
>>>> but
>>>> I have a very "narrow" interest in only working CW, SSB and RTTY for
DXCC
>>>> submission and credits. And as long as it does that, interfaces with my
>>>> Orion 2, prints labels, and has two rotor interfaces, there is not
>>>> anything
>>>> major that I can see to improve on.
>>>>>>>> All said, I am sure there are certain upgrades that would be benefical
>>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>> some users; the only question that Jack needs to ask is how much ROI
will
>>>> he
>>>>>>>> generate from such upgrades.
>>>>>>>> And like you, I would certainly like to see Jack at Dayton again; if
not
>>>> just to show that he is still supporting and taking an interest in
>>>>>>>>>>> DXBase.
>>>>>>>>>> As I am sure you know, a little "face time" can go a long way; and it
>>>> certainly gives the progarm users a chance to provide meaningful input
in
>>>> a
>>>> "one on one" atmosphere.
>>>>>>>> That said, I know Jack still takes an active interest in his product. I
>>>> was having a problem (and I found out a few others too) for a couple of
>>>> years with the rotor 2 not responding after closing and then opening
>>>> DXBase.
>>>>>>>> I brought it to Jack's attention and he was able to diagnose the
problem
>>>> and
>>>>>>>> send the apporpriate fix.
>>>>>>>> Dick K8ZTT
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Meredith, Allan" <Allan.M.Meredith at det.nsw.edu.au>
>>>> To: <dxbase at mailman.qth.net>
>>>> Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2009 11:02 PM
>>>> Subject: [Dxbase] To be or not to be?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hi All
>>>>>>>>>> Heading up to Dayton 2009 and still no word on Jack doing anything? I
>>>>> personally would at least like Jack to do the right thing by his loyal
>>>>> customers and advise if no further development is going to be done on
>>>>> DXBase. Then decisions could be made as to whether we take the leap to
>>>>> move to a supported product (even though I would very much prefer not
>>>>> to!). Things like LoTW, online logs, eQSL, new modes, integration with
>>>>> other programs etc etc (the list goes on....) that really demands that
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> we
>>>>>>>>>>>>> continue to have a logbook that is evolving. Changing after all these
>>>>> years is not an easy thing to contemplate but for the reasons I listed
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>>>>> will eventually become a necessity if I (and most electronic loggers)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> want
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to keep up. Joe does a fantastic job of trying to keep the DXBase ship
>>>>> afloat but a lone hand cannot save the day. Please Jack...... a simple
>>>>> yes or no is no less than your customers deserve. Thank you.
>>>>>>>>>> Cheers....Allan VK2CA
>>>>>>>>>> **********************************************************************
>>>>> This message is intended for the addressee named and may contain
>>>>> privileged information or confidential information or both. If you
>>>>> are not the intended recipient please delete it and notify the sender.
>>>>> **********************************************************************
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