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๐Ÿ“‹ Ham Logging

Support & Help Center
by A46UNX - Unixeerโ„ข

๐Ÿ“ง Contact Support

Get in Touch

For technical support, bug reports, feature requests, or general inquiries:

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://unixeer.com
Callsign: A46UNX

We typically respond within 24โ€“48 hours. For urgent issues, please include "URGENT" in your email subject line.

โ“ General FAQ

Q: What is Ham Logging?

A: Ham Logging is a full-featured electronic logbook for licensed amateur radio operators. It captures every ADIF field a modern logger needs, auto-enriches worked-station identity from QRZ.com, syncs bidirectionally with 10+ online services, visualizes your worked grids on a map, forecasts propagation, and includes Rover Mode for safe mobile logging.

Q: Do I need an amateur radio license to use Ham Logging?

A: Yes โ€” Ham Logging is designed for licensed amateur radio operators. You need a callsign and a grid square to log meaningful QSOs.

Q: Can I use Ham Logging offline?

A: Yes โ€” core QSO entry, editing, viewing, and ADIF / CSV / JSON export all work entirely offline. Network is only used for optional features: QRZ lookup, sync with external services, APRS, map tiles, propagation forecasts, and spot monitoring.

Q: How do I start logging my first QSO?

A: Open the app โ†’ Settings โ†’ set your callsign and grid โ†’ New QSO tab โ†’ type a worked callsign, band, mode, frequency, RST โ†’ tap Save. If you configured QRZ credentials in Settings, the worked station's name, country, grid, and zones auto-fill as you type.

Q: Where is my QSO data stored?

A: Locally on your device in a file called qso_log.json. It's human-readable JSON you can inspect, back up, or copy out. Ham Logging has no cloud of its own โ€” your data stays on your device unless you explicitly sync with an external service.

Q: How do I back up my log?

A: Sync tab โ†’ tap "Share Backup" at the bottom. That single action exports CSV + JSON + ADIF together into your device's share sheet โ€” email them to yourself, save to Files / iCloud / Google Drive / Dropbox, or AirDrop to your desktop.

Q: Is my data safe?

A: Yes. Ham Logging stores everything locally, uses no analytics or telemetry SDKs, and has no backend of its own. Your data only leaves your device when you initiate a sync or export. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Q: How do I import an existing log from another app?

A: QSO Logs tab โ†’ menu โ†’ Import โ†’ pick ADIF, CSV, or JSON. Duplicates are detected automatically (by callsign+band+mode+date+time or by identical timestamp) and merged rather than re-added, so importing twice is safe.

Q: How do I edit a QSO?

A: QSO Logs tab โ†’ tap any QSO โ†’ Edit. All fields are editable. Changes are saved with the original creation timestamp preserved so deduplication still works.

Q: What's the difference between the default callsign and the APRS callsign in Settings?

A: The default callsign is stamped into every QSO you log. The APRS callsign is a separate identity used only for the APRS map layer โ€” typically with an SSID suffix (e.g., W5XYZ-9 for mobile, W5XYZ-13 for weather) that you would not want inside your amateur radio logbook.

๐Ÿ”„ QRZ Lookup FAQ

Q: How do I set up QRZ lookup?

A: Settings โ†’ QRZ.com credentials panel โ†’ enter your QRZ username and password โ†’ tap Test Lookup. A free QRZ account works for XML lookups; a QRZ XML Logbook Subscription or paid account unlocks more fields.

Q: Why doesn't auto-lookup fire while I type?

A: It debounces at 600 ms and requires at least 3 characters. If QRZ credentials aren't configured, it stays silent. If the network or QRZ is down, you'll see a friendly snackbar only after you type โ‰ฅ 4 characters so partial typing doesn't spam you.

Q: What fields does QRZ lookup fill in?

A: Name, country, grid, CQ Zone, ITU Zone, continent, state, county, DXCC, QTH (city). Web-scraping adds QSL preferences, license class, LoTW / eQSL status, email, and profile photo when available.

Q: Re-enrich Missing Fields โ€” what does that do?

A: Sync page action that scans every QSO with at least one missing enrichable field and fills it via a batched QRZ XML-only lookup. Ideal after importing an older log that lacks grid / zones / country.

๐Ÿ” Sync Services FAQ

Q: Which services does Ham Logging integrate with?

A: Ten services with live API integration โ€” QRZ.com Logbook, eQSL.cc, ClubLog, HRDLog.net, HamQTH, CloudLog, Wavelog, Ham365.net, N1MM Logger+ (UDP), and LoTW (download only; uploads via TQSL desktop). Plus 11 services with export-only integration: QRZ-CQ, QSO360, AwardWatch, POTA, SOTA, WWFF, TCL-QSO, ARRL Contest, Log4OM Cloud, DX Heat, DX Watch.

Q: How does incremental upload work?

A: Ham Logging remembers the last successful sync time per service. Only QSOs created or modified since that timestamp are uploaded โ€” so you don't re-send the same contacts every time. Each successful upload adds the service's name to the QSO's internal "uploadedTo" list.

Q: My LoTW confirmations aren't downloading. Why?

A: LoTW download requires your LoTW web-site password (not a TQSL certificate). Settings โ†’ LoTW service โ†’ enter callsign + web password. Ham Logging fires two sequential requests (confirmed QSLs first, then all uploads) to avoid the server-side cursor race on a first-ever download.

Q: LoTW says my ADIF upload has a bad field. Why?

A: Ham Logging's ADIF writer is spec-correct โ€” it uses UTF-8 byte-count length prefixes and sanitizes any invisible characters before writing, so TQSL accepts the output cleanly. If you still see errors, email us the rejected .adi file and we'll diagnose.

Q: How do I use N1MM Logger+ bridging?

A: On the same LAN, open N1MM โ†’ Config โ†’ Configure Ports โ†’ Network โ†’ enable "Allow Networked Computer QSOs" for upload, and Broadcast Data โ†’ "Contact" for download. In Ham Logging Settings, enter the N1MM PC's IP + send port (default 12060) + listen port (default 12060). Syncs are UDP XML datagrams โ€” no internet needed.

Q: Why is my eQSL upload "successful" but nothing appears in my eQSL inbox?

A: Ham Logging now verifies eQSL responses by parsing the body for the exact "records added" count rather than trusting HTTP 200. If the body indicates an error (auth, malformed ADIF, etc.), you'll get a precise message. If you still see a discrepancy, the QSOs may have been rejected by eQSL's own validators โ€” check your eQSL caution message on their site.

Q: I downloaded my eQSL InBox and one card came back as a new QSO instead of marking the existing one as confirmed. Why?

A: eQSL InBox cards return the partner's logged time, not the time you uploaded. When the partner's clock is more than a minute off yours, the standard duplicate detection (callsign+band+mode+date+HHMM) misses, and the card lands as a phantom new row. Ham Logging now runs a clock-skew tolerant fallback for eQSL specifically: ยฑ60 minutes for satellite QSOs (orbital physics rules out a repeat sat pass within an hour) and ยฑ2 minutes for HF/terrestrial QSOs (tight enough to only catch typical NTP-synced clock skew without colliding with legitimate quick repeats). The merge only fires when exactly one local QSO sits in the window with matching callsign/date/band/mode; SAT_NAME and partner-grid mismatches drop candidates. Every fuzzy merge appears in the sync report dialog so you can audit it โ€” e.g. "eQSL.cc: 23 received โ€” 0 new, 22 exact match, 1 via clock-skew (DG7RO 20260423 +9min)".

Q: Why isn't ClubLog uploading all my QSOs?

A: ClubLog's real-time API is one-QSO-per-request. Ham Logging sends one QSO at a time with a small delay between requests. If a single QSO is rejected (e.g., malformed field), the sync report tells you which one. Note: ClubLog may reject new accounts with "insufficient activity" until you've logged enough QSOs to satisfy their trust threshold.

Q: ClubLog says "insufficient activity" or my API key was rejected. What do I do?

A: ClubLog's API key registration has a gating policy โ€” new accounts with very few QSOs in their cloud are sometimes rejected with "insufficient activity" even if your local log is extensive. Two workarounds: (1) upload a modest batch of historical QSOs via the ClubLog website first to establish account activity, then request an API key; (2) use the application password (from your ClubLog account Settings, NOT your main login password) rather than an API key for the real-time endpoint. Some users find one path works where the other doesn't.

Q: I toggled Tips / Collapsible / Worked Grids / APRS in Settings but nothing changed โ€” why?

A: Those four toggles use a deferred-save pattern โ€” the change reflects inside the app immediately via GlobalData, but only persists to SharedPreferences when you tap the "Save All" button at the bottom of Settings. If you toggle and close the app without tapping Save All, the change is lost. This avoids accidental mid-edit commits. Other settings (Default Callsign, Grid, Mode, service credentials) save as-you-edit-then-focus-away as before.

Q: My QRZ lookup worked fine, then suddenly stops after running Re-enrich Missing Fields. Why?

A: Not anymore — this was a real bug fixed in the Apr 2026 updates. Batch enrichment (Sync page โ†’ Re-enrich) used to exhaust the shared QRZ web-scraping session, breaking interactive lookups in Settings afterward. The fix: batch enrichment now uses XML-only lookups (`lookupQRZXmlOnly`), leaving the web session intact for Settings-page interactive lookups. If you still see QRZ failures after a batch, restart the app and re-enter QRZ credentials.

Q: I'm on cellular data โ€” will syncing eat my data plan?

A: Sync downloads pull your full log history from each selected service, which can be anywhere from 100 KB (small log) to 50 MB (decades of LoTW history ร— multiple services). To prevent surprise data charges, the app shows a themed warning dialog before each sync if you're on cellular instead of Wi-Fi. Two choices: Cancel (abort sync) or I understand (proceed). The warning fires every cellular sync so you always have the chance to opt out โ€” there's no persistent toggle to forget about and no per-session bypass that might silently consume data later in the same session.

Q: My LoTW download keeps returning "No QSOs found" but I know I have confirmed contacts. What's going on?

A: The May 10 2026 update fixes a long-standing silent-failure pattern. Previously, a network blip, expired LoTW password, or temporary ARRL outage all surfaced as the gaslight "No QSOs found" โ€” same root cause as the QRZ.com fix from May 6. Now you get a clear "Download failed" error in the sync report with the specific reason (timeout, network error, auth failure, etc.). If you see a real "No QSOs" with a green checkmark, your log is genuinely empty on LoTW.

Q: I cleared my local log but the Sync page still shows the old "N new" download counters per service. Why?

A: Fixed in the May 11 2026 update. Clearing the local log (QSO Logs โ†’ โ‹ฎ menu โ†’ Clear List) now also clears the per-service sync-history counters + timestamps shown on each Sync card. Credentials and per-service enable toggles are preserved. Previously a card could still claim "Last download: 2,666 new" after the log was empty, which was confusing and also caused the next "Sync To" to incorrectly skip QSOs (because the stale upload timestamp made them look already-synced).

Q: My CloudLog / Wavelog uploads always show "0 uploaded" even though the credentials test passes. What's missing?

A: CloudLog and Wavelog both require a Station Profile ID in addition to the API URL and API Key โ€” without it the upstream service silently rejects every upload at the HTTP layer. The May 11 2026 update adds a Station Profile ID field to both services in Settings โ†’ Services. Find the value in your CloudLog / Wavelog web interface under Station Logbook โ†’ Edit (the numeric ID next to your station entry). Once you paste it in and save, uploads will start succeeding.

Q: How do I search DX cluster spots by callsign or country?

A: The DX sub-tab on the Extra โ†’ Spots tab now has a search field below the Band and Continent dropdowns. It matches case-insensitively across the spotted callsign, spotter, comment, country, and grid square in a single query. The text search is AND-combined with the existing dropdowns โ€” so e.g. "EU + 20m + JA" narrows to JA-spotted contacts on 20m from European spotters.

Q: My QSO Log has old entries that are missing country / grid / zones. Can I back-fill them?

A: Yes โ€” the QSO Log popup menu (โ‹ฎ) now has a "Re-enrich Missing Fields" entry. Tap it to walk every QSO in your log, look up any record missing country / name / grid / CQ zone / ITU zone / continent / state / county / QTH / DXCC via QRZ.com XML, and write the results back. The same flow is also available from Settings โ†’ Callsign Lookup โ†’ Re-enrich Missing Fields. Requires QRZ.com credentials configured.

Q: My QRZ.com Logbook download returns empty even though my logbook has hundreds of QSOs. Why?

A: Fixed end-to-end in the May 11 2026 update โ€” verified live against a paid subscriber's 2,666-QSO logbook. QRZ's FETCH response encodes the < and > characters inside ADIF records as HTML entities (&lt; / &gt;) instead of the URL-encoded %3C / %3E their docs imply. The standard form-encoding parser was destroying the entity boundaries while splitting on &, leaving the ADIF section empty even when records were present. The new extractor reads the ADIF section directly from the raw body and decodes the entities back to literal characters before parsing. Paging is preserved (250 records per page, 50,000 QSO ceiling) and mid-paging failures still return partial results.

Q: Importing a huge ADIF file (hundreds of MB) crashed the app before. Is it fixed?

A: Yes. The ADIF parser now streams the file from disk in chunks instead of loading the whole thing into memory at once, so multi-decade LoTW exports (80–200 MB) import cleanly even on Android devices with limited RAM. You'll see a progress percentage during the import. CSV and JSON imports get a 50 MB safety check — bigger files are blocked with a clear suggestion to split or use ADIF instead.

Q: An imported ADIF file from another logging program had funny characters (Mรผller, Josรฉ) get mangled. Why?

A: Fixed in the May 10 2026 update. The ADIF spec says the <FIELD:N> length prefix is a UTF-8 byte count, but Ham Logging's import parser was mistakenly using UTF-16 character count. Records with accented characters silently desynced — the next field's tag bytes got eaten into the previous field's value. The parser now correctly walks the byte stream. Records from third-party software with European, Spanish, or any non-ASCII operator/QTH names import cleanly.

Q: The app showed me a snackbar saying "Something went wrong. Tap to email diagnostics." What is that?

A: A new diagnostic capture mechanism (May 10 2026). When the app catches an unexpected error during your session, it stores the last 50 events in an in-memory ring buffer and shows that one-shot snackbar. Tap EMAIL to open your mail app pre-filled with a plain-text report (callsign, app version, error trace) addressed to support. Nothing is sent automatically — you control whether the report goes anywhere. If the same underlying error fires repeatedly, the snackbar stays silent for 5 minutes after the first surface so you don't get spammed.

๐Ÿ“ก APRS FAQ

Q: What does the APRS feature do?

A: Once you enter an APRS callsign in Settings and tap the purple APRS FAB on the Map tab, Ham Logging connects read-only to public APRS-IS and filters for your own beacons. Any of your beacons that reach an iGate show as pulsing purple markers on the map โ€” proof-of-transmission testing. Your radio does the beaconing; the app only listens.

Q: Is my location transmitted when I use APRS?

A: Ham Logging itself transmits nothing. Your radio beacons your callsign + GPS position over RF; that data is public on the APRS network (aprs.fi, aprsdigi.net, and archive sites) by design โ€” this has been true of APRS since 1992. See our Privacy Policy Section 4.3.

Q: What is "heard by" and do I need an aprs.fi API key?

A: The aprs.fi API key is optional and enables the "heard by" feature โ€” showing which digipeaters and iGates received your beacon, with bearing lines and a themed popup. Without the key, APRS still works; you just won't see heard-by attribution. Get a free key at aprs.fi/account.

Q: I enabled APRS but no packets appear on the map.

A: Your rig must beacon on an APRS frequency (typically 144.39 MHz in the Americas, 144.800 in Europe) and an iGate must be in RF range to forward your packet to APRS-IS. If your rig isn't beaconing or no iGates are nearby, there's nothing for the app to show. Check aprs.fi on the web and search your callsign to see if APRS-IS has seen you recently.

Q: Why does changing the APRS callsign wipe the map?

A: By design โ€” a different callsign is a different identity. The old TCP session is disposed, all visible stations are cleared, and the new session re-opens with the new callsign's filter. Think of it as logging out and logging back in.

Q: Why is the APRS callsign separate from my default callsign?

A: So SSIDs like -13 (weather station) or -9 (mobile) can be used for APRS without stamping them into your QSO logbook. Keep your QSO log clean and your APRS identity flexible.

Q: What do the SSID filter chips at the bottom of the map do?

A: They narrow what kinds of APRS stations you see: All, -9 (mobile), -13 (weather), -11 (aircraft / balloon), or Other. The strip docks above the bottom navigation bar, and reflows above the station-details panel when you tap a station. Your selection persists across restarts.

Q: I tapped a station to track it and now my YOU marker is gone.

A: That's intentional. When the station you're tracking is within roughly 24 pixels on screen of your live GPS position (occluding it), the YOU marker is hidden so the two pins don't overlap. Zoom out and YOU reappears the moment the markers are visually distinguishable. Tap the station again to deselect.

Q: Why does the followed station look smaller than the others?

A: The station you're tracking is rendered about 30% smaller for precision โ€” its smaller pin gives a more accurate position fix and reduces occlusion of nearby markers you're comparing against. The thicker outline still distinguishes it from inactive stations.

๐Ÿš— Rover Mode FAQ NEW

Q: What is Rover Mode?

A: A large-target, low-distraction logging screen designed for mobile operating. One big Callsign field, tap-grid RST buttons pre-selected at 59, and a "Next QSO" button that saves and clears the callsign so you can keep rolling. Everything else (mode, TX/RX freq, your callsign + grid) persists for the session.

Q: How do I launch Rover Mode?

A: Tap the amber car icon in the top-right of the app bar. It's visible on the QSO Logs tab and the New QSO tab.

Q: Can I use Rover Mode while driving?

A: No. The first time you launch Rover Mode you'll see a safety reminder โ€” please respect it. Wait until you're safely stopped, or have a passenger operate the log. The mode is called Rover because it's optimized for mobile operating during breaks, not active driving.

Q: Does Rover Mode fill in country / grid / name automatically?

A: Yes โ€” each saved QSO fires a background QRZ lookup (if you have QRZ credentials configured). The record is saved immediately with the callsign + RST + mode + freq you entered, and QRZ fills in the rest moments later without blocking you from logging the next QSO.

Q: What happens to the in-view QSO when I tap Exit?

A: If the Callsign field has content, Rover Mode saves that QSO first (same validation + enrichment) then exits. If the field is empty, it just exits. No modal prompts, no lost work.

Q: I logged a duplicate โ€” why didn't Rover Mode block it?

A: Rover Mode deliberately doesn't block duplicates โ€” a modal during driving-adjacent operating is worse than a duplicate in the log. You'll see a themed warning snackbar instead, and the QSO still saves. Clean up duplicates from the QSO Logs tab afterward.

Q: How does the voice phonetic mic work?

A: Hold the mic button to the right of the Worked Callsign field, speak the call in NATO phonetics ("alpha four six uniform november x-ray"), then release. Ham Logging's parser recognises every NATO word plus military variants (niner = 9, fower = 4, fife = 5) and common alternate spellings. The recognised text is filled into the field โ€” review it and tap Save when you're ready. The OS handles speech recognition (Apple Siri / Google) entirely on-device when possible; no audio is recorded or transmitted.

Q: I accidentally denied microphone access. How do I re-enable it?

A: Press-and-hold the mic button again. A snackbar will appear that reads "Microphone is blocked. Tap Open Settings to enable it, then try again." Tap the Open Settings button on the right of the snackbar โ€” it deep-links straight to the app's permission screen. Toggle Microphone on, return to Ham Logging, and try the mic again. No restart needed.

Q: I'm on a Huawei device (or another phone without Google Mobile Services) and the mic doesn't ask for permission. What's going on?

A: Voice dictation relies on a system speech recognition service. Most Android phones ship with Google Speech Services pre-installed, but devices without Google Mobile Services (some Huawei, some AOSP-based ROMs, certain regional builds) do not. If the service is missing, Ham Logging shows: "Speech recognition isn't available โ€” install Google Speech Services or use manual callsign entry." The text-input field at the top of Rover Mode always works as a fallback โ€” voice is an optional accelerator, never required. If you want voice on a Huawei device, install a compatible speech recogniser from your device's app store (Huawei AppGallery may offer HMS ML Kit; some users sideload Google Speech Services).

Q: My device is managed by my employer / parental controls and the mic is restricted. What does Ham Logging do?

A: If microphone access is blocked at the device-management level (iOS Screen Time, parental controls, MDM profile, etc.), Ham Logging shows: "Microphone access is restricted by device management or parental controls." The restriction can only be lifted by your administrator or the parent account that set it โ€” the app cannot bypass it. Manual callsign entry remains fully available.

Q: Why does Rover Mode show only some Modes in the dropdown?

A: Tap the tune icon (top right, left of the info icon) to pick which Modes appear. By default your global Default Mode (set in Settings) is pre-checked. Add the modes you operate while roving (e.g. SSB + FM + FT8). Your selection persists across sessions, so the next time you enter Rover Mode the dropdown is already filtered.

Q: Why does my "24.2" frequency turn into "24.200"?

A: Rover Mode auto-pads frequency entries to 3 decimals on blur. This matches the format the band-detection map and every sync service expects, so you don't have to type the trailing zeros every time. "144" becomes "144.000". The matching TX / RX bands are then set in the background when you save the QSO.

Q: Why did my RX frequency fill itself when I typed TX?

A: Rover Mode live-mirrors TX โ†’ RX as you type. Every keystroke in TX is reflected into RX in real time, so simplex satellite ops and APRS digipeaters (where TX equals RX) save a typing step. The mirror tracks its own writes โ€” the moment you tap RX and type your own value, the mirror notices the divergence and stops fighting you for the rest of the session. For cross-band ops (e.g. ISS V/U: TX 145.x, RX 437.x), just tap RX after TX is set and type the receive frequency. When both fields are empty (fresh entry into Rover Mode, or you cleared both), the mirror resumes on the next TX keystroke.

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ Map, Propagation & Spots FAQ

Q: Why don't my worked grids appear on the map?

A: The worked-grids layer needs your home grid set in Settings. Also confirm your QSOs have a gridsquare field populated. You can bulk-fill grids via Sync โ†’ Re-enrich Missing Fields.

Q: What's the Gray-Line signal-strength map?

A: A station-centric propagation heatmap showing predicted HF signal strength from your QTH to every point on Earth, using Inverse Distance Weighted MUF interpolation + a band-frequency model. The night polygon is a separate layer โ€” propagation colors dim on the night side. Tweak the band filter to see per-band openings.

Q: What does the Aurora overlay show?

A: Real-time aurora oval from NOAA SWPC OVATION data, rendered as a feathered theme-aware glow on the Gray-Line map. Useful for planning AU / NVIS / polar-path contacts.

Q: What's in the Spots tab?

A: Three modes in one segmented control โ€” DX Spots (DX cluster), POTA (Parks on the Air activator spots via the POTA API), and Contests (active contest activity). Each supports band + continent filtering and per-spot sharing.

๐Ÿ› Report a Bug

Found a bug? Help us improve Ham Logging by reporting it! When reporting bugs, please include:

Email bug reports to: [email protected] with subject "Bug Report: Ham Logging"

๐Ÿ’ก Feature Requests

Have an idea for a new feature? We'd love to hear from you! Please email your suggestions to [email protected] with subject "Feature Request: Ham Logging"

๐Ÿ“š Documentation & Resources

๐Ÿ“ฑ Platform Support

Ham Logging is available on multiple platforms:

๐Ÿ”„ Key Features Highlights

Still Need Help?

If you couldn't find an answer to your question, please don't hesitate to contact us:

๐Ÿ“ง Email: [email protected]
๐ŸŒ Website: https://unixeer.com
๐Ÿ“ป Callsign: A46UNX

73 de A46UNX โ€” Happy logging! ๐Ÿ“‹