Log books?

[STTScott]

I'm dating myself, but I first got involved in amateur radio back when the CB craze was going on (late 1970s), except our household branched off into SSB. We in our club had monster kickers, monster moonraker antennas, and connecting with far-flung peopke in very distant places was always a major kick. A lot of us even exchanged postcards.

 

Anyways, another aspect of this was the log book, which we would fill out meticulously and at club meetings, we'd see who went the furthest, got the most contacts, etcetcetc. That was fun, and it's good to see it's still alive.

 

So ... Are log books still a thing? Where might they be available for order?

huge 

 

 

[axorlov]

Logbooks on GMRS? Nonsense, my friend.

Logbooks on Ham band? Whatever blows your skirt, it's a free country.

[WRCZ387]

Here is a link to a free log sheet

 

https://www.businessformtemplate.com/preview/Amateur_Radio_Station_Log 

 

They offer both .pdf & .doc formats

 

If you download the .doc version, you can customize or tweak it to your needs

 

I remember the Radio Shack log book

 

I also was into CB in the mid-70s, loved operating on SSB, both local QSOs & shooting skip

[mbrun]

I'm dating myself, but I first got involved in amateur radio back when the CB craze was going on (late 1970s), except our household branched off into SSB. We in our club had monster kickers, monster moonraker antennas, and connecting with far-flung peopke in very distant places was always a major kick. A lot of us even exchanged postcards.

 

Anyways, another aspect of this was the log book, which we would fill out meticulously and at club meetings, we'd see who went the furthest, got the most contacts, etcetcetc. That was fun, and it's good to see it's still alive.

 

So ... Are log books still a thing? Where might they be available for order?

 

Yes, Log Books are used almost every day by amateur radio enthusiasts. Only nowadays there are software and online versions available. I do not know that anyone uses them for everyday communication, but certainly the amateurs that live in the DX world (long-distance and world-wide communication) use them, and many still send cards to confirm the contact.

 

I personally keep a log of new contacts I make when communicating from within my home where I have access to my log and where it is convenient and safe to do. I do this for both GMRS and Amateur contacts. I log call sign, first name, and some notes about the person to help me start the conversation next time.

 

The log book on QRZ.com website is nice. It does not work well for GMRS. If you are a ham, and you a contesting for distance, it is a great tool because when you record your contact, it also notifies your contact so they can confirm that contact was made. Confirmation can be required at times to receive full contest points.

 

Michael

WRHS965

KE8PLM

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[1URFE57]

In my previous QTH I use Logbook for CW and SSB contacts now I use Winlog32 for FT8 contact but I still prefer a Logbook I will start logging contacts again since I'm back with CW. 

[n4gix]

I use QRZ.com for my HF logging, and send/receive to my LoTW (Logbook of the World) account.

I no longer bother logging 2m or 70cm except for the occasional simplex contact.

[mainehazmt]

I use qrz logging for new dx logging.  On a daily basis I use the old fashioned composition note book and pen on the daily net I am on.  In that logbook I record all the users of the net daily. Weather info for myself and others and a diary of sorts on how I feel physically.  Also any important info I jot down for the day. Birthdays,anniversary and some pissing and moaning.  If I had a contact on my GMRS repeater I probably would add it to my daily log

[WRJZ943]

I'm new to GMRS, but there are several repeaters in my area and have made contact with quite a few licensed users. I just created an excel spreadsheet.  I mainly did it so that I could start recognizing and learning call signs. Basically it just has columns for names, call sign, location and short note to help me remember who's who. Being able to review the information I've been able to learn others call signs rather quickly.

[Citizen]

I'm new to GMRS, but there are several repeaters in my area and have made contact with quite a few licensed users. I just created an excel spreadsheet.  I mainly did it so that I could start recognizing and learning call signs. Basically it just has columns for names, call sign, location and short note to help me remember who's who. Being able to review the information I've been able to learn others call signs rather quickly.

 

I did the same thing (created an Excel spreadsheet) of call signs/names/locations in my area.  Only I separated the first 4-letters of the call sign from the last 3-digits and put them in separate columns.  This is so I can sort all of them numerically by the 3-digits, because it's much easier to catch them that way when listening or find them when looking them up.  I've only had one case of duplicate 3-digits (of course the 4-letters are different).  I also use a different tab for which repeater I'm on.

 

Now I have about 90+ entries and am considering putting them in an Access database.

 

...

[n4gix]

I use a simple and free logging program for ham radio logging, but works easily for GMRS as well... Net Log 1.0

[mbrun]

I use a simple and free logging program for ham radio logging, but works easily for GMRS as well... Net Log 1.0

Could you post a link to the app you use?

 

 

Michael

WRHS965

KE8PLM

[mcessna]

On 1/12/2021 at 8:31 AM, WRJZ943 said:

I'm new to GMRS, but there are several repeaters in my area and have made contact with quite a few licensed users. I just created an excel spreadsheet.  I mainly did it so that I could start recognizing and learning call signs. Basically it just has columns for names, call sign, location and short note to help me remember who's who. Being able to review the information I've been able to learn others call signs rather quickly.

for us NON COMPUTER persons, would love for someone to share an excel or any spread sheet, writing everyone's calls, when I make contact is getting in to 2nd page, i'm too old to be trying to learn how to do this...any help would be greatful

 

[Socalgmrs]

Gmrs is for using while doing an activity with people you already know.  Ham is for making contacts.  Why would you need a log book for strangers on Gmrs. 

[WSHH887]

For the very old or computer illiterate, long ago we had a thing call pen and paper.  You could even get paper with lines already printed on it.  I suppose one could just write down the call sign and name then refer back to the paper when needed.  I know these are archaic ideas, but I'm old and slow.

 

Oh by the way I am putting together a spreadsheet with all of the accessible repeaters in my area.  It includes things like the owner/call sign, TX frequency and RX frequency,  codes, plus other stuff I just found interesting.  It's not complete yet, but if anyone in the Greater Los Angeles are is interested.

[Blaise]

On 5/28/2025 at 12:10 AM, WSHH887 said:

For the very old or computer illiterate, long ago we had a thing call pen and paper. 

When I was a boy, we wrote with our fingers.  In the dirt. Then we hoped it wouldn't rain before we needed to remember what we wrote!

[Raybestos]

9 hours ago, Blaise said:

When I was a boy, we wrote with our fingers.  In the dirt. Then we hoped it wouldn't rain before we needed to remember what we wrote!

I remember in Middle School, some dork used to "finger paint" on the inside of the stall walls and doors in the bathroom.  MyGMRS TOS probably forbids me mentioning the media he used for this activity.  I don't think the janitor was happy about it, either.

 

Edit:  Good grief!  This is still going on today per this YouTube video that popped up on my feed, this morning!

 

[H8SPVMT]

We used log books in the US Navy when communticating with other ships before computers.  I did SSB with my CB in Hawaii off the 17th floor and never thought to do a log. What did it matter I thoght.

Same feelings today.  We (at home) never logged phone comms when telephones were new.  In business relations note might have been taken on a scratch pad and of course in the Navy Petty Officers all carried a pocket notebook (wheel book) and might still do.

But keeping track of GMRS conversations during daily activities seems a waste of effort... to me. And with that said, I do have a list (and make one when traveling) of the Repeater Stations that I might encounter during my travels after mapping my routes, just in case.

[Davichko5650]

On 12/11/2020 at 11:29 PM, STTScott said:

 

 

So ... Are log books still a thing? Where might they be available for order?

 

ARRL has log books. I have a mini one for the occasional portable no cell service ops.  Never have I ever logged a GMRS or CBRS contact, but the fields in a log book can be modified to suit any radio service I would think.

[73blazer]

On 5/27/2025 at 7:59 PM, Socalgmrs said:

Gmrs is for using while doing an activity with people you already know.  Ham is for making contacts.  Why would you need a log book for strangers on Gmrs. 

Wrong on both counts. GMRS is for whatever you want it to be used for. HAM is for whatever you want it to be used for. There are plenty of HAM's who use HAM while off-roading or hiking.There are  plenty of GMRS users "making contacts" especially through repeaters. Who cares what they use it for. It's there to be used, for whatever someone wants to use it for.  If someone wants to use a log book regardless of service, why would you even care?!