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Keeping a daily record of what you hear is
vital for the DXer or even the more casual listener. It's
more than just a listing of the different stations you hear,
but a journal of your short-wave travels, and a history of
your reception techniques. It provides detailed information
you can recall for reception reports, research on particular
stations, reception conditions over a period of time, or
proof of your receiver and antenna's performance.
What should your logbook include? Some DXers use form sheets
to remember all the important information, but this can
restrict your record keeping by not allowing enough line
space for details you consider vital. There is no law that
says you have to use a particular form or make up your logs
a certain way. As long as you include certain key elements
in your report then the format is strictly a matter of
personal choice. Those items which should appear in every
report include: The date, time, station, location, signal
and interference, plus programming heard.
To begin your log, record the date, your address, and a
description of your receiver and antenna. Remember to
log any changes in your listening setup that may occur. Now
you are ready to begin logging. Keep a checklist handy for
those basic points for each station logging, which again
are: The date, time, station, location, signal and
interference, plus programming heard.
Multiple loggings of the same station aren't necessary
unless there is something unusual you'd like lo record. For
example if you listen to KNLS frequently, you don't need to
stop and log it each time unless there is something unusual
in the broadcast worth noting. Also allow yourself to log
general observations without a separate logging for each
station, such as a notation that broadcasts from a certain
region are good on a particular night.
It cannot be stressed enough that log keeping, once all the
important points are included, should be a matter of
personal choice. There is no right way or wrong way to keep
a log. Soil you prefer to comment heavily on the programs or
news events you hear, do it. If you're more interested in
the DX value of a station, go into detail on the signal,
band conditions, and the antenna being used. Don't just
keep records. Make your log book a personal journal,
and it will make interesting reading for you in years to
come. Alter your writing style from time to time lo keep
things fresh and don't be afraid of writing too much.
One other bit of record keeping that might prove handy is
the cross-reference. This is easy for computer users, but 3
by 5 file cards will do just fine. Every month, or maybe at
the end of the season, go back through your log and make up
a card for each station you heard. File the cards
alphabetically by continent or country. Put the station's ID
and location at the top and include other station details,
like power, address, who operates it, or station history.
Then, the rest of the card can be made up of the date and
time of each logging for that station. This system will
allow you to locate a particular log entry without having to
leaf through your journal page-by-page.
Basic Entries For A Log
- Universal Date & Time
- Station call sign
- Broadcast frequency
- Signal strength
- Signal interference
- Program description
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