A New Spin on JT Alert, HRD Logbook and WSJT-X
JT-Alert and HRD Together Again
Yes, once again JT-Alert is supporting the paid version of Ham Radio Deluxe log book. So if you have the latest versions of both of these programs, they will work together.
Today I personally use DXLab DXKeeper for my general logging. It is a free program. See DXLab DXKeeper Configuration For Beginners.
New Solution to an Old Problem
For some it's hard to get rig control working using these programs together. What cable do I need? Which program controls the radio? I get a HamLib error, what do I do? Why does my software key the transmitter when it opens? These are common questions. This article and video will address those and more.
I have other articles and videos showing different approaches using Ham Radio Deluxe, WSJT-X and JT-Alert together, but I think this is the easiest way.
Don't Use Ham Radio Deluxe Rig Control
With this configuration we don't use the HRD rig control, just HRD Logbook. It works perfectly fine this way. I have done it in the past without issue and tested it again recently. Just startup HRD Logbook from the shortcut and when you get the Connection failed error, click OK.
WSJT-X and JT Alert will log the correct mode and signal report. JT Alert and HRD Logbook will even add the QSO partners name and QTH if setup properly.
Menu>Set>Connectors in the Icom 7300 and Icom 7610
See the screen capture links below.
Configure WSJT-X to Control Your Radio
I am using a USB cable this time and it works FB. Open WSJT-X and go to File>Settings>Radio and configure your radio. If you get a HamLib error, you may have to install HamLib. See: Ham Radio Control Libraries (HamLib). That HamLib error can also just be a configuration error.
Data/Pkt may not work with your radio, but it does with the Icom 7300 and Icom 7610.
Also, make sure there is nothing else using the COM port. Sometimes a program in the background will have control of the COM port. Close all other Ham radio programs that use that COM port.
Go to the Audio tab and configure the Soundcard Input and Output.
Go to the Reporting tab and check off the boxes for Enabling PSK Reporter (not necessary, but nice). Also check the boxes associated with UDP.
Configure JT-Alert for HRD Logbook V6
Open JTAlert and go to Setting>Manage Settings>Logging>HRD V5/V6 and setup your logbook information. The other screen captures above are mentioned in the video.
I have a few more things I go over in the video, but that's about it.
Video - It's long, but necessary.
Am I missing anything? Thank you for visiting my website. I hope you find this informative and useful. If you have a problem with it, please comment below. I'll do my best to answer you and that way others can benefit from your experience. Best 73 and good DX - Rich, K0PIR
Resources:
I originally tried HRD and didn’t like it. Next I tried DXLabs suite which does everything I could ever ask for. When I started with WSJT-X, I setup rig control using DX Commander. It wasn’t long before I dropped Commander and configured WSJT-X for my rig control. So, I settled on pretty much the same setup as you have here except I am using DXKeeper which I am totally pleased with. I also have JT-Alert configured to start everything when I click on its icon. I have been in data processing for 50 years now and I learned long ago that simpler is BETTER!
Thanx for all the great suggestions and videos!
Hi Tom,
Nice to hear from you.
I have not tried it with my DXLab DXKeeper this way yet, but I will. Thank you for mentioning it.
The only real drawback I see with this way and HRD is it does not upload the ON AIR to HRDLog.net for me because HRD rig control is not running. Not a big deal. Anything I was tempted to do with the HRD rig control software, ie., tuner, turning off NB, NR, etc. can easily be done on the front of the radio.
Nice to hear from you, 73 and good DX. – Rich, K0PIR
Using Win4Icom, I do not use HRD rig control and the win4icom suite has the HRD server built in. Look t the instructins for Third Party Applications for the setup. Works great. I only open the logbook.
Sounds good Brad. Win4Icom looks like a great program. – Rich, K0PIR.us
Thanks Rich for your EXCELLENT video that solved my problem with HRD and WSJT sharing the same
COM port. Now I don’t have to pull out my few remaining hairs to solve this issue. Keep up the good and very informative videos.
Tom,
I have broken google searching for an answer but every time I log a contact using the exact setup you have it logs twice with a lot of missing information on each but different missing information. I am stumped have any thoughts ??
Hi Richard,
Nice to hear from you. It sounds like maybe you have JT Alert logging into HRD Logbook as well as WSJT-X logging into HRD Logbook.
WSJT-X is able to log into HRD Logbook if you have QSO forwarding setup in HRD Logbook. In HRD Logbook have a look at Tools>Configure>QSO Forwarding.
JT Alert will also log into HRD Logbook if you have that setup in JT Alert. Under Settings>Manage Settings>Logging.
Could you have both of those doing the logging?
For the information pulled into HRD Logbook I use QRZ.com for the Callsign Lookup, but there are other options. In HRD Logbook have a look at Tools>Configure>Callsign Lookup.
Rich, K0PIR
Hi Rich, I`m having the same problem with double logging, which is the best one to use WSJT-X or JT Alert, and do I just disable the one I don`t want to use.
Many thanks for all your input and videos, Johnny, GM7LSI.
Hi John,
It’s nice to hear from you and I hope all is well where you are.
You will log with wsjtx and if you have JT alert enabled as well as QSO forwarding I would disable JT Alert for logging. I hope I’m understanding you correctly and I hope this helps. Take care and best 73!