The Three Amigos, Steve (M0XVT), Alan (G1SQB) and Mike (M0AWS) are delighted to announce piLog v1.0, a new Linux logging application for Amateur Radio Operators, with close integration for piHPSDR-Improved and support for FLRig. Designed to make logging simple without getting in the way of operating, piLog follows your radio and handles much of the routine work involved in recording a QSO.
Connect to piHPSDR-Improved through its rigctl CAT server or to FLRig using XML-RPC, and piLog follows frequency, band and mode in real time. It also reads the active receiver, split operation, satellite mode and PTT status. Frequency, mode and band are all filled in automatically whilst entries remain editable. piLog can also be used without a connected rig if required.
Logging a contact is straightforward. Enter a callsign and piLog can retrieve station details from its local QRZ cache, your previous log entries or QRZ.com , when configured (QRZ XML subscription required). Name, QTH, grid square and other available information are filled in automatically. Add signal reports, power or comments and press Save. Every contact is written to a local, standard ADIF file first, so your log is retained even when an online service is unavailable.
A major feature of piLog v1.0 is Net Mode. Instead of working with just one QSO form, operators can add multiple entries and prepare contacts as stations check into a net. Each entry is saved independently, avoiding the need to repeatedly clear and reuse a single form.
We believe piLog is the first amateur radio logging application to provide this kind of Net Mode logging, allowing more than one log entry to be entered at a time. It is a feature many amateurs have been asking for and, as far as we can establish, one not previously offered by another logging application.
Contacts can be organised automatically into ADIF files by mode, power (QRP or QRO) and satellite use, or kept together in one file. Optional background uploads send contacts to QRZ Logbook and eQSL. If an upload fails, piLog keeps it in a retry queue and tries again when connectivity returns. Satellite contacts, split operation and transverter/upconverter frequency offsets are also supported.
Beyond logging, piLog includes searchable log history, statistics by band, mode and power, and a world map showing stations worked. Its integrated DX Cluster view displays live spots on a zoomable map; click a spot to tune the connected radio and put the callsign into a QSO log entry. Distance and beam heading are displayed when grid information is available.
You can also send spots into the DX Cluster Network simply by adding a callsign and comment into the fields provided, the frequency is taken from the current active VFO and the spot is sent immediately into the DXC network once the “Spot” button is clicked.
Staying true to our promise of providing a simple to use GUI installer for all our creations, getting started is a breeze using our custom built piLog graphical installer. Built with Python and PyQt6, piLog is a Linux application, and its use of the widely supported ADIF format makes QSO data easy to use with other logging software and online services.
We’ve also written a detailed User Manual that you’ll find in the docs folder. It covers every aspect of piLog including details about where data is stored, how it’s stored and a lot more.
piLog v1.0 has been tested on Debian Linux 12/13, Linuxmint, Kubuntu, Ubuntu and of course RaspberryPi OS 12/13 and is ready for the amateur radio community.
We’ve put a lot of effort into testing over the last few weeks and have been using piLog whilst on air to ensure it’s as easy to use as possible and doesn’t get in the way of enjoying your air time.
We hope it makes everyday logging easier, and that Net Mode proves especially useful to operators running or taking part in on air nets by handling multiple contacts with ease.
You can get piLog simply by clicking the Download button below, unzip the file into a directory and run the installer. You’ll be ready to go in seconds.
More soon …
