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Ham Contesting Software

N1MM Logger+, Skookumlogger, Win-Test — the contest-night control centers, plus integrations.

Contesting is competitive ham radio: weekend events where you make as many QSOs as possible, exchange the contest-specific data ("CQ Test 599 NY"), and submit a Cabrillo log file at the end. N1MM Logger+ dominates in the US/Caribbean; Win-Test in Europe; Skookumlogger on Mac. The software handles dupe checking, scoring, multiplier tracking, CW keyer integration, SO2R radio switching, and final log submission. Cross-link with Ham Logging (general-purpose loggers), Ham Rig Control (Hamlib), Ham CW & Morse (CW skimmers).

The big three

  • ★ N1MM Logger+ — Windows-only, .NET; free, closed source; the de-facto US contest standard. Supports nearly every domestic and international contest's rules, scoring, exchange validation. SO2R (Single-Op-Two-Radios) support via DXDoubler / microHAM / W5XD. CW keyer interface, voice keyer, integration with CW Skimmer, packet cluster, telnet cluster. Cabrillo export. Active development.
  • ★ Win-Test (F5MZN) — Windows; paid (~$50, lifetime); the European contest standard. Excellent SO2R support, multi-op networking, mature contest module library. Closed source.
  • ★ Skookumlogger (K1GQ) — macOS native, free, closed. The Mac contester's choice. Less common contest-rule coverage than N1MM but well-loved on Apple hardware.

Other contest loggers

  • TR4W (Translog 4 Windows) — Windows; closed; popular in Eastern Europe / Russia. Excellent for CQ WW / CW contests.
  • WriteLog — Windows; closed; paid (~$100); old-school contest log; loyal user base for RTTY contests.
  • MMTTY + 2Tone + N1MM — RTTY contesting workflow; the de-facto path. MMTTY is the classic RTTY engine.
  • TLog (Tucnak) — Linux; FOSS; popular in Czech / European VHF contests.
  • YFKtest — Linux; FOSS; basic contest logger; lightweight.
  • Cqrlog — see Ham Logging — has basic contest support but isn't a full contest logger.
  • N3FJP Field Day Contest Log — Windows; ~$30; specifically for ARRL Field Day; very popular.
  • RUMped (RUMlog Contest) — macOS; companion to RUMlog for contesting; free.

CW Skimmer / spotting

  • ★ CW Skimmer (VE3NEA) — Windows; paid (~$75); a magic SDR-based multi-band CW decoder + spotter. Uses an SDR (RTL-SDR / Airspy / Perseus) to decode every CW signal in a band simultaneously; feeds spots into N1MM / DXLab. The single most game-changing tool of the last decade for CW contesting. Closed.
  • ★ RBN (Reverse Beacon Network) — global crowd-sourced CW Skimmer network; reports who's calling CQ where, in real-time. Free service. Telnet feed integrates with N1MM.
  • CWGet / CWType / FLDIGI CW — alternative CW decoders; free.

SO2R / multi-op hardware

  • microHAM SO2R / U2R / MK2R+ / DXDoubler — purpose-built SO2R audio switching boxes. ~$300–700.
  • Ten-Tec / Idiom Press DXDoubler — older; functional.
  • W5XD Multi-Master — automation box; classic.
  • microHAM Station Master Deluxe — top-tier station automation.

CW keyer / paddle interfaces

  • ★ WinKey USB (K1EL) — the standard CW keyer interface for N1MM / Win-Test. Connects to PC via USB, paddle to keyer, keyed output to radio. Open API; nearly every contest logger supports it. ~$80.
  • Mortty / OpenWinKey — open-source / kit alternatives to WinKey; same protocol.
  • Hamlib rigctl CW — software CW keying; lower-quality timing on poor PCs but works.
  • Direct rig CW interface — modern radios accept ASCII CW commands over CAT.

Logging / submission

  • Cabrillo format — every contest accepts Cabrillo (.log). Loggers export it; you upload via the contest's website (3830, ARRL, CQWW, etc.).
  • 3830scores.com — community contest score reporting / claims; everyone reports their contest weekend on 3830 within 24 hours.
  • WA7BNM Contest Calendar — the universal contest schedule.

Practical guidance

  • Run vs S&P. "Run" = call CQ on a frequency and let stations come to you. "S&P" (Search & Pounce) = tune around finding stations to work. Most loggers have separate logging modes for each.
  • Network multi-op. N1MM and Win-Test both support station networking — multiple operators on multiple radios in a contest, sharing dupe / mult info via TCP. Cabrillo merges at submission time.
  • Pre-fill / Master.dta. Before a contest, load a "supercheck partial" dictionary (Master.dta from N1MM) — when you type a partial callsign, the logger autocompletes from a database of likely callsigns. Massive accuracy boost on busy bands.
  • CW Skimmer's value. A CW Skimmer + RBN feed populates your bandmap automatically with "stations calling CQ"; one-click QSY to S&P them. Doubles or triples a casual op's QSO rate.
  • Voice keyers. N1MM has a built-in voice keyer; record "CQ contest, [callsign]" and bind to F1. Saves your voice; lets you sound consistent over a 24-hour effort.
  • 3830 your score. Even casual ops should — it's how the contest community measures health and shares feedback.

License / pricing notes

  • N1MM Logger+ / Skookumlogger — free, closed.
  • Win-Test / WriteLog / CW Skimmer — paid, closed.
  • TLog / TR4W / YFKtest / RUMped — free / FOSS.
  • WinKey is hardware (~$80); the protocol is open.
  • No ham contest software is GPL — the field is dominated by free-as-in-beer Windows apps.
  • Tucnak (TLog) is the rare GPL exception.

Pick this if…

  • Default US contest software: N1MM Logger+.
  • Default European contest software: Win-Test.
  • Default macOS contest software: Skookumlogger.
  • CW contest superpower: CW Skimmer + an RTL-SDR + RBN feed.
  • Field Day: N3FJP FD Contest Log or N1MM with the Field Day module.
  • Linux/FOSS contest: Tucnak (TLog) — limited, but exists.
  • CW keyer: WinKey USB. Don't fight it.

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