Getting Started with Ham Radio Deluxe

On this page, you’ll find some notes on setting up Ham Radio Deluxe. These are incomplete, and have been put together to help a member who’s setting up HRD for the first time.

This assumes the free HRD version 5:

Setting Up HRD Log

To set up a blank log book, do the following:

  • Open the HRD Logbook program
  • Go to File > Open
  • Select Database – Create new database
  • Give it a title and description – I suggest you use your callsign for the title.  This will create an access (mdb) database which will be used to store your QSOs
  • Press OK

You should then get to a blank log

Ham Radio Deluxe - Blank Log
Ham Radio Deluxe – Blank Log
With the database for your log set up, you’ll need to add your details to the log, as follows:
  • Go to the Configure icon
  • Select “My Station” from the menu
  • Add your details. Most import here is the callsign

Here’s an example of how mine is set up:

Example of HRD My Station screen
Example of HRD My Station screen

Importing eQSL

If already have some QSOs logged, you can import them into your blank HRD log. Note that the callsign in HRD and inthe log you’re importing, must match!
If you have loaded QSOs into eQSL, you can simply import from eQSL. Here’s how to do this:
  • First, log on to eQSL
  • Go to your Outbox folder
  • At the bottom of the list, click on “Download Log in ADIF format”. It may take a while
  • Then, you should see the following message:
Exporting QSOs from the eQSL.cc website
Exporting QSOs from the eQSL.cc website

Select download as ADI and save the file on your computer (remember where you saved it!)

 Now to import it into HRD Logbook:
  • Go to the Logbook menu
  • Select Import > ADIF
  • Open the file you previously saved from eQSL

It should import your QSOs into your blank log.

 

How to Update your HRD Log with confimations from eQSL

You can get HRD Log to check eQSL and see which of your QSOs have been confirmed via eQSL. When you do this, a log of eQSL confirmations is downloaded, and matching records get updates. You can then see whether a QSO has been confirmed by eQSL – Handy for awards!

To do this, open your log in HRD and go to Logbook > eQSL.cc > Download

Download eQSL data into Ham Radio Deluxe
Download eQSL data into Ham Radio Deluxe

At the next screen, add your username and password for eQSL. Select a date to import from (earliest QSO) and select “Download from eQSL.cc”:

Importing eQSL data into HRD - The "Download" screen
Importing eQSL data into HRD – The “Download” screen

If all’s gone well, your blank HRD log should now be populated with your old QSOs!