Bob wrote:
What is the software hams use to identify contacts, record and log them? Is
it freeware? Do you need to be logged onto the net for its updates to its
directories? Any advice always appreciated, links or info,,,,,

There are as many answers to this question as there are hamsgrin...
Seriously, there must be dozens if not hundreds of logging programs out
there. The ac6v.com link posted elsewhere in this thread is a good
place to start looking.

I'm not entirely sure I know what you mean by "identify contacts".
Usually that's done by copying the other guy's callsign over the air.
(arguably, you don't have a contact if you didn't copy the other guy's
call over the radio!) Or do you mean to find more information about a
station once you've copied the callsign?

There are databases that will cross-reference callsigns to names &
addresses; www.qrz.com is a popular one, I think they also still sell
their database on CD so you can use it even if you aren't logged onto
the 'Net. There are simpler databases that will cross-reference a
callsign to that station's country. In some logging programs, this
lookup function is part of the program; in others, a separate program is
used. (often, just a web browser)

As for my own station, I have a homemade program running as Perl CGI
scripts on a computer in the den; QSOs are logged in a MySQL database,
and the Windows computer in the hamshack attaches to the webserver in
the den to log(/search) QSOs. Works pretty well, though I don't have
any of the address lookup functions. (guess I should add that someday)
--
Doug Smith W9WI
Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66
http://www.w9wi.com