== Getting Started with DXLab ==

 * [[ArticleIndex|Article Index]]

Welcome to DXLab! 

DXing is the art and science of making two-way contacts with distant amateur radio stations using phone (voice), CW (Morse code), or digital modes.

The '''DXLab Suite''' is a free set of applications that support DXing activities. You can use them individually, but when multiple DXLab applications are running they detect each other's presence and interoperate automatically. One benefit of this approach is that you can learn applications individually. It doesn't matter where you begin, or what sequence you choose: start with one application that satisfies an interest or need, and get comfortable with it. Then choose the next application that suits your fancy, and repeat the process. What's important is taking your time and having fun. 

Each DXLab application's primary functionality is accessible from its Main window. The Main windows of some applications are tabbed, with each tab focused on an activity; buttons that activate windows that provide secondary functionality may also be provided. Every application's Main window provides a '''Config''' button that displays a Configuration window that makes the application's settings accessible; some applications employ a tabbed Configuration window organized around functions. Letting the mouse cursor hover for a few seconds over any button or setting will produce a popup explanation of its function.

DXLab applications expect that you have Windows configured to the correct time zone and time. Use the '''Windows Control Panel''' to run the '''Date and Time''' applet in order to set the correct time zone and time within that time zone.

After installing and configuring your DXLab applications, [[BackupRecovery|ensure that critical files and settings are backed up!]]

<<BR>>
=== Introductory Documentation ===

 * [[https://www.dxlabsuite.com/Presentations/DXing%20with%20DXLab%20IDXC%202021%20v11.pdf|DXing with DXLab]] - a PDF presentation that illustrates DXLab's architecture and support for DXing

 * [[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/differentiators.htm|Summary of Capabilities]]

 * [[http://stationproject.wordpress.com/2014/12/11/an-introduction-to-the-dxlab-suite/|Video Introduction to DXLab]] by Fred AB1OC 

 * For a quick introduction, review these articles:

   1. [[Logging|Logging]]

   1. [[QSLing|QSLing]]

   1. [[QSLRouteDiscovery|Discovering QSL Routes]]

   1. [[DXCCStatus|Pursuing DXCC and TopList Awards]]

   1. Operating in Digital Modes

     a. [[PSK_Operation|PSK]]

     a. [[RTTY_Operation|RTTY]]

     a. [[GettingStartedwithK1JTModes|K1JT modes like FT8 and FT4]]

   1. [[CollectingSpots|Identifying and Analyzing Active DX Stations]]

   1. [[DXingWithDXLab|DXing with DXLab]]

   1. [[PropagationWithDXLab|Propagation Prediction and Monitoring with DXLab]]

 * [[InstallLauncher|Ready to Download and Install DXLab?]]

 * [[SwitchingToDXKeeper|Switching to DXKeeper from Another Logging Application]]

 * [[BackupRecovery|Ensuring that critical files and settings are backed up!]]

<<BR>>
=== Reference Documentation ===

Each DXLab application has ''reference'' documentation that describes its capabilities and options. To get comfortable with a DXLab application, start by scanning this documentation to create an inventory of the application's features that you plan to use first. ''It's important that you ignore all details and secondary features during this scan!;'' you can always return for the details when needed, and you can always return to scan for secondary features once you've mastered the most important ones. Reference documentation is available in an online (HTML) format that you can view with your web browser, and in a downloadable PDF format that is easy to search or print: 

||'''Application'''||'''Functions'''||'''HTML Reference Documentation'''||'''PDF Reference Documentation'''||
||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/commander|Commander]]||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/commander/CommanderMainSpectrum.jpg|Transceiver Control]], [[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/commander/screenshot2.jpg|Bandspread]]||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/commander/Help/index.htm|Commander]]||[[http://www.ambersoft.com/DXLab/Commander/Commander.pdf|Commander]]||
||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/dxkeeper|DXKeeper]]||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/dxkeeper/Capture.jpg|Logging]], [[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/dxkeeper/QSL.jpg|QSLing]], [[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/dxkeeper/RAT.jpg|Award Tracking]]||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/dxkeeper/Help/index.htm|DXKeeper]]||[[http://www.ambersoft.com/DXLab/DXKeeper/DXKeeper.pdf|DXKeeper]]||
||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/dxview|DXView]]||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/dxview/MainWindow.jpg|DX Information]], [[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/dxview/WorldMap.jpg|World Map]]||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/dxview/Help/index.htm|DXView]]||[[http://www.ambersoft.com/DXLab/DXView/DXView.pdf|DXView]]||
||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/Launcher|Launcher]]||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/Launcher/Launcher.jpg|Suite Control]]||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/Launcher/Help/index.htm|Launcher]]||[[http://www.ambersoft.com/DXLab/DXLabLauncher/Launcher.pdf|Launcher]]||
||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/pathfinder|Pathfinder]]||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/pathfinder/Pathfinder.jpg|QSL Route Discovery]]||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/pathfinder/Help.htm|Pathfinder]]||[[http://www.ambersoft.com/DXLab/Pathfinder/Pathfinder.pdf|Pathfinder ]]||
||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/propview|PropView]]||Propagation [[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/propview/PropViewBands.jpg|Prediction]] and [[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/propview/beacons.jpg|Monitoring]]||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/propview/Help/index.htm|PropView]]||[[http://www.ambersoft.com/DXLab/PropView/PropView.pdf|PropView]]||
||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/spotcollector|SpotCollector]]||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/spotcollector/spotdatabase.jpg|DX Spot Management]]||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/spotcollector/Help/index.htm|SpotCollector]]||[[http://www.ambersoft.com/DXLab/SpotCollector/SpotCollector.pdf|SpotCollector]]||
||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/winwarbler|WinWarbler]]||CW, Phone, [[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/winwarbler/PSK%20Full%20Screenshot.jpg|PSK]], and [[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/winwarbler/RTTY%20Full%20Screenshot.jpg|RTTY]] operation||[[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/winwarbler/Help/index.htm|WinWarbler]]||[[http://www.ambersoft.com/DXLab/WinWarbler/WinWarbler.pdf|WinWarbler]]||

To search for specific information, use the appropriate application's PDF file, as it provides all information within a single file. 

When you install a DXLab application, a local copy of its HTML reference documentation is created in the application's {{{Help}}} folder; '''Help''' buttons in the application provide immediate access to this local copy without internet access delays.

After scanning an application's reference documentation, start that application, choose an interesting function, and refer to the documentation to help you configure the application to support that function. For example, if the application is '''Commander''' and the function is '''transceiver control,''' then the minimum configuration would be choosing a radio model, choosing a serial port, and setting that serial port's parameters. Then choose the next interesting function and get it going; repeat this process until the application is doing everything you need.

<<BR>>
=== Goal-oriented Documentation ===

In contrast with the ''reference'' documentation, ''goal-oriented'' documentation describes how to accomplish an objective by taking specific actions, step-by-step; this is often referred to as ''how to'' documentation:

||[[InstallingDXLabApplications|Downloading and Installing DXLab Applications]]<<BR>> * [[InstallNTXP|on Windows NT, 2000, or XP]]<<BR>> * [[InstallVista|on Windows Vista]]<<BR>> * [[InstallWin7|on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 or Windows 11]]<<BR>> * [[DXLabLinux|on Linux]]<<BR>> * [[DXLabMacintosh|on Macintosh]]<<BR>><<BR>>[[UpgradeApplication|Upgrading an Installed DXLab Application]]<<BR>>{{{ }}}||
||[[TransceiverControl|Getting Started with Transceiver Control]]<<BR>> * [[TranceiverControlAlinco|Alinco]]<<BR>> * [[TranceiverControlApache|Apache Labs]]<<BR>> * [[TransceiverControlDZKIT|DZKIT]]<<BR>> * [[TransceiverControlElecraft|Elecraft]]<<BR>> * !FlexRadio<<BR>>{{{ }}} - [[FlexSignature|Signature and Aurora Series]]<<BR>>{{{ }}} - [[TransceiverControlFlexradio|SDR-1000, SDR-1500, SDR-3000, and SDR-5000]]<<BR>>  * [[TranceiverControlIcom|Icom]]<<BR>> * [[TranceiverControlKachina|Kachina]]<<BR>> * [[TranceiverControlKenwood|Kenwood]]<<BR>> * [[TranceiverControlSkySDR|SKY-SDR]]<<BR>> * [[TranceiverControlTenTec|TenTec]]<<BR>> * [[TranceiverControlXiegu|Xiegu]]<<BR>> * [[TranceiverControlYaesu|Yaesu]]<<BR>>{{{ }}}<<BR>>  * [[ControlDeviceViaSecondaryCATPort|Enabling an External Device like an Antenna Tuner or Amplifier to Track the Primary Transceiver's Frequency via Commander's Secondary CAT Port]]<<BR>>  * [[SDRTopics|Software-defined Radios, Consoles, and Panadaptors]]<<BR>>  * [[SatelliteTracking|Interoperating with the SatPC32 Satellite Tracking application]]<<BR>> * [[RemoteControl|Remotely Controlling a Transceiver over the Internet]]<<BR>>{{{ }}}||
||[[DxInfo|Getting Started with DX Information and Mapping]]<<BR>> * [[CreateEntityOverride| Using Overrides to Deal with Ambiguous or Non-compliant Callsigns]]<<BR>> * [[CreateEntityOverride| Using Overrides to Specify Additional Information for a Callsign]]<<BR>>* [[ViewQRZPage| Viewing a Station's QRZ Web Page]]<<BR>>{{{ }}} ||
||[[RotatorControl|Getting Started with Antenna Rotator Control]]<<BR>>{{{ }}}||
||[[Logging|Getting Started with Logging]]<<BR>> * [[QSOCapture|Capturing QSOs in real time using the Capture window]]<<BR>> * [[LogCompletedQSOs|Logging completed QSOs, e.g. from a paper logbook]]<<BR>> * [[QSODisplay|Displaying, Selecting, and Modifying QSOs]]<<BR>> * [[QSOFiltering| Filtering QSOs]]<<BR>> * [[QSOSorting| Sorting QSOs]]<<BR>> * [[QSOModifying| Modifying QSOs En Masse]]<<BR>> * [[QSOImport| Importing QSOs]]<<BR>> * [[QSOExport| Exporting QSOs]]<<BR>><<BR>> * [[SwitchingToDXKeeper| Switching to DXKeeper from Another Logging Application]]<<BR>>{{{ }}}||
||[[QSLing|Getting Started with QSLing]]<<BR>> * [[HardcopyQSLing|Cards and Labels]]<<BR>> * [[QSLingeQSL|eQSL.cc]]<<BR>> * [[QSLingLotW|LotW]]<<BR>> * [[QSLingClubLog|Club Log]]<<BR>> * [[QSLingQRZ|QRZ]]<<BR>>{{{ }}}||
||[[AwardTracking|Getting Started with Award Tracking]]<<BR>> * [[MarathonAwardTracking|Getting Started with DX Marathon Award Tracking]]<<BR>> * [[DXCCAwardTracking|Getting Started with DXCC and TopList Award Tracking]]<<BR>> * [[IOTAAwardTracking|Getting Started with IOTA Award Tracking]]<<BR>> * [[LeaderboardAwardTracking|Getting Started with Leaderboard Tracking]]<<BR>> * [[MaidenheadStatus|Getting Started with Maidenhead Field and Grid Award Tracking]]<<BR>> * [[FFMAAwardTracking|Getting Started with FFMA Tracking]]<<BR>> * [[NPOTAAwardTracking|Getting Started with NPOTA Tracking]]<<BR>> * [[USCountyStatus|Getting Started with USA-CA (US County) Award Tracking]]<<BR>> * [[VUCCAwardTracking|Getting Started with VUCC Award Tracking]]<<BR>> * [[WASAwardTracking|Getting Started with WAS Award Tracking]]<<BR>> * [[WAZAwardTracking|Getting Started with WAZ Award Tracking]]<<BR>> * [[WPXAwardTracking|Getting Started with WPX Award Tracking]]<<BR>><<BR>> * [[AwardProgressReports|Tracking Progress Towards AJA, Canadaward, CQ DX, CQ DX Field, DDFM, DOK, FFMA, Holyland, JCC, JCG, RDA, SOTA, SRR, TopList, USA-CA, WAB, WABP, WAC, WAE, WAHUC, WAIP, WAJA, WIA, and WITU Awards]]<<BR>>{{{ }}}||
||[[QSLRouteDiscovery|Getting Started with QSL Route Discovery]]<<BR>>{{{ }}}||
||[[Operation|Getting Started with CW, Phone, PSK, and RTTY Operation]]<<BR>> * [[CW_Operation|CW]]<<BR>> * [[Phone_Operation|Phone]]<<BR>> * [[PSK_Operation|PSK]]<<BR>> * [[RTTY_Operation|RTTY]]<<BR>>{{{ }}}||
||[[GettingStartedwithK1JTModes|Getting Started with K1JT modes like FT8 and FT4 using WSJT-X and DXLab]]<<BR>>{{{ }}}||
||[[CollectingSpots|Collecting Spots: Active DX Identification and Analytics]]<<BR>>{{{ }}}||
||[[PropagationWithDXLab|Propagation Prediction and Monitoring]]<<BR>>{{{ }}}||
||[[Contesting|Getting Started with Contesting]]<<BR>>{{{ }}}||
||[[Interoperation| Interoperation with Other Amateur Radio Applications]]<<BR>>{{{ }}}||


Each of the above articles in this Wiki provides an entry point to a ''goal-oriented'' article in a specific domain. An index of all articles is [[ArticleIndex|here]]. You can also find ''goal-oriented'' articles via the '''FindPage''' tab in the upper-left corner of each Wiki page; when clicked, '''Title Search''' and '''Full-text Search''' capabilities become available; the '''FindPage''' tab also provides access to a '''TitleIndex''' and a '''WordIndex'''. Each article also provides '''Titles''' and '''Text''' search buttons in its upper-right corner.

Unlike most Windows applications, __DXLab applications do not provide menu bars at the top of their windows__. In applications with large amounts of functionality, such menus make it difficult to quickly locate the function you need. To configure a DXLab application, click the Main window's '''Config''' button. A '''Configuration''' window bearing settings will appear. If the text accompanying a setting is too terse to understand, place the mouse cursor over the text box, selector, radio button, checkbox, or slider in question for second or two, and an ''explanatory popup'' will appear. These popups are provided for all user interface controls in DXLab applications, not just those on Configuration windows.

<<BR>>
=== DXLab Discussion Group ===

At any stage, don't hesitate to [[https://groups.io/g/DXLab/post|post a question or suggestion on the DXLab Discussion Group]]. Searching for answers in previously posted messages can be fruitful, but no one will ever criticize you for asking an already answered question, or for asking a question whose answer lies in the documentation. To search the DXLab group's message archives,

 1. navigate [[https://groups.io/g/DXLab/topics|here]]

 1. click the '''Search''' button at the top of the page

 1. in the '''Search''' window that appears, type a word or phrase describing the information you seek, and then click the window's '''Search''' button; for an exact phrase match, enclose the phrase in double quotation marks, e.g. '''"improve propagation"'''

 1. a list of messages containing the word or phrase you specified will be displayed




<<BR>>
=== Installing and Running DXLab ===

==== Installing and Running DXLab on Windows ====

DXLab applications run on Vista, 7, 8, 10, and 11 in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavors, if installed as described in the articles below. DXLab applications also run on on Windows NT, 2000, and XP; some DXLab applications can be individually run on Windows 95, 98, and 98SE. 
 * [[RunningOnWin7|Installing and running DXLab applications on Windows 7, Windows, Windows 10, or Windows 11]]
 * [[RunningOnVista|Installing and running DXLab applications on Windows Vista]]
 * [[Win7VistaHardware|Devices known to work with 32-bit and 64-bit flavors of Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11]]
 * [[Win7Vista64ProblematicHardware|Devices known to not work with 64-bit flavors of Windows 7 and Vista]]
 * [[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/Launcher/Help/Prerequisites.htm|Hardware and Software Prerequisites]]
 * [[ApplicationInteference|Applications that can interfere with DXLab applications]]

==== Installing and Running DXLab on a Macintosh or on Linux ====
 * [[DXLabMacintosh|Installing and Running DXLab on a Macintosh]]
 * [[DXLabLinux|Installing and Running DXLab on Linux]]

<<BR>>
=== If Something Isn't Working Correctly ===

If one of your DXLab applications seems to not be working correctly, please don't panic. In particular, do not attempt to uninstall and then re-install the application, or to delete files you believe may be responsible, or to re-upload all of your QSOs to eQSL or LotW; these actions can create larger problems than the one you're confronting. Instead, [[NotWorkingCorrectly|follow this procedure.]]

<<BR>>
=== Additional Information ===

==== Relocating DXLab and other frequently-used applications ====
 * [[MovingBetweenFolders|Relocating a DXLab application from one folder to another]]
 * [[MovingBetweenPCs|Relocating a DXLab application from one PC to another]]
 * JTAlert stores its settings in an sqlite file and auto makes dated copies of the config for easy rollback/recovery. Instructions for moving to a new PC which are applicable for the same PC which documents file locations are covered in the FAQ of the Help file.
 * WSJT settings are stored in the file {{{WSJT-X.ini}}} in the {{{%localappdata%/WSJT-X}}} folder

==== Problems Caused By Anti-Malware Applications ====
 * [[ApplicationInteference|Applications that can interfere with DXLab applications]]
 * [[FalsePositive|If Your Anti-Malware Application Objects to a DXLab Application]]
 * [[RecoverMissingExecutable|Recovering From an Erroneously Quarantined or Deleted Executable File]]

==== Hygiene: if you don't control your computing environment, it will control you ====

 * [[CheckingWindowsEventLogs|Checking Windows Event Logs]]
 * [[HardwareSoftwareUpgrades|Managing Hardware and Software Upgrades]]
 * [[http://k9yc.com/RFI-Ham.pdf| Mitigating Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) from your PC to your Radio]]
 * [[BackupRecovery|Protecting Critical Files and Settings]]
   * [[CreateUpdateWorkspace|Saving Settings]]
   * [[RecoverQSO|Recovering a QSO from a Backup Log File]]
   * [[RestoreLog|Reverting to a Backup Log File]]
 * [[ProtectingInternetConnectedComputers|Protecting Internet-Connected Computers]]


==== Technique ====

 * [[FrequenciesOutsideHamBands|Dealing with Frequencies Outside of the Amateur Bands]]
 * [[DXing]]
 * [[DXingWithDXLab|DXing with DXLab]]
 * [[IdentifyLogClubMembers| Identifying and Logging QSOs with Club Members]]
 * [[ShortwavePropagation|Shortwave Propagation]]
 * [[http://www.dxlabsuite.com/RBN/index.htm|Using the Reverse Beacon Network with DXLab]]
 * [[WhatsOpen|What's Open?]]
 * [[Using60m|Using 60m]]

==== Events ====

 * [[NewCallsign| On Being Assigned a New Callsign]]
 * [[https://lotw.arrl.org/lotw-help/renewing/|On Being Informed That Your LoTW Callsign Certificate Will Soon Expire]]
 * [[NewAddress| On Moving to a New Location]]


==== Relevant Technologies ====

 * [[https://wcscnet.com/tutorials/introduction-to-rs232-serial-communication/|Introduction to RS232 Serial Communication]]

<<BR>>
=== Additional Topics ===
 * [[SupportNewMode|Adding Support for a New Mode]]
 * [[ApplicationInteference|Applications that can Interfere with DXLab Applications]]
 * [[ScreenShots| Capturing a Window's Image]]
 * [[Configuration]]
 * [[MultipleMonitors| Configuring DXLab applications to run on multiple monitors]]
 * [[ErrorLogs|Error Logs]]
 * [[RecoverWindow|Recovering a window that is no longer visible on your monitor]]
 * [[MonitorsForOldEyes| Selecting a Monitor]]
 * [[MultipleUsers| Sharing DXLab Among Multiple Users on the Same PC]]
 * [[WindowsScriptingHost|Using the Windows Scripting Host to start DXLab and non-DXLab applications]]
 * [[ApplicationStoppedWorking|When a DXLab Application Stops Working Correctly]]
 * [[WindowsTricks|Windows Tricks]] (managing windows, overcoming installation problems, managing ports, configuring time synchronization, multiple monitors, improving performance, etc.)

[[ArticleIndex|Article Index]]
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[[DXLabDiscussionGroup|Post a question or suggestion on the DXLab Discussion Group]]

[[NotWorkingCorrectly|If a DXLab Application Isn't Working Correctly]]