PoLo Portable Logger on Ham2K Portable Logger

Installing PoLo

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

PoLo is currently available for Android and iOS devices.

Android

PoLo is available in the Google Play Store. You can install it by clicking the badge below:

Apple iOS

PoLo is available in the iOS AppStore. You can install it by clicking the badge below:

Windows

PoLo is not available for Windows devices at this time, but we’re working on it.

In the meantime, some users have reported success running PoLo on Windows using Android emulators like BlueStacks.

Your First Operation

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

In PoLo, an Operation is a collection of contacts made during a specific event or activity. For example, you might create an Operation for a park activation, a contest, or a special event station.

To get started, add a new operation and select it, then select any specific activations or special activities associated with it.

Once you’re happy with the operation settings, you can start logging contacts in the “QSOs” tab. But first, remember to check the band and mode and adjust them as needed.

Supported Activities

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

PoLo is currently supports the following “On The Air” types of operations. More will be added over time and if you have a request please ask on the Discord Server.

A single operation can involve multiple activities and PoLo will provide all the fields required to log the contacts for each activity, as well as generate separate ADIF and Cabrillo files as needed.

POTA - Parks On The Air

Official Site • Data file downloaded to device. Supports search of nearby references, or by name or code; self and other OP spotting.

Home Screen

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

PoLo opens on the Operations Summary page. A list of your operations are presented to you with your callsign, activity code/ID number, the name of the location, the number of QSOs in the activity so far and the date of the operation. The number of QSOs shown top right of the Operation band is the number of QSOs not including any QSOs marked as deleted.

At the bottom of the Operations Summary is a Quick Call Lookup and Spots link.

Operations/QSO List Panel

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

In the full version of PoLo, the top of the panel is demarcated by 4 tabs - QSOs, SPOTS, MAP and OPERATION

QSOs

The PoLo QSOs List is where you will interact with the application once you’ve set up your operation. Once your frequency and mode have been entered (which may have been picked up from your previous operation) the left pointing (or less than) arrow expands the operations panel to show all available interactions. Tapping the Controls (settings) wheel will reveal any that are available, but not set with the operation. This might be useful when a caller from an unexpected award system such as UKBOTA or SiOTA call you. Selecting them from the More Controls section will make them available for use within the Active Controls. Once the selection is complete back out of the Controls section by tapping the Controls wheel.

Operation Templates

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

We tend to keep doing the same sorts of portable operations/activities. PoLo will recognise the pattern and offer a template for your next new Operation base on prior behaviour. The templates in the offering below show the most popular operations. Selecting one will save a few taps when creating a new one.

Tapping on the first template above, will create an operation for VK1AO and add a single POTA park and a single WWFF park. Assuming a GPS location has been obtained or set, both these added parks will be populated from the offline parks list. The parks added will be selected from the parks nearest to the currently set location.

Logger Settings

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

PoLo’s settings are found behind the settings cog icon on the top of the operations list screen

PoLo application Settings may include Developer Settings if Developer Mode is activated. Developer Settings are highlighted in orange.

You should first set your Operator’s Callsign.

Then you should open each category and choose your preferred operating environment.

General Settings

The list of general settings avilable to your operating style should be self explanatory. The export settings are dealt with in more details in the Log Exports & Privacy section.

Band and Modes

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Select the Bands and Modes you operate on

All frequency bands and modes that PoLo supports are made available for use from Settings > Logging Settings > Bands & Modes. Initially the common bands and modes are available, this can be changed to all bands, and all modes by tapping ‘Show all bands’ or ‘Show more modes’ at the bottom of each section.

Once you have access to the band or mode you’re searching for enable it by using its switch. Backing out of that page to the Logging Settings page will show you the bands and modes available to be used in a new operation.

Online and Offline and FAQ

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

During an operation PoLo only needs an Internet connection to enable spotting, and to pull contact data from qrz.com, all other data is stored on your device.

These offline data files, those within the Settings > Offline Data area along with those in Settings Callsign Notes synchronise periodically dependant on how often they might change. Callsign Notes update daily; the well established programmes such as SOTA update every 3 months or so, but POTA and WWFF are set to update monthly due to their possibilty of expanding as more sites are included within those programmes.

Data Lookups

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

PoLo offers several sources for data both offline and online.

QRZ Lookup is the primary source of online data and falls into two categories depending on whether you have
a paid subscripion to QRZ or
use only the free account provisions. In addition to this source, there is the
Callsign Notes feature which is data downloaded and avilable offline,
and also history from both the Operations present on the device and any historical ADIF data you have chosen to import.
HamDB lookups (free, but US, Canada and Germany only)

QRZ Lookups

QRZ XML data Lookups are available for both free accounts and paid subscription. The data offered by QRZ retrieved during the query to QRZ is, however, different in each case. According to QRZ policy, free accounts provide for 100 lookups per day after which no data will be returned. Additionally, the data provided for free accounts is a subset of the data returned for paid account queries. Your QRZ account details on the qrz.com website will show your Callsign Lookup Activity as total web lookups today, total XML lookups today and your daily maximum limit is also shown. The lowest QRZ subscription level of “XML Data” will provide unlimited XML data lookups.

Spotting

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Self Spotting

When an operation begins PoLo will enable you to send an activation spot. Reveal the Spotting button using the left pointing arrow in the details area; pressing the button will give you a chance to add a comment to the spot. The spot button will display icons for each of the activities included in the operation that provide self-spotting services.

Re-spotting is done in the same way, with QSY or QRT entered into the Comments window depending on the operators actions.

Mapping Requirements and FAQ

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The QSO map is a very popular feature. There are some basic requirements to produce this map:

Your location,
The location of the other operator,
Live/online data lookup (primary) or,
Offline/Historical data (secondary),
Edit QSO gridsquares manually in the “More” control.

Your location

To provide the origin of the map, you must supply your location for each operation. If you select a park or summit etc, the location grid will be supplied by PoLo based on the park/summit/activity list. Please note that the grid will be based on the centroid of a park so a trail crossing several state borders may not accurately represent your exact location. In these cases, you should enter a gridsquare that represents your current location. You can use your device’s GPS or enter the grid manually in the Operation Location setting.

Operations with more than one Operator

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

PoLo provides for a single logging operation where more than one Operator is activating, so one person can do the logging for both operators. On completion of the activation, separate logs will be generated for each Operator. There is no need to duplicate a single log and edit the contents for the second operator.

Setup

After creating the operation and adding whatever activities are applicable, you can edit the Station & Operator settings to reflect the callsigns of the operators who are handing the microphone around. The callsigns are entered as a comma separated list in the Station Callsign field.

Operations with changes in location

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Typically, PoLo operations are devoted to one location e.g. a park or summit activation. If multiple parks are activated simultaneously, PoLo will generate multiple logs, one for each reference, and one full log of the operation containing lookup/personal data depending on your preference settings.

The BREAK Command

With the use of the BREAK command it is possible to remain logging in one Operation yet insert a BREAK from your current location and start in another location. This command applies also to hunters who wish to record their new/next current location for the next batch of QSOs.

Satellite Operations

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Enabling a Satellite Operation

Scroll down on the App Features tab to find “Other Features”. Enable Satellite Operations.

Next, create a New Operation and in the Activities section, add Satellite Operations.

Next go to the QSO tab of the Operation and open the “More Controls” section. Tap the Sats control to bring the satellite list into view for the operation.

Selecting the Stats button will provide a drop-down list of the satellites currently available in PoLo, select the one you are working. It should bring the frequencies into view for that satellite.

Callsign Expansion

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Callsign Notes file can be used to store and retrieve multiple callsign lists from a shortcut stored in the file.

Callsign Shortcuts/Abbreviations

A typical Callsign Notes file entry will look like this:

VK1AO Alan
VK4KC Marty
KI2D Sebastián
# etc

For each callsign entered, the accompanying name will be displayed as a note, but the callsign will be in the “Their Call” ready for sending (saving).

When an entry is made with 2 leading dots (or slashes) and the note file entry is formatted with a comma separated list instead of a single name entry, the list of callsigns are expanded and entered into the “Their Call” entry field ready for confirmation and saving.

Callsign Stacking

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Everyone will have their favourite way to handle a pileup. For those who like the callsign fragment method i.e. one where you might scribble down callsign fragments and then back track to each fragment in the list one at a time, then Callsign Stacking may be of interest.

In the “Their Call” entry field, enter each fragment that is heard separated by double slashes or two dots which will be converted to slashes.

Callsign Notes

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

“Callsign Notes” is a feature that allows you to show short notes for specific callsigns in the logging screen. This can be useful to remember the name of a friend, or to know if a station is a member of a club or a special event station.

PoLo comes with a built-in file, called “Ham2K’s Hams of Note”, but you can add as many additional files as you want, and enable and disable them as needed.

Operation Notes

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Keep a track of things.. grab the solar data, grab the current weather at your location or add a note for later.

Key words entered in the “Their Call” entry field will prompt either the collection of this data or further entry of a note.

NOTE

Type NOTE and you will be prompted to keep typing to add a free-form note into your operation.

WEATHER

Enter WEATHER to pull the current weather for your location. If you wait before pressing send, the weather information will be displayed on screen. If you then press send, it will be saved to the log.

Emojis

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Every now and then you will see an emoji within the Callsign Info Panel, for example if you enter KI2D you'll get the following: 🤩 Sebastián - Ham2K PoLo Creator.

You can expect to see any of the following, and some others too:
🧑‍💻 - Ham2K PoLo contributor
👷 - Ham2K Test Crew
📺 - YouTuber
💻 - Software developer

In addition, it’s possible to add your own list of callsigns with details (and emojis) using the Settings > Data Settings > Custom Callsign Notes option. You can link to your offsite list which could include POTA friends, fellow club members etc.

Export Templates

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Filenames

Each operation activity has a default filename convention which is based on tradition or specification from each activity. For example, WWFF log filenames are typically formatted as CALLSIGN@PARKID YYYYMMDD.ADI while POTA log filenames are formatted as CALLSIGN@PARKID-YYYYMMDD.adi.

But these names can be modified to suit your own filing habits if needed. In reality, POTA filenames can be anything you like as long it contains legal filenaming characters. The log uploader will attempt to recognise the park name and location from the PARKID in the filename, if it’s missing you will be prompted to supply it before processing can be done.

Developer Mode

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

WARNING: Using Developer Mode features can increase the chances of crashes and data loss. Use with caution.

To enable Developer Mode, start a new operation, or open an existing one, type KONAMI in the callsign input field, and press the [Send] key (or [RETURN] or [ENTER]) in your keyboard.

You should see a short message confirming that the mode is now enabled.

You can use this same procedure to toggle it off.

Log Exports & Privacy

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Privacy Regulations

Data privacy regulations are laws that govern how organizations collect, use, store, and share personal data. These regulations aim to protect individuals’ rights and ensure that their personal information is handled responsibly and securely. Key regulations include the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States, and the Privacy Act 1988 in Australia.

Data lookups and your rights

Many of us provide personal data to places like QRZ to enhance our experience in Amateur Radio and inform our contact partners of our QTH location etc.

Tips and Tricks

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Shortcut Commands entered in the Callsign Input Field (labelled “Their Call”)

See also Operation Notes and Rove Operations for other entry field commands.

When you are in the callsign input field, you can use the following shortcuts, always followed by the [Send] key or button on the screen:

Enter a band or mode to change the current band or mode. For example 20m or CW.
Enter a frequency to change the current frequency (and band). For example 14.070 or 14070.

Community

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Forums

The Ham2K Forums is the best place to report bugs, suggest new features and discuss the use of PoLo with other users.

Discord

We have a Discord Server where you can chat with other users and the development team.

Instagram

The @Ham2KApps Instagram account is a great place to see what other users are doing with PoLo.

Contribution Guidelines

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

These basic sample guidelines assume that your Docsy site is deployed using Netlify and your files are stored in GitHub. You can use the guidelines “as is” or adapt them with your own instructions: for example, other deployment options, information about your doc project’s file structure, project-specific review guidelines, versioning guidelines, or any other information your users might find useful when updating your site. Kubeflow has a great example.

Don’t forget to link to your own doc repo rather than our example site! Also make sure users can find these guidelines from your doc repo README: either add them there and link to them from this page, add them here and link to them from the README, or include them in both locations.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Update 03/04/2025:

Added satellites IO-86, SO-124, XW-2B, and MO-122 with information found from https://github.com/palewire/amateur-satellite-database/blob/main/data/amsat-active-frequencies.csv These were added based on the most active FM Repeater and Transponder list from https://www.amsat.org/two-way-satellites/ provided by 4O4A in the HAM2K forums topic linked here https://forums.ham2k.com/t/updating-satellite-list/653/10

Deep Link Samples

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Deep Link Samples

These are samples of deep links for the Ham2K Portable Logger.

Basic QSO com.ham2k

Basic QSO com.ham2k.polo

Search Results

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

PoLo Portable Logger on Ham2K Portable Logger

Installing PoLo

Android

Apple iOS

Windows

Your First Operation

Supported Activities

pine-tree POTA - Parks On The Air

Home Screen

Operations/QSO List Panel

QSOs

Operation Templates

Logger Settings

General Settings

Band and Modes

Select the Bands and Modes you operate on

Online and Offline and FAQ

Data Lookups

QRZ Lookups

Spotting

Self Spotting

Mapping Requirements and FAQ

Your location

Operations with more than one Operator

Setup

Operations with changes in location

The BREAK Command

Satellite Operations

Enabling a Satellite Operation

Callsign Expansion

Callsign Shortcuts/Abbreviations

Callsign Stacking

Callsign Notes

Operation Notes

NOTE

WEATHER

Emojis

Export Templates

Filenames

Developer Mode

Log Exports & Privacy

Privacy Regulations

Data lookups and your rights

Tips and Tricks

Shortcut Commands entered in the Callsign Input Field (labelled “Their Call”)

Community

Forums

Discord

Instagram

Contribution Guidelines

Deep Link Samples

Deep Link Samples

Search Results

POTA - Parks On The Air