Meet Ham2K Power Logger: Next-Gen Cross-Platform Ham Radio Logging by Sebastian Delmont KI2D (Now on AUR)

TL;DR: Quick Summary

Ham2K Power Logger (the desktop and multi-platform evolution of Ham2K Portable Logger, or PoLo) is a modern, open-source logging application created by indie developer Sebastian Delmont (KI2D). Built using Flutter and Dart under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 (MPL-2.0), Power Logger brings lightning-fast keyboard-driven QSO logging, modular contest/award extensions (.h2kext), direct rig CAT control, and offline-first SQLite synchronization to Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and web browsers. Linux operators on Arch Linux and derivatives can now install it directly from the Arch User Repository using yay -S ham2k-power-logger-bin.

What Is Ham2K Power Logger?

Ham2K Power Logger is a cross-platform, open-source amateur radio logging application designed for high-speed QSO entry during portable activations, contesting, and everyday station operations across desktop and mobile devices.

For years, portable operators participating in Parks on the Air (POTA), Summits on the Air (SOTA), and World Wide Flora & Fauna (WWFF) faced a stark dilemma. Traditional desktop logging software (like N1MM Logger+, Logger32, or DXKeeper) offers immense depth but runs exclusively on legacy Windows APIs with cluttered, mouse-heavy user interfaces that are virtually unusable in a windy park pavilion or atop a mountain summit. On the other hand, early mobile logging apps were often rigid, closed-source, or abandoned when developers moved on.

Sebastian Delmont (KI2D), a seasoned software engineer who transitioned into a full-time “professional amateur” and indie developer, launched Ham2K to solve this problem once and for all.

What began as Ham2K Portable Logger (PoLo) on smartphones has now graduated into Ham2K Power Logger, an expansive, unified codebase spanning mobile devices, web browsers, and full-featured desktop computers.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                           HAM2K POWER LOGGER ECOSYSTEM                             |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

     MOBILE PLATFORMS                            DESKTOP & WEB PLATFORMS
 +----------------------+                       +-----------------------+
 |  Android / iOS Phone |                       | Linux / macOS / Win   |
 |  Touch-First Layout  |                       | Full Keyboard Layout  |
 +----------+-----------+                       +-----------+-----------+
            |                                               |
            +-----------------------+-----------------------+
                                    |
                                    v
                     +-----------------------------+
                     |   FLUTTER & DART ENGINE     |
                     |   Offline SQLite Storage    |
                     +--------------+--------------+
                                    |
         +--------------------------+--------------------------+
         |                          |                          |
         v                          v                          v
 +---------------+          +---------------+          +---------------+
 | .h2kext Rules |          | Hardware CAT  |          | Online Cloud  |
 | POTA, SOTA,   |          | USB Serial to |          | QRZ, HamQTH,  |
 | WWFF, Contests|          | Icom/Ken/Yae  |          | ADIF Exports  |
 +---------------+          +---------------+          +---------------+

Key Architectural Highlights: Why Power Logger Stands Out

Ham2K Power Logger isn’t merely a wrapped web page or a quick port; it’s an engineered logging environment built around the specific ergonomics of amateur radio operators.

1. Unified Cross-Platform Architecture

Written in Flutter and Dart, Ham2K Power Logger shares its core logging logic, database models, and contest rules across all platforms. A QSO logged on your Android phone during an afternoon POTA activation shares the exact same database structure and extension ecosystem as the desktop version running in your home shack.

2. Extensible Plugin Architecture (.h2kext)

One of the most powerful innovations in Power Logger is its modular extension engine. Instead of hardcoding every contest rule or award program into the core binary, rules are packaged as self-contained .h2kext extensions. Preloaded extensions include:
– Parks on the Air (POTA): Park-to-park tracking, reference lookups, and auto-populated state/province designations.
– Summits on the Air (SOTA): Summit references, association scoring, and activator/chaser logging.
– World Wide Flora & Fauna (WWFF): Global nature reserve references.
– Specialty Operating Events: Lighthouse (LLOTA), Castles (WCA), Islands (SIOTA), Motas (MOTA), and WWBOTA.
– Contest Modules: IARU HF World Championship, North American QSO Party (NAQP), ARRL Field Day, Winter Field Day (WFD), and CWops CWT.

3. Integrated CAT Rig Control

Desktop builds feature native CAT (Computer-Aided Transceiver) rig control over serial USB connections via libserialport. Supported radios include:
– Icom: Generic CI-V protocol support.
– Kenwood: TS-570S, TS-590S, TS-870S, TS-890S, TS-990S.
– Yaesu: FT-710, FT-891, FT-991A, FTDX10, FTDX101, and FTX-1.

Frequency and operating mode track in real-time as you spin the radio’s VFO dial, eliminating manual mode and band errors in your logs.

4. Fast, Keyboard-Driven Operation

For home and field desk operations, taking your hands off the keyboard to reach for a mouse destroys your operating rhythm during a pileup. Power Logger supports rapid keyboard navigation, tab advancement, quick keyboard shortcuts, and intelligent callsign auto-parsing.

Mobile vs Desktop Interface: Responsive Ergonomics

Ham2K Power Logger adapts its interface dynamically depending on your screen geometry and input method:

On mobile screens, big touch targets, high-contrast daylight text, and an uncluttered single-column feed keep you focused on the headphones. On widescreen monitors, the app expands to show simultaneous logbooks, frequency displays, award status bars, and real-time dupes checking.

Installing Ham2K Power Logger on Arch Linux via AUR

Until recently, Linux users had to manually download and track AppImage binaries from the Ham2K update servers.

To give Arch Linux, CachyOS, and Manjaro operators a first-class package management experience, 9M2PJU has packaged and pushed ham2k-power-logger-bin to the official Arch User Repository (AUR).

Quick Installation Using yay

yay -S ham2k-power-logger-bin

Quick Installation Using paru

paru -S ham2k-power-logger-bin

Manual Installation via makepkg

git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/ham2k-power-logger-bin.git
cd ham2k-power-logger-bin
makepkg -si

What the AUR Package Provides

• Installs the official release cleanly into /opt/ham2k-power-logger/.
• Provides global CLI symlinks: ham2k-power-logger, ham2k_logger, and polo.
• Integrates smoothly into your desktop application menu under the Ham Radio and Utility categories.
• Configures system MIME type associations for .h2kext extension files.
• Supports both x86_64 (Intel/AMD) and aarch64 (Raspberry Pi 4/5, Ampere) architectures.

Technology Comparison: Power Logger vs The Competition

Marathon Tools: The CQ DX Marathon Companion

In addition to Power Logger, Sebastian Delmont maintains Marathon Tools, an open-source web application (GitHub: ham2k/marathon) tailored specifically for the annual CQ DX Marathon.

The CQ DX Marathon is one of amateur radio’s most demanding year-long operating challenges. Operators try to work as many DXCC entities and CQ zones as possible on each band throughout the calendar year.

Marathon Tools ingests any standard ADIF log file, checks every QSO against authoritative DXCC country and zone databases, flags potential scoring conflicts, and automatically selects the highest-scoring valid QSO for each entity. When you’re ready to submit, Marathon Tools formats your official submission file or transmits it directly to the scoring committee via API.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Ham2K Power Logger?

It’s a cross-platform, open-source amateur radio logging application created by Sebastian Delmont KI2D for high-speed portable, contesting, and shack logging.

Is Ham2K Power Logger free and open source?

Yes. Power Logger is published under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 (MPL-2.0). Source code and issue tracking are hosted openly on GitHub.

How do I install Ham2K Power Logger on Arch Linux?

You can install it directly from the Arch User Repository by running yay -S ham2k-power-logger-bin or paru -S ham2k-power-logger-bin.

Can Ham2K Power Logger control my transceiver via CAT?

Yes. The desktop editions feature integrated CAT serial drivers supporting popular Icom, Kenwood, and Yaesu transceivers without requiring third-party rig software.

Does Power Logger require an active internet connection in the field?

No. Power Logger is built with an offline-first architecture using a local SQLite database, allowing complete logging functionality without cellular or internet coverage.

Sources and Further Reading

• Ham2K Official Website – Home of Power Logger, PoLo, and Marathon Tools.
• Ham2K Downloads Page – Official builds for Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
• Ham2K GitHub Organization – Open source repositories for app-polo and marathon.
• Ham2K Power Logger on Arch Linux AUR – Maintained by 9M2PJU.
• Ham2K Community Forum – Technical support, feature requests, and extension development discussions.
• Marathon Tools Web App – CQ DX Marathon log evaluation and submission tool.

73 de 9M2PJU