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Here are some statistics from my own logbook, now that I have over 250000 QSO’s and loggings (a quarter of a million loggings - that is crazy!), I thought it may be interesting to see what I had been doing all this time!
For me, digital log keeping started back in July 1996, so that is the earliest data that appears in these tables. I have had a thin out and removed a lot of duplicates from the log, plus checked that all the DXCC are correct. Do not rely on your logging program to be 100% accurate, the country data that it uses needs to be carefully checked so that the correct DXCC is assigned to each callsign - this is especially true with the more unusual callsigns and special prefixes. Luckily the majority of logging software use a regularly updated ‘countries’ file (usually called ‘cty.dat’) which is regularly updated by Jim, AD1C (https://www.country-files.com/). Go to the website and download the appropriate file.
Some USA stations who have callsigns from various United States overseas territories have moved back to mainland USA but kept their overseas territories (US) callsign. An example of this is KH6M, a Hawaiian callsign, but the owner/operator and physical station is definitely resident on mainland USA. If he signed as W4/KH6M (I think he is resident in the #4 call area), there would be no confusion.
Luckily electronic logbooks that update their callsign databases regularly have most of these exceptions incorporated and will indicate the correct DXCC when entered. The FCC seem to have relaxed the necessity to identify the call area you are in. I have worked W6’s (CA) that have been in the #2 call area (NY, NJ, etc) and did not sign with the correct call area prefix (such as W2/W6xxx for example). I’ve been caught out in the past, by one or two of these overseas calls that were resident on the mainland - very frustrating!!
I believe there may still be some entries that need changing, which will be done when time allows. Sadly I do not have my logs or QSL cards from 1982-1996, as they were destroyed (without warning) by a third party, many years ago, much to my despair. They also disposed of many personal possessions of mine that they were holding for me until I was able to take them. Friends shouldn’t do that to each other. I learned my lesson and will not be repeating that. There is always a caveat!
The statistics really needed a page of their own, so that they can be expanded and incorporate extra data.
Well, that was the plan. However, I had to stop using HRD (Ham Radio Deluxe) and its incorporated logbook (the last, free version that is), due to its incompatibility with Windows 10. There are new versions of HRD since it was purchased by a group of developers from the original author (Simon Brown, G4ELI (ex HB9DRV) of SDR Console fame), and I’m sure it is as good as ever, but I cannot justify spending around £100 to register and use it.
My new logging program (Logger32) does not provide the level of stats that HRD did, but it works. it is free to use, but that is not the reason for using it as I do not mind purchasing software, providing the author is not trying to be greedy and charging too much for what is offered. I am looking at other programs that provide logging and statistics for awards but it is likely I will remain using Logger32 as my main logging program as I am used to its quirks and foibles now.
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