Ham Radio Operating Insights: Ham2K Portable Logger (PoLo)

In a previous column, I discussed several logging programs suitable for portable operations such as Parks on the Air® (POTA), Worldwide Flora & Fauna (WWFF), Summits on the Air (SOTA), and others. This time I’d like to focus on just one of them: the Ham2K Portable Logger, commonly known as PoLo.

PoLo is an extremely versatile logging application designed for portable amateur radio operations. It is currently available for Android and Apple devices, and a Windows version is reportedly in development. The application can be downloaded from both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

The software is open source and hosted on GitHub. Best of all, it’s completely free, although the author does provide a “Buy Me a Coffee” link on the main page for those who wish to support the project.

According to the statement on the program’s website:

“PoLo, short for Portable Logger, is a mobile application for amateur radio operators to log their contacts on the go. It is designed to be simple, fast, and easy to use, with a focus on the most important features for logging contacts.”

The application supports multiple activation types, including POTA, SOTA, WWFF, ARRL Field Day, Winter Field Day, and several other operating events.

First Impressions

I’ve tested PoLo on several older iPads (fifth and sixth generation) with excellent results. It performed flawlessly even on these older devices. I’ve also tried it on my iPhone with similar success, although I have not yet had the opportunity to test it on an Android device.

The fun actually begins when the program starts loading. During startup, several lines of information briefly appear on the screen. Mixed in with legitimate-looking system messages are humorous references to flux capacitors, warp drives, and other playful items meant to entertain the user.

Once the program finishes loading, the first screen displays a list of all activations currently stored on the device.

Starting an Activation

From this main screen, you can quickly look up a callsign if you simply want to check a station. If you’re beginning a new operation, just tap the “New Operation” button in the lower-right corner and select the type of activity you plan to operate.

The settings menu reveals support for a wide variety of operating activities, including the North American QSO Party, ARRL Field Day, Winter Field Day, and others. As development continues, I suspect the list of supported operating events will continue to grow.

For the purposes of this article, let’s assume we are performing a POTA or WWFF activation.

When starting an activation, I typically select the “POTA/WWFF (Nearest)” template. This option uses the device’s GPS to automatically select the closest park reference. Occasionally this feature doesn’t work perfectly, but I believe that issue is related to my iPad rather than the software itself.

Once the new log is created, you’re ready to begin operating. You can also check current spots, or spot yourself directly from within the program.

Spotting

Another feature I particularly like is the program’s spotting capability. From the log entry screen you can easily spot yourself, and the Spotting tab allows you to review existing spots for your activation.

What impressed me most is that when I spot myself using PoLo, the program posts the spot not only to the POTA spotting network, but also to the WWFF spotting page. For someone like me who often operates as a “dual activator” in both programs, this is a real advantage. A single spot effectively notifies hunters in both programs that a park reference is on the air.

Logging Contacts

As contacts are entered, one of my favorite features is the Map tab. This screen displays the approximate location of the stations you have contacted. The map is color-coded by band, making it easy to see where your signals are reaching.

The Info tab is also extremely useful. It provides statistics about your current activation, such as the number of contacts, bands used, and other operating data.

Interestingly, when you enter a callsign, this tab switches to display information from that station’s QRZ page. PoLo can pull information from several different data sources, but since I already maintain a QRZ subscription, that’s the service I use.

History & Call Sign Notes

One feature I particularly enjoy is how PoLo alerts me when I’ve worked a station before. If a callsign you enter already exists somewhere in your historical logs, the program lets you know immediately. You can also import your historical logs from another logging program, making this feature even more useful.

Another interesting capability is Call Sign Notes. You can create notes tied to specific callsigns, and those notes will appear automatically whenever that station is logged again. The program already includes a shared notes file that highlights things such as PoLo supporters or volunteers associated with the project.