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United Kingdom · Licence exam

Logbooks, ham radio logging software and QSL cards

Under the current licence you only have to keep a log if a person authorised by Ofcom asks you to, but the RSGB still calls one useful. A paper log is inexpensive. Ham radio logging software, free or paid, can also track countries, flag repeat contacts and print QSL labels, and for contests the RSGB’s HF Contest Committee recommends the free N1MM+.

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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Do you still need a log?

Not by default. The licence says you must keep a log if someone authorised by Ofcom requires it, for the period and in the form they ask. The RSGB says a log is no longer essential but is useful: it records your contacts and countries, and it can help settle an interference complaint by showing which band you were on.

The exam still covers logging, so learn what goes in one.

What to write in each entry

  • Date and time, in UTC, so it matches the other station’s log wherever they are.
  • Frequency or band, and mode.
  • The call sign of the station you worked.
  • The signal report, if you plan to send a QSL card.

Which ham radio logging software should you use?

For everyday logging, the RSGB describes electronic logs that range from free to paid, for PC or Mac. They keep track of contacts and bands, warn you when you’ve worked a station before, print QSL labels, track awards and upload to ARRL’s Logbook of the World. The RSGB doesn’t name one for general use.

For contests, the RSGB HF Contest Committee recommends N1MM+, which is free. Linking it to your radio with CAT control stops frequency and mode mistakes, and it exports the Cabrillo file contest organisers ask for. Electronic QSL services take your log as an ADIF file.

RSGB: Other equipment you need ↗RSGB: Beginner’s guide to contesting ↗Contest calendar →

QSL cards and the RSGB QSL Bureau

A QSL card confirms a contact. It shows both call signs, the date and time (usually UTC), the band or frequency, the mode and a signal report. The IARU recommends a size of no more than 140 by 90 mm.

Sending cards through the RSGB QSL Bureau is a member benefit. UK non-members can pay a small annual fee for a receive-only service. Since 2026 DARC, in Germany, has processed the cards for the RSGB, members no longer enclose a RadCom wrapper, and UK cards go to a new PO Box in Bedford. Incoming cards reach you through volunteer sub-managers, who hold stamped addressed envelopes you leave with them.

You can also QSL direct, with return postage, or electronically. Electronic QSLs such as eQSL aren’t accepted for some awards, including ARRL’s DXCC, while ARRL’s Logbook of the World sends no card but a matching record counts for ARRL awards.

RSGB: QSL Bureau ↗RSGB: QSL Bureau changes 2026 ↗RSGB: Sending and receiving QSL cards ↗
Sources: RSGB · RSGB HF Contest Committee and 5 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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