CQRLOG has some predefined cluster nodes, however you will probably need to set up a node of your preference. Click the 'Select' button and a list of cluster node appears (see below). Click there 'New' option. Another dialog appears (right).

Enter the description (mostly the callsign). The 'Address' can be either IP or the name (see examples in the list). The 'Port' is given by number. Both address and port number you can get from the lists of DX cluster nodes which are widely available over the internet.

Remember to put your callsign into 'User name' field. This will enable the autologin. The 'Password' column should remain empty in most cases because only few nodes are password protected.

A detailed list of DX Cluster nodes is here.

The main purpose of a bandmap is to gather most interesting info from two sources - DX Cluster and your personal notes. The bandmap combines a DX Cluster window with scratch pad memories available on many radios, however a band map is more comfortable by far - you don't need to manipulate with subtle buttons on the radio panel, also the transceiver does not indicate what is in the scratch pad memory. The band map is operated from the keyboard and shows all at a glance.

A valuable addition is the 'entries aging' option. If the bandmap entry is 'too' old, it changes the color and after another period it disappears. This is different from usual DX Cluster windows which displays details of stations you already worked, they are QRT or are not very interesting for you from another reason. A band map provides frequency-sorted and highly filtered details which doesn't roll away (like DX Cluster window does). There are two levels of filtering:

You can add your own information by writing the call into logging screen in usual way (like logging). Then press Ctrl-A or the + (plus) key on the numerical keyboard and the entry will be added to the band map. Your own entries are marked with an asterisk (here MD0CCE). You can return to the frequency anytime, the call will jump into its box in the same way like if clicked from the DX Cluster window. Click on any entry, you are on, prepared for QSO logging.

If the entry became older than the adjusted time, it is displayed in lighter color. Very old ones will disappear, also if you log the station, the corresponding entry disappears from the band map. The entries are always sorted by the frequency.

There is currently no other function than DX Cluster spot displaying in true azimuthal projection with correct angles (azimuth) and distances. Alternatively, a map without projection, ie. the globe as seen from the space can be selected.

There is a simple window providing propagation indices as provided by the NOAA Space Weather Center. CQRLOG does not include any propagation forecast module but keen users can estimate many parameters just from the supplied data.

CQRLOG provides a virtually unlimited support of additional notes which can be attached to a particular callsign (ie. an electronic QSL, a map showing the position, text files with antenna details etc). Assumed that external viewers for the text, PDF, image (jpg, png, gif) and HTML files are set up properly, all these files can be displayed.

The main program tree contains the call_data subfolder where any callsign can have its own subfolder containing the files related to the call sign. The subfolder for a call sign must be created manually. If this subfolder exists, a special icon "Call has an attachment" appears at the bottom right corner of the Comment to callsign field in the main logging screen. Click this icon and another window Call attachment appears, showing the contents of the call sign subfolder. Highlight the file you want to view and either double click or use the View button to display the file. The number of call sign related subfolders in call_data is unlimited, also the call sign related subfolder might contain any number of files.

If the folder contains a file named "qsl_call_front.png" or "qsl_call_front.jpg" (must be .png or .jpg), another icon "Call has a QSL image" (ie. the ok2cqr subfolder contains qsl_ok2cqr_front.jpg). Click this icon and a QSL browser appears showing the front side of the QSL card. The "qsl_call_front.png" or "qsl_call_front.jpg" is a mandatory but there can be also reverse side of QSL card with the name "qsl_call_back.png" or "qsl_call_back.jpg". If this file is available, you can use the"Front" and "Back" tabs to display both sides of the QSL card.