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If your familiar with your logger and know how to make
a Cabillo file, Skip this page and go to:
Submit your IDQP log to the following web site... |
A BIT OF HISTORY of Cabrillo
The Cabrillo file specification was developed over 20 years ago by Trey Garlough, N5KO to provide a way of creating a
consistent file format for submitting contest logs to contest sponsors. Over the years it has become the standard format
for file submission for contests such as the CQ family of contests, the majority of ARRL contests and many state and
regional QSO parties.
It has been implemented by the majority of contest software, such as N1MM+, N3FJP, TRlog and WriteLog, just to name a few.
The Cabrillo file specification was developed over 20 years ago by Trey Garlough, N5KO to provide a way of creating a
consistent file format for submitting contest logs to contest sponsors. Over the years it has become the standard format
for file submission for contests such as the CQ family of contests, the majority of ARRL contests and many state and
regional QSO parties.
It has been implemented by the majority of contest software, such as N1MM+, N3FJP, TRlog and WriteLog, just to name a few.
For the contest sponsors who need to validate the many
hundreds if not thousands of log entries, the Cabrillo standard
has been extremely valuable, allowing for speedy and accurate log scoring.
has been extremely valuable, allowing for speedy and accurate log scoring.
One nice thing about Cabrillo is that it is a text based format that
can be created manually with a text editor such as Notepad
for those of you who don't use contest logging software. If you use this manual method, be sure not to use a program such as Word,
or Pages as they create a complex file format that cannot be digested by the contest scoring software.
Stick with something simple such as Notepad.
for those of you who don't use contest logging software. If you use this manual method, be sure not to use a program such as Word,
or Pages as they create a complex file format that cannot be digested by the contest scoring software.
Stick with something simple such as Notepad.
If you are curious as to the history and the details of Cabrillo, visit
the following web page.
Here are 2 examples of Cabrillo logs.
The first is for an "in-state Idaho" entry.
The first is for an "in-state Idaho" entry.
START-OF-LOG: 3.0
LOCATION: ID
CALLSIGN: KK7A
CLUB: MAGIC VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
CONTEST: ID-QSO-PARTY
CATEGORY-ASSISTED: NON-ASSISTED
CATEGORY-BAND: ALL
CATEGORY-MODE: MIXED
CATEGORY-OPERATOR: SINGLE-OP
CATEGORY-POWER: LOW
CATEGORY-STATION: FIXED
CLAIMED-SCORE: 15
OPERATORS: KK7A
NAME: Jim Larson
CREATED-BY: N1MM Logger+ 1.0.9429.0
QSO: 7210 PH 2022-03-13 0201 KK7A 59
ADA W1AW 59 CT
QSO: 7032 CW 2022-03-13 0233 KK7A 599
ADA W1AW 599 CT
QSO: 14045 CW 2022-03-13 0245 KK7A 599
ADA K3Y 599 PA
END-OF-LOG:
Signal reports are optional, and are ignored if entered. So, if your
software has the following format, this is also fine:
QSO: 7210 PH 2022-03-13 0201 KK7A ADA W1AW CT
This second example is for "out-of-state"
entries contacting Idaho stations.
START-OF-LOG: 3.0
LOCATION: CT
CALLSIGN: W1AW
CLUB: ARRL
CONTEST: ID-QSO-PARTY
CATEGORY-ASSISTED: ASSISTED
CATEGORY-BAND: 40M
CATEGORY-MODE: MIXED
CATEGORY-OPERATOR: SINGLE-OP
CATEGORY-POWER: LOW
CATEGORY-STATION: FIXED
CLAIMED-SCORE: 12
OPERATORS: K1ABC
NAME: John Doe
CREATED-BY: N1MM Logger+ 1.0.9429.0
QSO: 7210 PH 2022-03-13 0201 W1AW 59 CT
KK7A 59 ADA
QSO: 7237 PH 2022-03-13 0215 W1AW 599 CT
K7SU 599 TWI
QSO: 7032 CW 2022-03-13 0233 W1AW 599 CT
KK7A 599 ADA
END-OF-LOG:
In both examples, the records from START-OF-LOG: through CREATED-BY: are
called HEADER records.
They describe how you are entering the contest, such as the callsign used, what modes, bands, power, etc.,
you are using along with the location you are operating from.
They describe how you are entering the contest, such as the callsign used, what modes, bands, power, etc.,
you are using along with the location you are operating from.
You must include the CONTEST record and it can be either:
CONTEST: ID-QSO-PARTY
or
CONTEST: IDQP
To read more about the HEADER records in detail, visit:
The QSO: records are just that. Each QSO you make with a station will
be recorded
and will include the following information. I'll use the following record as an example:
and will include the following information. I'll use the following record as an example:
QSO: 7210 PH 2022-03-13 0201 KK7A 59 ADA
W1AW 59 CT
QSO: Label of the record so the scoring software knows how to handle
it.
7210 Frequency in kHz on which you made the QSO. 7000 is good
enough, as it denotes the 40m band.
PH Mode used for the QSO - Valid entries are CW, PH, RY, DG.
2022-03-13 UTC date of the QSO
0201 UTC time of the QSO
KK7A Callsign sent
59 Signal report sent (optional)
ADA The location sent
W1AW Callsign received
59 Signal report received (optional)
CT Location received
Our scoring software is somewhat flexible in that you do not have to
have everything lined up in columns,
as long as there is at least 1 space between each one of the different fields that make up the QSO record.
as long as there is at least 1 space between each one of the different fields that make up the QSO record.
To read more about QSO records in detail, visit:
Submitting Your Log
Once you have exported your Cabrillo file from your logging software and
it matches the format
described above, you need to submit the log to the sponsor. This process is quite simple and
is very similar to methods you may have experienced with other contests and QSO parties.
described above, you need to submit the log to the sponsor. This process is quite simple and
is very similar to methods you may have experienced with other contests and QSO parties.
Visit the following web page and click on the "Log Submission" menu
option.
You will be asked a few questions to assure that we will receive have
the correct information for some of the
Cabrillo HEADER fields.
Lastly, either copy and paste your Cabrillo file into the log portion of the web page,
or point to the file on your hard drive. It seems to work best to copy and paste the file contents, as it allows
you to do one last review of the file before clicking on the Submit button.
Cabrillo HEADER fields.
Lastly, either copy and paste your Cabrillo file into the log portion of the web page,
or point to the file on your hard drive. It seems to work best to copy and paste the file contents, as it allows
you to do one last review of the file before clicking on the Submit button.
If you receive any errors about the contents of your log file, you can
hit the back button in your browser, fix the
error and submit it again. You will receive a "Congratulations" message on the screen if successful, followed
by an email sent to the email you provided on the log submission page.
error and submit it again. You will receive a "Congratulations" message on the screen if successful, followed
by an email sent to the email you provided on the log submission page.
Logging Software
Which logging software you use is up to you. As long as it exports in
Cabrillo it should work fine.
If you have no idea as to which software to use here are a couple of packages that have been used successfully in previous IDQP contests.
If you have no idea as to which software to use here are a couple of packages that have been used successfully in previous IDQP contests.
N1MM Logger
Plus
N1MM Logger Plus is free. It exports your log in Cabrillo format.
N1MM Logger Plus is free. It exports your log in Cabrillo format.
The Idaho QSO Party software from N3FJP is another good solution to your
Idaho QSO Party logging.
It exports your log in the Cabrillo format as needed. If you use AC Log contact log (his main general logger) , it will not export in Cabrillo.
As of this writing the IDQP module is $8.99.
Heads UP: some of the IDQP rules have changed in 2025, SO
chances are (100%) your
logging software will NOT score correctly .. Don't worry, Send in your log, we will add the
Bonus (target) station points to your score.
A TIP: So you can find your log file after you've exported it to a file....
make sure you either write down where the file is being saved to on your hard disk.
or change the file destination to a folder you can find.
Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to find you log file.
It exports your log in the Cabrillo format as needed. If you use AC Log contact log (his main general logger) , it will not export in Cabrillo.
As of this writing the IDQP module is $8.99.
Heads UP: some of the IDQP rules have changed in 2025, SO
chances are (100%) yourlogging software will NOT score correctly .. Don't worry, Send in your log, we will add the
Bonus (target) station points to your score.
A TIP: So you can find your log file after you've exported it to a file....
make sure you either write down where the file is being saved to on your hard disk.
or change the file destination to a folder you can find.
Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to find you log file.
IDQP is totally separate from the above software vendors and we receive
no consideration from them whatsoever.
What About Cabrillo Converter Software ?
There are some ADIF to Cabrillo converter software packages available
including ADIFMaster and ADItoTXT.
These are usually free to download. These are used if your logging software downloads in ADIF and you
need to convert to Cabrillo.
Your Mileage May Vary but our experience with converters in the past has been less than satisfactory.
These are usually free to download. These are used if your logging software downloads in ADIF and you
need to convert to Cabrillo.
Your Mileage May Vary but our experience with converters in the past has been less than satisfactory.
Your best bet is to have a software package that downloads to Cabrillo
directly.
Have fun in the Idaho QSO party!