# Getting Started

This walks you from a fresh install to your first logged QSO.

## 1. Set your station

**Settings → Station Information**: enter your **callsign**, **grid locator** and
**name**. These feed callsign lookups, the map, awards, the QSL card and the
"my station" ADIF fields on every QSO.

For a **complete ADIF**, also fill your **address / city / state / county** here,
and set your **per-band rig and antenna** in **Settings → Operating conditions**
(tick the default antenna for each band). These populate the `MY_*` fields
(`MY_RIG`, `MY_ANTENNA`, `MY_CITY`, `MY_STREET`, `MY_STATE`…) on your QSOs.

> **Importing an existing log?** Fill the station info **and** your operating
> conditions **before** you import. In the ADIF import dialog, tick **"Fill my
> station fields from my profile"** — OpsLog then backfills the *empty* `MY_*`
> fields (grid, rig, antenna, address, city, state, county, SOTA/POTA…) plus
> **Operator** and **Owner callsign** from your active profile, so even a bare
> ADIF comes in fully described. Existing values are kept; only
> `STATION_CALLSIGN` is left untouched (so a mixed-call log isn't re-routed).
> See [[Import and Export ADIF]].

## 2. (Optional) Connect a radio

**Settings → CAT**, pick a backend and fill its fields — see [[CAT Control]].
Once connected, the frequency, band and mode fill in automatically as you tune,
and clicking a cluster spot tunes the rig.

You can log perfectly well **without** a radio — just type the band, mode and
frequency.

## 3. The entry strip

The strip across the top is the heart of OpsLog (Log4OM-style):

- **Callsign** — type it and the contacted entity's **flag** appears next to the
  RST fields; the country, CQ/ITU zones and continent resolve offline from
  `cty.dat`. If QRZ/HamQTH lookup is configured, name / QTH / grid auto-fill and
  a photo shows in the F2 tab.
- **RST sent / rcvd**, **Name**, **QTH**, **Grid**.
- **Band / Mode / Frequency** (TX and, for split, RX).
- **Start / End time**, **Comment / Note**.

Press **Enter** in any text field to **log** the QSO. The contact drops into
**Recent QSOs** below.

> Mode comes from the radio; the digital sub-mode (FT4 vs FT8) is inferred from
> the frequency.

## 4. Look around

- **Recent QSOs** — your log; double-click a row to edit every field.
  See [[Recent QSOs and Filters]].
- **Worked-before matrix** — as you type a call, see if/when you worked that
  entity, per band/mode slot.
- **Main view** — two configurable panes (Settings → General → *Main view*): a
  great-circle map, the cluster, the FlexRadio or Icom console, Net control, and
  more. See [[Maps and Antennas]].

## 5. Profiles

Every setting is **per-profile**. A profile can log to the local SQLite file or
a shared **MySQL** database (multi-operator). Create one per call / station /
event. See [[Profiles and Databases]].

## Next steps

- Chase spots → [[DX Cluster and Spots]]
- Track awards → [[Awards]]
- Send confirmations → [[QSL Management]]
- Design a card → [[QSL Card Designer]]