Once you really start getting into DXing and/or award chasing - you need to be able to know when that is a new one on the band immediately. And you need an interface between your logging software and the WSJT software as well. There are two main applications to do this - one is called GridTracker and the other one is called JTAlert. Both are good programs, but they have different strengths and uses IMHO. I will not be reviewing GridTracker here as it, IMHO, is better suited for POTA than DXing. I will be doing a review of it on my POTA page in the future. JTAlert is by far the best interface software for DXing due to three main factors.
First is the vast number of options that you have for tracking the data needed for DXCC, WAS, WPX, WAC, VUCC, or the DX Marathon. You can also have it notify you for specific callsigns- very useful in the case of DX-peditions! Paired with audio alerts, you can be doing something else in the shack and be alerted to something you may want to work.
Second is a panel called "Callsigns" -
This is a graphic representation of what you have just decoded from the most recent time period. The top panel shows all of the decodes during that time period. The bottom blocks - which you can customize to the total number and what is displayed in each - let you know ASAP if there is something that you need to work. The one above is set to display new or unconfirmed DXCC entities, decodes from US stations (for WAS), and DX decodes. The combinations of how you can set this panel up are unlimited. To the left is another related panel that shows my color setup for alerts. They all show gray on the Callsigns panel above as none are "needed" for 20m DXCC, CQ Zone, or DX Marathon. Note that in the Alert Types panel, you can quickly enable or disable notification of an indication on the Callsigns panel. Also, if enabled, an ATNO will cause the call block to slowly pulse on and of alerting you to it. Oh, and also at the very bottom it shows you what your delta time (DT) offset is to indicate if you need to re-sync your clock.
Third is a small panel called activity - which at first seems to be a minor feature. But I think it is a critical provider of information that you shouldn't ignore.
This panel provides two pieces of important information that will greatly assist you in your DXing. It shows the current count of stations that are on the air
and connected to PSKReporter. That is an important caveat - they must be online and connected to PSKReporter. The good news is that almost all of those stations that have connectivity to the internet are connected. The second is the current solar indices at the bottom of the panel. Obviously this is important. Hower the most critical information is the levels of activity - a very good indicator of which band is open and where you should focus your efforts. If you pursue 6m, then this is very, very important.
Overall, it is my opinion that JTAlert should be very strongly considered for your go-to interface software for DXing and award chasing.
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