A trip up one of England's lower hills reminded me of
the problems associated with logging in the rain. With a brisk breeze
and driving rain, my paper logbook was soon getting soggy. Not only
was my writing disappearing as I spoke but the paper was tending to
tear as I wrote more. One gust of wind and the logbook sailed away
landing face down in a puddle. There had to be a better way - and now
there is - The WaterLog.
This remarkable
innovation brings together several items to make one highly functional
and nearly indestructible package.
The operating position with the AT Paddle
in use
The paper -
waterproof paper is nothing new but the paper we use for the
WaterLog is truly remarkable. Leave it out in the rain for a
month and it wont deteriorate. Cover it in mud and it will just rinse
off leaving the paper like new. Write on easily when it is wet or dry. The paper is printed with a logging
grid (10 contacts each side) - in tests we could not remove the grid
even with a scouring pad! The WaterLog comes with
five log sheets (enough for 100 contacts). Pencil logging can be
erased allowing the sheets to be used several times.
The back-board - a decent logbook needs something firm to write
on. Soggy hilltops seldom have anything convenient so we supply a
metal backboard. We experimented with aluminium but it was too soft at
the thickness we wanted so we have gone for a super-tough aluminium
alloy. Not cheap but very light and strong.
Note how the pencil rests in the clip for easy access while logging
The
pencil - there is an apocryphal story that NASA spent $18 million
developing a pen that would write in space; the Russian used pencils.
We have gone down the Russian route. The WaterLog has a
pencil firmly attached to it so that you cant lose it. Our pencil will
write effectively in the wet - it's perfect!
Dimensions
110 x 150mm. Weight 95gm.
Other
Applications
The WaterLog is designed for amateur
radio operation, however, we can make custom solutions for other
applications (bird watching, astronomy etc), give us a call.
Waterlog Tip!
"Just a quick hint about cleaning pages of "The
Water Log" after use.
I found that after my using an ordinary pencil eraser left the log
pages very smudgy looking. I'm not sure if it was a peculiarity of
the particiular eraser I had to hand but, here is how I cleaned up the
pages ready for re-use.
I sprinkled a few drops of IPA (Iso Propyl Alcohol) on the penciled in
pages then rubbed gently with a piece of kitchen roll - HEY PRESTO -
almost as clean as new again! IPA is the clear alcohol normaly sold
to clean video cassette heads, disk drives, etc. I should imagine
most chemists would stock it under it's fancy chemical name of "Iso
Propyl Alcohol" as I previously mentioned.
73 Derrick, GM4CXP.
(The GM with the clean log book, hi!)"
Prices
WaterLog including 5 double-sided log
sheets (100 contacts), pencil and aluminium alloy backboard £6.50 +
£1.00 postage and
packing
DISCONTINUED
Replacement pack of log sheets £2.00 + 50p
postage and packing.
Order by phone
This
is our preferred payment method!
Call us on 01625-425700 to place
your order by credit or debit card. Our office is not normally
manned during the day so leave your telephone number on my
voicemail and I will phone you back.
Online Purchase UK
Purchase a WaterLog Online (£7.50
including UK P&P)
Purchase refill Logsheets (pack of 5
sheets for 100 contacts,
£2.50 including UK P&P)
Online Purchase Overseas (includes Airmail Postage)
NEW REDUCED PRICE
Purchase a WaterLog including refill sheet
pack (£10.50
including Airmail Postage anywhere in the World)
