So ive been running WSJT-X for FT8 stuff and it logs to an adif file which i then import into Log4OM and that workflow has been fine for a while. But now i want to actually do some contesting, nothing serious just maybe the state QSO parties and possibly CQ WW at some point, and everyone keeps telling me to just use N1MM for contests.

My question is basically do i need to maintain two separate logging systems now or is there a cleaner way to handle this. I looked at the N1MM documentation and it seems like it can also receive UDP packets from WSJT-X directly which would maybe let me ditch Log4OM entirely, but i dunno if N1MM is good for day to day logging when youre not in a contest. It feels like its built for contesting and might be overkill or just awkward for regular ragchew QSOs and DX chasing.

Anyone running a similar mixed setup who figured out a good workflow? I dont want to lose my existing log history either, i have like 3 years of contacts in Log4OM.

Honestly I just keep both running. N1MM for any contest I enter, Log4OM for everything else including FT8 via WSJT-X. The trick is when a contest ends I export the N1MM log as ADIF and import it into Log4OM so everything ends up in one master log. It's a bit of a manual step but takes maybe two minutes and I've never had a dupe issue from it.

N1MM is genuinely not great for casual logging, it's not really designed for that. The interface is all about rate and multipliers, there's no good way to just log a random 20m SSB contact without it feeling weird. So yeah, two programs is kind of the answer most contesters land on. Your 3 years of Log4OM history is fine, just keep adding to it.

yeah the UDP thing from WSJT-X to N1MM works but you'd basically have to have N1MM open all the time and like the other guy said it's just not built for day to day stuff. i tried using it as my only logger for about a month and gave up, kept having to fight with it every time i wanted to do something that wasnt a contest exchange.

Log4OM is actually pretty solid for what it does, the ADIF import from WSJT-X is a little clunky but you get used to it. one thing i do is run WSJT-X with the log path pointed directly at a folder that Log4OM watches so it picks up new contacts pretty quick without me doing anything. not sure if thats documented anywhere i just stumbled on it