Build Your Own AI-Powered QSO Logger - KD6TFS

Ever wished your ham shack had a digital assistant? Something that listens during a QSO, types everything out, and maybe even talks back?

Good news: this project is for you.

In this guide, we’re going to build a super simple AI-powered QSO logger that:

🎤 Records your voice
🤖 Transcribes it using real AI
📓 Saves it to your logbook (CSV file)
🔊 Talks back to you when done (optional)

No soldering, no rig control, no special gear. Just a microphone and your computer.

✅ What You’ll Need

A computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux)
A microphone (USB mic, webcam mic, or built-in)
Python (free tool we'll install)
Internet connection (just to set things up)

💻 Step 1: Install Python

Go to https://www.python.org/downloads
Download Python 3.10+ for your system
Install it and check the box that says "Add Python to PATH"

📦 Step 2: Install AI Tools

Open your Terminal or Command Prompt and run this:

pip install openai-whisper pyttsx3 sounddevice scipy

This installs:

Whisper (AI for voice-to-text)
TTS (text-to-speech, optional)
Audio recorder tools

🎙️ Step 3: Record Your Voice

Create a file called record.py and paste this code:

import sounddevice as sd
from scipy.io.wavfile import write

fs = 44100  # Sample rate
seconds = 10
print("Recording...")
recording = sd.rec(int(seconds * fs), samplerate=fs, channels=1)
sd.wait()
write("qso.wav", fs, recording)
print("Done!")

To run it:

python record.py

Speak your QSO into the mic. After 10 seconds, it saves the file as qso.wav.

🧠 Step 4: Transcribe It Using Whisper

Create a new file called transcribe.py and paste:

import whisper
model = whisper.load_model("base")
result = model.transcribe("qso.wav")
print("Transcribed Text:", result["text"])

This turns your audio into text using real AI. Try it. It’s shockingly good.

📓 Step 5: Save the Log Automatically

Add this to the end of transcribe.py:

import csv
from datetime import datetime

with open("qsolog.csv", "a", newline='') as file:
    writer = csv.writer(file)
    writer.writerow([datetime.now(), result["text"]])

Each time you run it, your QSO gets saved with a timestamp.

🔊 Step 6: Optional — Make It Talk Back

Install text-to-speech:

pip install pyttsx3

Then add this to your code:

import pyttsx3

engine = pyttsx3.init()
engine.say("QSO logged successfully!")
engine.runAndWait()

Now it’ll say “QSO logged successfully!” after each log.

✅ What You Just Built

You now have a basic AI shack assistant that:

Listens to your QSOs

Logs them for you

Optionally speaks confirmation

This is the perfect first step into fusing AI and amateur radio.

Let me know what you think of it and how you like it!!