[ADXA] FW: Online DXCC Web tool

[Earl]

  FYI !!  (Expanation of the New 'ONLINE DXCC APPLICATION') Below is a note 
from Bill Moore to Card Checkers I thought would be of intrest to you.

              Please read the News Article on the ARRL home page under News 
for the whole story. The new rate schedule link is at the bottom of that page.
----------------------------------------

Hi All:

Over the past several years I have been mentioning that DXCC is working on a 
system where applicants would enter QSO data from their QSLs into a digital 
DXCC application, and pay less for doing this for us. With DXCC staff's data 
entry time reduced, we could charge less than a traditional application, 
process more applications in the same time, and provide better customer service.

Well, I am pleased to tell you that for the past several months we have been 
working with our programmers, and completion is near. We are currently 
beta-testing the system which we are calling /Online DXCC/.

Following is a brief description of this system and the Card Checker's role.

For the most part, the Card Checker's job hasn't changed much.  After the 
applicant has typed-in the QSO data from the QSLs (or loaded-in an ADIF file 
that comes from a logging program), he/she will print the application and 
either bring it to a Card Checker or mail it and the cards to HQ, like 
normal.  We will still heavily rely on a Card Checker's expertise and 
knowledge to inspect the QSL cards and ensure that the data that has been 
entered and printed by the applicant is correct.  The Card Checker will 
still need to carefully mark changes on the printout.  When all is done, the 
Card Checker will sign-off on the application and mail it to HQ, as before.

What is different is that the applicant will not have to organize cards by 
band and mode, but instead can simply enter the data from each card in any 
order they are found.  The applicant must leave the cards in the same order 
as which they are entered, as obviously that makes it easy for the Card 
Checker to work through the cards and compare against the record sheet.  If 
a QSL has two or more QSOs listed, and the applicant needs them all, he/she 
no longer must put these cards at the back of the application.

Also new, is that there is an option for the applicant to pay for the 
application with a credit card inside /Online DXCC/.  Unfortunately there is 
no easy way to have the applicant pay electronically for the Card Checker's 
mailing expense, so you will still have to collect cash for mailing in the 
same manner as you do now.

The /Online DXCC/ forms themselves are representations of the paper forms to 
which we are all accustomed.  We tried to add value to the /Online DXCC/ 
also by adding the ability for the form to suggest (in some cases _/force/_) 
an entity name for each call sign that is entered onto the form.  But, we 
still need the Card Checker to verify the entity name from the QSL as best 
possible.  If there is any doubt or question, please mark the printout as 
needed to convey the message to HQ staff.

Below is the text from the Home page of /Online DXCC/:

*Welcome to ARRL's Online DXCC Application System *

  * Find out more about the DXCC Award Program
  * Find out more about this Online DXCC Application System

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Submitting Your DXCC Application Online --- Step by Step*

 1. Now that you have logged in, you may go to the QSLs tab and begin
    entering information from your QSL cards. If you logged in with a
    username and password then all your entries are saved and you may leave
    the QSLs tab at any time while entering QSLs, and return to it later.
     1. You must enter all of the required data for each card. If you want
        to submit more than one QSO from a single card, then enter the
        information about those QSOs together --- one right after another
        --- on the QSLs tab.
     2. If the initial pulldown list of DXCC entities does not show the DXCC
        entity that you believe to be correct, select the */Show All/*
        option. The selection list will then change to a list of all valid
        DXCC entities.
     3. You may enter your QSLs in any order, but keep your cards in the
        same order as you have entered them. When you bring your cards to a
        DXCC Card Checker (or send them to ARRL HQ), you will need to place
        your cards in the same sequence as you entered them (this will be
        the sequence that is shown on the record sheet(s) the system will
        provide).
 2. If you use a logging program, you will find it faster and more accurate
    to prepare an ADIF file containing the QSO information for the QSLs that
    you want to submit with your application rather than manually entering
    the information from each card. Use the Import ADIF tab to import your
    ADIF file.
 3. When you have finshed entering data for the QSLs you want to submit, you
    generate your application by clicking on the Award Application tab and
    proceed sequentially through the */Application/*, */Records/*,
    */Payment/*, */Preview Application/* and */Preview Records/* screens.
    Finally, you click the */Submit Application/* button on the */Preview
    Records/* screen to complete the application process.
     1. If you logged in using a username and password, then your
        application is saved. You may leave and return to the MyDXCC tab at
        any time to view and print your completed application(s).
     2. If you did not log in using a username and password (you chose the
        anonymous login option), then you /must/ print a copy of your
        application and record sheets _before you leave the Online DXCC
        site_. Click on the */View Application/* button on the */Application
        Submitted/* screen to view your application and records sheets as a
        PDF document. Print out a copy of this document, now.
 4. Verify that your QSL cards are in the same order as shown on your record
    sheet(s). Then:
     1. Take a printed copy of your completed application and record sheets
        along with your QSL cards to a DXCC Card Checker. You will need to
        provide the DXCC Card Checker with an SASE or sufficient postage to
        cover mailing your paperwork to ARRL HQ.
     2. If there is not a DXCC Card Checker in your area, you may send your
        QSL cards directly to ARRL HQ and include a copy of the first page
        of the application, (the page that says /DXCC Award Application/).
 5. Once you have submitted an application by clicking the */Submit
    Application/* button, you cannot make further changes or add QSLs to
    this application. You cannot start a new application in the Online DXCC
    system until any pending application has been processed by ARRL HQ.

Bill Moore NC1L

Awards Branch Manager

*ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio^(TM)*

225 Main Street

Newington, CT 06111