[Dx-qsl] (no subject)

Tue Sep 16 11:40:00 2003

I think it is important to keep in perspective what Logbook of the World is
& isn't.

Remember that it's purpose is to provide for electronic QSO confirmations
for the purposes of ARRL awards.  Therefore, those who are collecting QSL
cards purely for the purposes of ARRL awards will no longer need to request
them.  So there should be some cost savings for the DX'er(s) involved and a
little less paperwork to handle for the QSL Manager(s) involved.

And yes, I'm sure sooner or later, hopefully sooner, other awards granters
will tie in to LotW for their own purposes too.

However, keep in mind that the transition will take time, and that
traditional QSL cards will NOT disappear.  Why?  IMHO:
(a)  some of the anti-ARRL contingent will have nothing to do with LotW
(b)  some of the pro-eQSL contingent will take an "either/or" attitude and
decline to use LotW in exclusive favor of eQSL
       more importantly:
(c)  many DX stations still keep paper logs or lack the means to upload
their logs to the internet
(d)  many DX QSL managers for reasons of their own will decline to use LotW
(e)  many DXpeditions may decline to immediately use LotW as they hope for
contributions from the DX community that come in with the QSL requests
(f)   Logs often show errors (wrong band, wrong date, busted call), so a
traditional QSL card may be issued upon appeal from the DX'er who can show
that the log is incorrect and there really was a QSO [I recently had this
happen with a DX station who'd forgotten to change his software to indicate
a different band]

And I'm sure other reasons will come up.  But of these 6, I don't think
there's much that can be done about (a) & (b), (c) & (d) will improve over
time, and (d) & (e)... I suspect that after a period of time (like 1 or 2
years after the fact) the logs may eventually be posted.

The sad thing is that there are already some DX & contest stations who have
indicated that they will use LotW exclusively and abandon the traditional
QSL card.  Whether or not you agree with their reasons, and they do have
them, sure seems a shame that those who choose not to use LotW get the shaft
for the convenience of this handful of stations.  But such is life.

Logbook of the World was a massive undertaking, and from what I've seen,
they did things (behind the scenes) right -- and better that they're a
little behind the original schedule but got it right as opposed to being on
time but botching the initial release.  The ARRL & those who worked hard on
the system ought to be congratulated for this -- hopefully in time they will
be.

73, ron wn3vaw

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www.nittany-arc.org/paqso.html
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Lago" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2003 10:58 AM
Subject: [Dx-qsl] (no subject)

LoTW......
This will cut back on Buro cards I am sure.  Many managers who will use
Lotw will no longer answer buro cards. This will be a great savings all
around.
73
Ron

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