[Dx4win] Logbook of the World?

[Pete Smith]

At 10:09 AM 1/25/03 +0100, you wrote:
>Hi!
>
>Can we expect DX4Win 6 to support "Logbook of the World"?
>

According to the ARRL Letter today, they have just completed alpha test, 
and have not yet released the client library to software 
developers.  Here's the full story:

"==>LIMITED "LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD" TESTING IS A HIT

The long-anticipated "Logbook of the World" (LoTW)--the ARRL's secure
electronic contact-confirmation system--took a major leap toward public
release this month with several weeks of limited--or "alpha"--testing.
Dozens of Amateur Radio operators checked out a preliminary version of the
LoTW software, which is still under development. Once it's ready, LoTW
will provide a means for participants to qualify for awards such as DXCC
or WAS without having to first collect hard-copy QSL cards.

"This is cool!" exclaimed one alpha tester. "Slick!" declared another
tester. "It's pretty neat so far. This looks like a good start."

ARRL staffer Dave Patton, NT1N, said the limited test run was extremely
helpful. "One of the main things that will come out of this phase of
testing is a good package that will be ready to give to logging program
developers to incorporate into their software," he said.

ARRL Web and Software Development Manager Jon Bloom, KE3Z, explained that
the League hopes that logging software vendors will choose to add value to
their products by integrating LoTW client-side functions. "But the
software we provide to individual amateurs will be sufficient for basic
use of LoTW," he added. ARRL will not be releasing the LoTW server code,
however.

Linked via e-mail, the LoTW testers spent two weeks registering their call
signs, uploading logs and attempting to push the system to extremes. One
tester was amazed at its robust nature after he uploaded a complete
station log of about 320,000 QSOs. "I sent this blob expecting it to croak
the server, but it didn't!" he said.

Logbook of the World Project Leader Wayne Mills, N7NG, says LoTW won't
spell the end of QSL cards. Instead, he says, it will provide an avenue
for increased speed and accuracy for hams chasing awards, as well as
remove some chances for human error that can occur in the traditional
process.

"This is really a system to offer credits for awards," said Mills, who is
also ARRL's Membership Services manager. Mills said LoTW will minimize
opportunities to "game the system" or otherwise cheat--something that's
not always possible to detect even with paper QSLs. He emphasized that the
League has no plans to do away with accepting traditional QSL cards as
it's been doing all along. "We're not replacing the whole paper QSL scheme
with Logbook of the World," he said.

Unlike electronic QSLing systems now in use, LoTW is not set up to
exchange QSL "cards" via the Internet. The main idea is that ARRL will
maintain a secure log database that will be constantly updated by DXers,
contesters, DXpeditions and thousands of individual amateurs. Registering
and uploading electronic logs cost nothing; the only time a user will
incur a charge is when applying accumulated contact credits toward an
award.

LoTW beta testing for the general Amateur Radio public is expected to
begin soon. The ARRL has not announced a specific inauguration date for
Logbook of the World."


73, Pete N4ZR
The World HF Contest Station Database has just been updated.
Are you current? www.pvrc.org/wcsd/wcsdsearch.htm