[Dx4win] Support for LOTW

Sat, 25 Oct 2003 18:30:35 -0500

On Sat, 25 Oct 2003 13:56:38 -0400, Paul van der Eijk wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I have been reading most of the exchanges about this topic, and
>came up the following ideas / questions.
>
>1. Support for a few more 'confirm flags'; see below

Absolutely.  Probably only LOTW to begin with since
eQSL's are not accepted by ARRL.  

>2. Add a function to the logbook import mechanism to use the QSOs to set
>the confirm flag in the existing log. The imported QSOs will not be added to the
>existing log, they are only used to change the confirmation flag.

Yes.

>3. Some small changes are needed in the ADIF export (mode=PSK31 and one
>band needs a different format. (These changes have been made already)
>
>4. I have no immediate plans to integrate LOTW functionality INSIDE DX4WIN
>(Key management, sending / receiving logs etc.) Many of you have already
>exported a log to ADIF and used that log to upload QSOs. The LOTW software
>makes the required steps simple. 

As long as we can export and import and set the LOTW confirm flag by hand
where necessary I don't see any need for additional support.

>Confirmation flags:
>
>Currently, we only have Yes / No, and the Yes flag implies that you have
>the QSL card in your possession. With services like the LOTW, we will
>need an extra status to indicate an electronic confirmation.  
>
>Some issues / questions:
>
>I assume 'Card in hand' and 'electronic confirmation' need to co-exist, ie 
>all four combinations are possible. 
>
>I'm not sure if we need more than one electronic confirmation flag (to 
>distinguish between LOTW and eQSL for example) Does this really 
>add value or does it add confusion? To distinguish between LOTW
>and eQSL for example leads to eight combinations. 
>
>I can also see that other 'awards issuing organizations' may establish their 
>own electronic logbook services. 
>
>Do we need to distinguish what type of confirmation (card or electronic) 
>can be used for an award? 

It's going to be a real can of worms.

>Interested in your ideas,
>
>Paul
>
>
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Paul van der Eijk (KK4HD)
>[email protected]
>http://www.dx4win.com
>
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Larry Alkoff N2LA - Austin TX