[EIDXA] From ARRL Bulletin

[Cliff Ahrens]

Hi Jim.  I agree that LoTW isn't that much help in confirming new band
countries for those of those that have been chasing DX for many years.
Being a fellow resident of the Black Hole, my experience is similar to yours
and much different than KC1XX's. I've uploaded over 26K Q's to LoTW and only
have one new band country in LoTW QSLs not already confirmed by a paper QSL.
But that doesn't strike me as unusual, since I participate in the DXCC
Challenge and already have paper QSL cards confirming over 2400 different
band countries.   

Your question about others' experience prompted me to see what my LoTW QSLs
only would do for a NEW DXCC applicant, assuming I had no paper QSLs in
hand.  I have 1286 LoTW QSL's (a 4.9% LoTW QSL return, but that includes
data from the 1970's and 1980's where the LoTW QSL rate was very low in
comparison to recent years, due to lack of computer logkeeping).  My LoTW
QSLs would have earned Mixed and CW DXCC, with 138 Mixed and 126 on CW, and
would have earned a total of 425 DXCC Challenge band countries. I would have
no single band LoTW-only DXCC, but am knocking on the door, with 89 band
countries on 20m, 80 on 15m, 66 on 10m, 60 on 40m, and lesser numbers on the
rest of the bands.  And the LoTW QSLs would be nearly half way toward the
initial DXCC Challenge award if I was just starting in the chase.

Interestingly, my LoTW confirmed Q's were not all "garden variety" DX.  They
included 12 from the DX Magazine's top 50 Most Needed Worldwide list,
including BS7H, FT5W, FT5Z, VK0/H, YV0, FR/J, FO0/C, T32, FR/T, FK/C, C2,
and 1S. 

I think the real benefit of LoTW will be for newer DX'ers chasing DXCC
awards.  The dollars (not to mention time) I've spent over the years
collecting those 2400 plus QSL cards for the DXCC Challenge would make a
downpayment of over half the cost of a new Icom 7800!  If I was just
starting the DX chase, I would likely still want QSL cards for each new
country overall.  But for me, a LoTW QSL would be fine for new band
countries.  Hopefully LoTW will reduce the cost substantially for those just
getting started in DXCC and generate more interest in DXCC.

73, Cliff  K0CA
   

W0SR wrote:

I'm still laughing.  Of course KC1XX can make 5BDXCC with LoTW.   Look where
he is located!  Look at the station!  My own experience is that I CANNOT
confirm a single missing band country on 80-40-20-15-10 using LoTW.  I
realize there is a big QSO difference between W0SR and KC1XX/VE3EJ but the
simple stuff like OK, S5, Z3 on 20 and 15 that I need have multiple QSOs.
What experience have you had?

73,  Jim




* "Cardless" Five-Band DXCC testimony to Logbook of the World's value: New
Hampshire contest station KC1XX (chief op Matt Strelow) recently achieved
Five-Band DXCC solely through contact data submitted to the ARRL's Logbook
of the World (LoTW). With more than 255,000 QSOs already in the worldwide
contact database, KC1XX recently was able to confirm 100 DXCC entities on 80
meters to qualify for the award. Because most participants have linked their
DXCC data into LoTW, it is not always possible to determine band totals
derived solely from Logbook confirmations. Major contest stations like KC1XX
serve to demonstrate the value of participating in LoTW, however, because
these stations frequently do not have DXCC, and their totals are due
entirely to LoTW-verified contacts. The largely single-op contesting and DX
station of John Sluymer, VE3EJ, in Ontario also has qualified for 5BDXCC
through LoTW-verified QSOs, while several others are closing in on achieving
5BDXCC using the same route. Meanwhile, Brian Alsop, K3KO, in North
Carolina, has already confirmed 221 DXCC entities entirely via LoTW.
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