[Ham-Mac] RE: LOTW

Mon, 19 May 2003 08:11:00 -0400

Hi,

Sorry to weigh in on this so late but I just got back from Dayton.

> Date: Sat, 17 May 2003 09:41:54 -0400
> From: "Patton, David  NT1N" <[email protected]>
> Subject: RE: LOTW
> To: n2ern <[email protected]>
>
> Hopefully, whoever writes Macintosh logging software will incorporate 
> an interface with loTW.  ARRL will not likely be supplying a 
> stand-alone Macintosh program.
>
> 73, dave, NT1N

I don't think this is unreasonable - the ARRL is not supplying logging 
programs, just the ability to digitally certify ADIF files.
It does appear that they will be releasing the specification for this 
digital certification shortly. According to the Developer's Information 
section of the ARRL LOTW web site:

<http://www.arrl.org/lotw/#develop>

> Developer's Information
>
> Information for software developers who wish to integrate LOTW 
> software with their products will be available within the next few 
> days.

We will just have to wait and see how general and adaptable this 
specification is.

<http://www.arrl.org/lotw/#about>

> Software developed by ARRL can be used to convert a log file (in ADIF 
> or Cabrillo file format) into a file of digitally signed QSO data, 
> ready for submission to LOTW.

Any logging application that wasn't written in a vacuum supports ADIF 
import/export:

<http://www.hosenose.com/adif/adif.html>

This is how MacLoggerDX users who have moved over from other platforms 
import their old logs into MacLoggerDX.

Hopefully, this program will be an easy port to a command line type OS 
X application which would process files from any Mac logging program 
that can export ADIF.

According to the ARRL web site FAQ <http://www.arrl.org/lotw/faq.html> 
LOTW digital certificates are based on the TrustedQSL digitally signed 
QSL specification which is an open source project:

> 1.9 What is "TrustedQSL"?
>
> TrustedQSL is a specification for digitally signed QSO records. It is 
> the format used to submit QSO data to LOTW.
> See http://www.trustedqsl.org/ .

Needless to say, when the specification for LOTW is published 
MacLoggerDX will support LOTW submissions.

It's only my two cents worth, but it would seem that urging the ARRL to 
release enough information to facilitate porting to the Mac might be 
time well spent.

Best Regards,
Don Agro

D o g   P a r k   S o f t w a r e   L t d .

email: [email protected]
   www: http://www.dogparksoftware.com