[NLRS] Logbook of the World

[Richard Clem]

I have uploaded most of my contest logs to Logbook of the World (LOTW), and I
have noticed an interesting trend.  Even though the vast majority of my QSO's
are in Minnesota, the majority of my QSL's via LOTW are from other states. 
Here's the breakdown of my confirmed contacts via LOTW, by state:


6 meters:
WI 5
IL 5
MN 3
TX 2
NM 1


2 meters:
WI 6
IL 6
MN 5

220:
IL 4

432:
IL 3
WI 3
MN 2

This shows me that quite a few stations in other states seem to be using LOTW,
but hardly anyone locally is doing so.  I would encourage others in the area
to give this some consideration.  Currently, LOTW confirmations can be used
instead of QSL cards for DXCC and WAS.  In about six months since I've signed
up for LOTW, in fairly casual operating, I have 42 states and 28 DXCC entities
confirmed.  LOTW is currently not available for VUCC, but that is the plan. 
Currently, most of my confirmations do show the grid square.  LOTW can be used
for single-band WAS awards, including VHF and UHF.

I admit that initially signing up for LOTW is a bit of a pain.  But strangely
enough, it's not nearly as bad as the ARRL website makes it sound.  Basically,
you download some software, then upload a file from that software.  A few days
later, you get a postcard with a password on it.  You use that password to
download another file, and you are in business.

Once you're set up, it's quite easy to use.  You upload files, after running
them through the software you downloaded to digitally sign them.  IMHO, the
process could be made a bit more intuitive, but it's really not difficult. 
Most importantly, if you currently submit electronic Cabrillo files for
contests, then it only takes one more minute to upload the file to LOTW, to
make the same QSO's available for award credit, both for myself, and for the
other guy who might happen to be looking for MN for 5BWAS or whatever.

For non-contest logs, it's probably easier if you use some sort of computer
logging program, since most of them can be interfaced to upload the logs to
LOTW automatically.  But even if, like me, you log with pencil and paper, it's
quite simple to upload logs.  If it's just one or two QSO's, then you can
enter the data manually.  If it's more than that, then I usually put the data
into a spreadsheet, and then convert it to .adi format with a free program I
downloaded.

During HF contests, I usually get about a 25% return.  In other words, if I
upload a contact, there's about a 25% chance that the other op also did so. 
If both of us uploaded the same contact, then both of us get a verification,
good for WAS and DXCC purposes, immediately.  Often, the contact is confirmed
within hours.  Occasionally, a QSO from several years ago will get confirmed,
as the other op starts uploading his old logs.  My oldest confirmation is from
a contact in 1977, and when I get a round tuit, I'm going to upload any other
old logs I can find, dating back to 1974.

For more information about LOTW, see http://www.arrl.org/lotw .  I think there
was an article in QST in the last couple of months with the basics.  Again,
for some reason, they make the introductory information somewhat more
complicated than they need to.  It's really not that difficult, and it would
be nice if we could get more locals on there, to put EN34 and EN35 of the LOTW
map!  As it is, when VUCC becomes possible with LOTW, I think we're going to
discover that these are rare grids.

73,
Rick W0IS