[OKDXA] GS, IRC, LOTW - You need a backup

[N5PA]

I have had some cards never get to their intended recipient, and it was
mainly in Eastern European countries.  I know from being there that anything
from the U.S. usually gets opened to see if there is money inside.  I have a
friend that is a missionary in Perm, Russia and it is hard to send her
anything without it getting stolen.  Lots of 3rd world countries are the
same way.  I know when I was in Africa it was hard to get mail.  That is why
you see some people cut the corner off of the envelope so that they can see
that there is no money inside.  But we are not so lucky.  I think as the
global economy gets worse it will happen more.  The cards that I am missing
are either band or mode cards and not new entities.  That is lucky for me.  

 

I did my first 300 countries direct with a SASE and at least two GS, but
that is very expensive and everyone cannot do that, especially at the rate I
was doing it.  I now try to utilize the bureau and LOTW as much as possible
except for new entities, where I still use the direct method.  Usually I get
a card through the bureau when I get a LOTW contact from a DX station, but
as long as I have credit for it at the League that is all that matters.  I
had a fire and lost all of my cards and paper logs and I had never done a
submission.  That was very painful!  So now I keep a copy at home, a copy on
my USB Memory Stick, a copy at work, and of course a copy in LOTW.  I have
about 36,000 contacts in LOTW, all since 2000 when I started over with my
DXCC and other awards.  When you live in tornado alley or have a chance of
lightning or other natural disaster, it pays to have multiple backups in
multiple locations for your logs.  I always try to keep my updates with the
League current in case another disaster bestows me.  I had another lightning
strike about five years ago but it did not burn the house down this time but
it did zap everything in the ham shack, including my computer.  It paid to
have multiple backups at multiple locations.  Luckily I did not have any
damage to my computer during Katrina.  It was one of the few things that
were not damaged. 

 

Getting the cards or confirmations is one thing, but making sure they are
backed up and submitted is another.  That is why LOTW is a great avenue for
us.  I too love to get the cards and I will continue to send off for the new
ones, but as long as I get them in LOTW first, I will take that any day.
After a while the massive amounts of cards you get at the house become a
burden.  When you contest like a lot of us do you end up getting a lot of
cards.  I will use whatever method is available to me to get them confirmed.
LOTW is a secure and tightly maintained system and it is worth using.

 

It is all your personal preference, GS, IRC, Bureau, LOTW.  That is why
there are Fords and Chevrolets (at least for now), it is all personal
preference.  I can just state that a SASE with two GS has been my most
successful method, albeit very expensive!  Good Hunting!

 

73,

Alan, N5PA