[South Florida DX Association] LOTW going live next week

[Esteban Romagni]

This is from the ARRL weekly newsletter:

LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD TO INAUGURATE DXCC CREDITS SYSTEM MAY 5

The ARRL's Logbook of the World (LoTW) <http://www.arrl.org/lotw> secure
contact database debuts its DXCC credits system Wednesday, May 5. As of
week's end, the credits system was undergoing some final testing. ARRL
Membership Services Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG, says the long-awaited LoTW
component will permit users to apply contact "matches" in Logbook's 41.4
million QSO and growing database to their DXCC records. To date, Mills
reports, more than 2.5 million QSO matches already exist in the system.

"It's a pretty straightforward process," Mills said of crediting LoTW QSO
matches to DXCC. "What participants need to do first is go to the LoTW
site and read the instructions." Information available will include a list
of frequently asked questions--FAQs.

Before doing anything else, LoTW newcomers will have to obtain a Logbook
of the World digital certificate and download the software. Since LoTW
launched last September, it has validated nearly 10,000 digital
certificates from approximately 7000 individual users. Obtaining a digital
certificate, which authenticates each user under a particular call sign,
is free.

The Logbook of the World database is a repository of individual contact
records submitted by users in the US and abroad. When both QSO
participants submit matching contact records to LoTW, the result is a
"virtual QSL" that--while it bears little resemblance to a paper QSL
card--is good for DXCC credit. LoTW accommodates Windows, MacOS and Linux
RPM users, and several logging software developers have incorporated LoTW
components into their programs.

DXCC is the first and only award for which LoTW users will be able to
apply their credits. Mills says plans already are in the works to make the
system available to apply LoTW credits to other ARRL and possibly some
non-ARRL awards.

Getting the DXCC credits system up and running has involved a considerable
amount of programming--much of it by ARRL Web/Software Development Manager
Jon Bloom, KE3Z--followed by extensive testing.

LoTW users already holding digital certificates just need to click on the
"Awards" menu tab to access the new system that lets them apply QSL
credits to their DXCC records.

While the software and obtaining a digital certificate are free, it will
cost users to apply LoTW QSL credits to DXCC. The application fee for a
basic DXCC certificate remains the same, however, and users will only be
charged on the Logbook side of the system. Individual credits can cost as
much as 25 cents apiece, but users can save money by buying credits in
bulk. Purchasing more than 500 credits will drop the per-QSL cost to just
15 cents, Mills pointed out. "The fees are much more economical than the
postage and other costs associated with collecting traditional paper QSL
cards," he added.

The application fee for a basic DXCC Award is $10 and includes up to 120
card credits. Applicants pay 15 cents per each additional card applied. A
similar fee structure applies for those going the LoTW route, Mills says,
and you won't have to pay any additional fees on the DXCC side. The site
provides for secure payment via credit card.

One first: LoTW will be able to query the DXCC system and display an
individual's DXCC record. In the past, members have had to request their
DXCC records via e-mail. "This was actually an unintended consequence of
offering the DXCC credits system," Mills said.

For more information, contact the Logbook of The World staff
<lotw-help@arrl.org>.