[South Florida DX Association] K7C card/LOTW

[Bill Marx]

This Interesting information regarding K7C is from the RTTY list:
-Bill W2CQ

Subject: [RTTY] FW: Fw: K7C card/LOTA


> Tom -
>
> This message reached me, and as Expedition Leader for K7C, I want to 
> provide
> a few remarks.
>
> I am sorry that the timing for your QSO confirmation was awkward, and
> sincerely hope that the results, while delayed, are correct. We are 
> pleased
> that K7C was important enough that you were concerned.
>
> I want to tell you a bit more about what happened with the DXCC and K7C. 
> As
> you know, I developed the real-time website DXA as an aid to DXers who 
> want
> to know ASAP that their QSOs are safely in the DXpedition log. The K7C/DXA
> operation, except for the initial day when the system was slowed  by
> overloading due to extraordinarily high demand on the servers, provided
> automatic confirmation within a minute, or a few minutes, of the QSO.
>
> The ARRL/DXCC office was very concerned with the security of DXA, 
> believing
> (incorrectly) that it exposes the complete log (all 5 QSO elements). A few
> weeks before the K7C DXpedition, they imposed on us the requirement that 
> we
> "make no changes in the log" if we used DXA, together with the threat of
> non-certification for DXCC if we violated that. What "no changes" meant 
> was
> never defined, and we were left to interpret it, understandably in
> considerable fear of making an error. Additionally, as a condition for
> receiving the Colvin Grant, we were required to upload the logs to LotW no
> later than 1 year after the operation.
>
> We followed these requirements to the best of our ability to understand
> them, and I believe completely. QSLing was delayed about 3 months while I
> made inquiries as to what "no changes" meant. When there was no response, 
> in
> the face of mounting pressure, we were forced to go ahead. Tom N4XP did a
> superb job of the QSLing, always under my dictum that he "make no changes 
> to
> the log."
>
> We made a deliberate decision to postpone uploading the K7C logs to LotW 
> for
> two reasons: (1) DXpeditions depend on income through the direct QSL
> requests, a function that is compromised by LotW uploads; (2) We needed to
> have some guidance as to whether we should make basic error corrections
> before uploading the logs. We continued to ask for this guidance through 
> the
> year after the K7C operation, but it was never forthcoming. Finally, to 
> meet
> the deadline, the logs were uploaded, apparently about the same time you
> made your direct request.
>
> I hope you can see that the situation with the K7C log was very unusual.
> What I believe is that the ARRL/DXCC program is dealing with a lot of new
> situations generated by new technology, especially real-time online
> information, and that the policies are under review and possible revision.
> We all have to be patient, but hardworking, as we drag DXing into the 21st
> Century!
>
> Good DXing to you, and 73,
>
> Bob KK6EK
>
> Dr. Robert Schmieder
> 4295 Walnut Blvd.
> Walnut Creek, CA 94596
> (925) 934-3735
> schmieder at cordell.org
> www.cordell.org
>
>
 ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Byron Lichtenwalner" <w3wkr at verizon.net>
> To: "RTTY List" <rtty at contesting.com>
> Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 1:18 PM
> Subject: [RTTY] K7C card/LOTA
>
>
>> Friends
>>
>> I waited a long time for the K7C crew to post their Q's on LOTW.  After
>
>> several inquiries as to when that would happen, and being assured it
> would
>> be in July or august, nothing happened.
>>
>> Wanting to do a mailing to the DXCC desk, in frustration, I mailed them
> a
>> card.
>>
>> I received a prompt reply with a very attractive card.  A few days
> later
>> the K7C confirmation was posted on LOTW!
>>
>> I know the real time reporting of QSO's created some concern with the
> DXCC
>> rule keepers.  Does it mean that LOTW data won't be uploaded until
> paper
>> confirmation is received by DX peditions that use real time reporting?
>>
>> Or was this just one of those crazy coincidence?
>> Byron, W3WKR
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