[SFDXA] LoTW heading for Statistical Cliff? - SFDXA letter andresponse

Wed Dec 12 00:59:26 EST 2012

Here it is, Pete and all.
73, Bill

Update to Logbook of The World Bug Fix 
The fix for the Logbook of The 
World (LoTW) bug was implemented at 2103 UTC today, November 28. 
Full credit goes to ARRL Information Technology Manager Michael Keane, K1MK, for 
figuring out what was happening and how to correct it. 
There are two ways of uploading logs: via the 
LoTW website and by e-mail. LoTW users should note that e-mailed logs were not 
affected by the bug, so no e-mailed logs will need to be resubmitted.
At the time the fix was implemented, LoTW 
processing was running almost exactly three days behind. If a user's most recent upload was made before 2100 UTC on 
November 25 and it has not yet been processed the file should be 
resubmitted. There should be no need to resubmit logs uploaded 
since 2100 UTC on November 25, which would include all CQWW CW DX Contest logs 
submitted after the end of the contest. 
There is, however, a 
very slight chance that logs uploaded after this date might have been 
overwritten. If you find that your logs that were uploaded after November 25 are 
not appearing in your LoTW account, please wait until after December 3 to upload 
them again.
Thanks to everyone who has been patient while we 
grappled with this bug. The issue of slow processing speed is also being 
addressed, but it requires a hardware upgrade that will take several weeks to 
implement. Your continued patience and understanding will be 
appreciated.
David Sumner, K1ZZ
Chief Executive Officer, 
ARRL

----- Original Message -----
> From: Pete Rimmel N8PR <n8pr1 at bellsouth.net>
> To: Bill Dzurilla <billdz.geo at yahoo.com>; Richard M. Gillingham <rmoodyg at bellsouth.net>; The Romagni's <eromagni at gmail.com>; Norman Alexander <npalex at bellsouth.net>
> Cc: sfdxa <sfdxa at mailman.qth.net>; Mark Horowitz <k2au at hotmail.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 11:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [SFDXA] LoTW heading for Statistical Cliff? - SFDXA letter andresponse
> 
> Bill,
> 
> He says:  " I have attached the latest email below from ARRL CEO Dave 
> Sumner. Please pass on and
> re-assure everyone that improvements have been made and much forethought has
> been received from experts in the IT field"
> 
> What happened to the attachment?  I didn't see it.
> 
> PeteR
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Bill Dzurilla
> Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 3:29 PM
> To: Richard M. Gillingham ; The Romagni's ; Norman Alexander
> Cc: sfdxa ; Mark Horowitz
> Subject: Re: [SFDXA] LoTW heading for Statistical Cliff? - SFDXA letter 
> andresponse
> 
> FYI, the SFDXA board decided to send a letter to our ARRL officers about the 
> LoTW issue.  Here is the text of our letter and the ARRL's response:
> *******************************
> To: Greg Sarratt, W4OZK
> Director, ARRL Southeastern Division
> 
> cc:  James Millsap, WB4NWS, Vice Director
> 
> From: South Florida DX Association
> 
> Re: LoTW  Issues
> 
> 
> Greg,
> 
> The South Florida DX Association is a large, 100%
> ARRL-member club.  Lately, I (like you, I expect) have been receiving a
> great number of complaints from my membership about the performance of
> LoTW.  I would be happy to respond to these complaints, and resolve them locally 
> (i.e., before they reach your inbox), except that I have
> received no guidance from the ARRL on the issue, and therefore cannot
> offer any assistance.  This situation reflects badly on both the ARRL
> and the SFDXA.
> 
> I would very much like to receive an official, comprehensive report on the 
> status of LoTW from ARRL HQ, describing:
> ·         The present staff and budget of the LoTW program;
> ·         The hardware and software used;
> ·         The performance issues encountered in the past year; and
> ·         The action plan to resolve these problems.
> 
> With this information, I and other club officers in your Division can “run
> interference” for you, and present facts into a public debate sorely
> lacking them.  The ARRL can then start the process of converting LoTW
> from its present public relations disaster back into the crown jewel of
> innovation it once was.
> 
> In addition, your membership contains persons knowledgeable in database
> design and administration; many are ready to help, but have no means to
> do so.  This report would enable these opinion leaders to provide public support 
> for the ARRL’s action plan, and also to provide technical
> support to the plan, if it were needed.
> 
> I hope you will agree with me on the above points.  Could you let me know if 
> such a report could be made available, and if so when?
> 
> Thank you and 73,
> 
> Bill Dzurilla, NZ5N
> President, South Florida DX Association
> 
> *************
> 
> Thanks Bill for your email and letter. I have been following the issues and
> reports published, both on the ARRL site and emails and understand everyone’s
> frustration. I have read that at least 100 very knowledgeable folks have and are
> involved in resolving the issues, both hardware and software. Hurricane Sandy
> and the Nor Easter didn’t help with the resolution efforts as well. There is
> progress that has been made and being made to improve the system. I have
> attached the latest email below from ARRL CEO Dave Sumner. Please pass on and
> re-assure everyone that improvements have been made and much forethought has
> been received from experts in the IT field. As with any computers, “stuff
> happens” a.k.a. “Murphy’s Law”, and hopefully the new hardware and upgrades will
> be more robust to handle the enormous entries submitted daily. Please instruct
> folks to watch for future announcements at the ARRL website. Thanks for your
> patience and the group’s.
> Respectfully,
> Jim Millsap
> ARRL SE Division Vice Director
> ______________________________________________________________
> South Florida DX Assoc.
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