[SFDXA] Notes on new DXCC online application procedure

[Bill]

Bravo...Well done! Not an easy task 2Meter DXCC. Congratulations!
Bill W2CQ



On 3/23/2016 1:59 PM, Bill Dzurilla via SFDXA wrote:
> The ARRL just started a new, optional online application for DXCC.  You can still apply via the traditional paper procedure, but the online is said to be faster, easier, and cheaper.  See https://p1k.arrl.org/onlinedxcc/about.php .  It's not totally online, however, as your QSL cards still need to be checked manually by a checker.
> Last week I submitted an online application for my 144 mhz EME DXCC.  There are a couple of tricky points to maneuver, so I'm writing this in case it may help with someone else's future application.
>
> I had 48 confirmed via LoTW and 55 additional confirmed with paper cards.  My first point of terror was the DXCC FAQ, which says: "Paper QSL cards may not be combined with LoTW applications anymore for the DXCC award program. (Hybrid application). The hybrid application process is still available for the WAS and VUCC programs."  I read this as meaning the application must have 100 paper or 100 LoTW, with no award for 100 combined LoTW and paper.  Judging from comments and complaints in the forums, others have thought the same.  But it's not so.  You can get the award with combined LoTW and paper confirmations, but you have to apply for the credits separately.
> My bigger problem came with the upload of the ADIF file with my paper confirmations.  For some reason, the ARRL's program does not always recognize the country on the file.  In this case, the instructions tell us to select "the DXCC entity from among the choices in the pulldown list" or "select the Show All choice from the pulldown list to select from the complete DXCC List."  I failed to notice this instruction before submitting my application and, as a result, 6 of my paper confirmations were not included in the submission.  I thought by submitting 103 I'd be safe, but without those 6 I only had 97, three short.
> To make matters worse, the instructions also say "Once you have submitted an application by clicking the Submit Application button, you cannot make further changes or add QSLs to this submission. You cannot start a new application in the Online DXCC system until your pending application has been processed by ARRL HQ."  So it seemed I was out of luck and would have to wait until my application was rejected and then start over.
> Fortunately, however, I caught the problem before the Card Checker (Don W3AZD) had sent my application to the ARRL.  A nice lady in Newington (Sharon Taratula) allowed me to complete a traditional paper form with the 3 missing confirmations, which Don was able to send along with the online application.  So hopefully now I'll get my 2m DXCC certificate in due course.
> 73, Bill NZ5N
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