[W1SMH] Step in the Right direction

[Kenneth Reynolds]

Here is a bullitan from ARRL, I think it might interest those who =
contest.

73

Ken=20

=3D=3D>"LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD" WILL COMPLEMENT QSL TRADITION

ARRL's "Logbook of the World" (LOTW) electronic contact-verification =
program
will spark "a culture change" when it's introduced later this year, =
predicts
Project Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG. Once LOTW is operational, =
participants
will be able to qualify for awards such as DXCC or WAS without having to
first secure verification in the form of hard-copy QSL cards. But =
Mills--who
heads ARRL's Membership Services Department--is quick to add that LOTW =
will
complement the conventional exchange of QSL cards, not replace it.

"We will not do away with accepting QSL cards in the traditional =
manner,"
Mills says. "We're not replacing the whole paper QSL scheme with Logbook =
of
the World." Neither will Logbook of the World provide a means to get
QSLs--electronic or otherwise. Mills said amateurs will still be able to
solicit QSLs--even electronic cards--although e-QSLs still may not be =
used
to apply for ARRL awards. Mills this week issued a separate ARRL e-QSL
policy statement to clarify what is and what is not acceptable
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2002/03/07/100/>.

Logbook of the World "is really a system to offer credits for =
awards--and
not just our awards," Mills explained. He hopes to enlist the =
participation
of other organizations that grant operating awards, such as CQ and RSGB.
Central to the LOTW concept is a huge repository of constantly updated =
log
data provided by individual DXers, contesters and DXpeditions and =
maintained
by ARRL. Once it's up and running, Logbook of the World will be able to
provide quick contact credit. Mills adds that the system will be open to
all--ARRL members and nonmembers.

Registering and uploading electronic log data to LOTW will be free. The =
only
time users will incur charges is when they wish to apply contact credits
toward a particular award, such as DXCC, WAS or VUCC.

Software development for The Logbook of the World continues. "We're well
into the software implementation phase for the logbook server," said =
ARRL
Web/Software Development Department Manager Jon Bloom, KE3Z, who expects =
to
begin full system testing this spring.

"The security part is the linchpin of the system," Bloom said. Both he =
and
Mills emphasize that every effort will be made to ensure the integrity =
of
LOTW log data. Registrants will have to positively identify themselves =
via
off-line, hard-copy means before being issued a secure--and =
free--digital
signature and granted password access.

In simple terms, when a participant logs on, the Logbook system would
determine if its database contains any contact "matches" with log data
submitted. If so, a user could apply any credits generated to particular
awards at a per-credit fee. Mills said the cost would be in line with
current ARRL award fees.

In situations where an operator disputes a failure to match, Mills said, =
the
operators involved would have to resolve the situation off-line.

Bloom and Mills believe that Logbook of the World will improve the =
integrity
of the confirmation process. "It will remove some of the human factors =
that
lead to errors," Bloom said. And, Mills added, Logbook will minimize
opportunities to purposely "game the system" or to outright =
cheat--something
that's not always possible to detect even with paper QSL submittals.

Mills said he hopes to announce an inauguration date for Logbook of the
World within a few months.




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