Posted: 11/2/2013 11:44:55 AM EDT
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Ok so I was playing HAM years ago when LotW came out. It was a clusterfuck. Working in the IT industry as a DBA/Project Manager/Developer I couldn't understand who in the hell came up with that pile of bullshit. I managed to get my postcard or whatever, but the rest of the process didn't work and I gave up.
Fast forward to years later (now), I thought I'd give it a try again. So they have you fill out certificate info etc, and STILL REQUIRE A POSTCARD TO BE SEND OUT? WTF?!?!!? These people aren't guarding Ft Knox here and the process is still a cluster. Am I doing something wrong? Or is it really still this bad? |
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Ok so I was playing HAM years ago when LotW came out. It was a clusterfuck. Working in the IT industry as a DBA/Project Manager/Developer I couldn't understand who in the hell came up with that pile of bullshit. I managed to get my postcard or whatever, but the rest of the process didn't work and I gave up. Fast forward to years later (now), I thought I'd give it a try again. So they have you fill out certificate info etc, and STILL REQUIRE A POSTCARD TO BE SEND OUT? WTF?!?!!? These people aren't guarding Ft Knox here and the process is still a cluster. Am I doing something wrong? Or is it really still this bad? Go to the ARRL website and follow the simple instructions to get set up. Linky If you still can't figure it out.....try the old school method and call them on the phone. 
I had no issues setting it up for myself or for several of my friends. |
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If my reading skills are still above 3rd grade level it wants me to wait for snail mail. Am I wrong? Correct. You will get a postcard in the mail, with a password (only necessary for initial set up). It's how they verify your address. Why is that a big deal? |
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Waiting for a postcard is a little antiquated don't you think? Nope, I don't. 
Relax. You waited a few years to sign up for LoTW, so it won't kill you to wait a few more days. The whole process took me about a week. Once you get it set up, you will love it. 
I just don't see the crisis here. |
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Followed directions. Sent the certificate. Expecting something to happen. It doesn't. If my reading skills are still above 3rd grade level it wants me to wait for snail mail. Am I wrong? I would say that you either need to call them on the phone or email them directly as bitching about it here won't offer you the solution you are looking for. It really has nothing to do with you reading skill level. I had a issue with a friends certificate and they fixed it with a simple phone call. |
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I would say that you either need to call them on the phone or email them directly as bitching about it here won't offer you the solution you are looking for. It really has nothing to do with you reading skill level. Quoted:
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Followed directions. Sent the certificate. Expecting something to happen. It doesn't. If my reading skills are still above 3rd grade level it wants me to wait for snail mail. Am I wrong? I would say that you either need to call them on the phone or email them directly as bitching about it here won't offer you the solution you are looking for. It really has nothing to do with you reading skill level. No, but it verifies I didn't miss some easy step, and more importantly...... it makes me feel better. 
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No, but it verifies I didn't miss some easy step, and more importantly...... it makes me feel better. Quoted:
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Followed directions. Sent the certificate. Expecting something to happen. It doesn't. If my reading skills are still above 3rd grade level it wants me to wait for snail mail. Am I wrong? I would say that you either need to call them on the phone or email them directly as bitching about it here won't offer you the solution you are looking for. It really has nothing to do with you reading skill level. No, but it verifies I didn't miss some easy step, and more importantly...... it makes me feel better. Well.....I have called them on the phone and have emailed them with good results. I agree it is a bit clunky, but its worth the trouble. |
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I would say that you either need to call them on the phone or email them directly as bitching about it here won't offer you the solution you are looking for. It really has nothing to do with you reading skill level. I had a issue with a friends certificate and they fixed it with a simple phone call. Quoted:
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Followed directions. Sent the certificate. Expecting something to happen. It doesn't. If my reading skills are still above 3rd grade level it wants me to wait for snail mail. Am I wrong? I would say that you either need to call them on the phone or email them directly as bitching about it here won't offer you the solution you are looking for. It really has nothing to do with you reading skill level. I had a issue with a friends certificate and they fixed it with a simple phone call. Indeed the Best way is to call them They gave new set of instructions that I followed to the T and it got me setup |
| I have lotw set up. It did take me a while. Our hard drive took a dump recently. Inhad not stored my certificate like I was supposed to. On a saturday night I got my laptopnand downloaded lotw. I applied for a certificate nonlinear and Monday it was there. Clicked on the link and was set up. So I'm not sure if they still do the postcard thing or if I was different because I had set up an account before. As fa as lotw being foolproof that's a load of crap. Mine shows a 15m cw contact. I have never been on cw in my life and haven't logged anything as such. |
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Correct. You will get a postcard in the mail, with a password (only necessary for initial set up). It's how they verify your address. Why is that a big deal? Quoted:
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If my reading skills are still above 3rd grade level it wants me to wait for snail mail. Am I wrong? Correct. You will get a postcard in the mail, with a password (only necessary for initial set up). It's how they verify your address. Why is that a big deal? I'm not on either side of this argument, but I do have a question. I mean, it's the ARRL, can't they just reference your call sign in the FCC database to verify your address? |
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I'm not on either side of this argument, but I do have a question. I mean, it's the ARRL, can't they just reference your call sign in the FCC database to verify your address? Quoted:
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If my reading skills are still above 3rd grade level it wants me to wait for snail mail. Am I wrong? Correct. You will get a postcard in the mail, with a password (only necessary for initial set up). It's how they verify your address. Why is that a big deal? I'm not on either side of this argument, but I do have a question. I mean, it's the ARRL, can't they just reference your call sign in the FCC database to verify your address? I don't know why they do it, but somewhere I read that it is done to verify your physical address. I agree it is a bit of a process to set up LoTW, and I don't know squat about computers. I don't have any idea what a " trusted certificate" is. But I can follow instructions pretty well, and didn't have any trouble setting up my LoTW account. I just didn't think it was that difficult. Honestly, if I can do it, anyone can.
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I have eQSL working perfectly, and have for years. Quoted:
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eQsl is for those that can't make LoTW work. I have eQSL working perfectly, and have for years. The sad part is....that nobody really gives a crap about eQSL, as the awards are really not highly regarded. I upload my contacts to eQSL as a courtesy, but for me it really means nothing. DXCC is the gold standard and LoTW is worth the extra effort.
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I feel your pain OP. I am still waiting on my card.
I was nervous because I thought the cert request was the private key (they kept saying key in the documentation) Either way all I need is access to your email and look at the post card and the security is worthless. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_22/668758_LOTW_help__all_fixed_now__email_sent_just_waiting.html |
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I feel your pain OP. I am still waiting on my card. I was nervous because I thought the cert request was the private key (they kept saying key in the documentation) Either way all I need is access to your email and look at the post card and the security is worthless. Wow, that sounds like a long wait for the post card. I think mine only took two or three days. Anyway, the postcard password is only for the initial setup procedure. Once you get LoTW up and running, the postcard goes in the trash, and you never use that (postcard) password again. You will use your own private password for signing in, from then on. |
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The sad part is....that nobody really gives a crap about eQSL, as the awards are really not highly regarded. I upload my contacts to eQSL as a courtesy, but for me it really means nothing. DXCC is the gold standard and LoTW is worth the extra effort. Quoted:
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eQsl is for those that can't make LoTW work. I have eQSL working perfectly, and have for years. The sad part is....that nobody really gives a crap about eQSL, as the awards are really not highly regarded. I upload my contacts to eQSL as a courtesy, but for me it really means nothing. DXCC is the gold standard and LoTW is worth the extra effort. I have to agree that eQSL really does not mean much, just this morning I rejected 2 more eQSLs The LOTW process can be a pain to setup but is sure is cheaper and faster than having to send physical cards. |