Posted: 8/5/2014 4:35:40 PM EDT
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I'm trying to understand how this works. Currently my account is in limbo that I tried to make due to an invalid call call sign issue. But anyway, you register and they handle the matching of contacts and mailing of QSl cards? So that means you get a card from an out of the country contact he set up an account with LoTW and they mailed it to you from where ever they mail it from correct? |
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Quoted:
I'm trying to understand how this works. Currently my account is in limbo that I tried to make due to an invalid call call sign issue. But anyway, you register and they handle the matching of contacts and mailing of QSl cards? So that means you get a card from an out of the country contact he set up an account with LoTW and they mailed it to you from where ever they mail it from correct? Nope.  LoTW is strictly for confirming contacts and there are no cards involved. You can apply for awards if you like as well.
ClubLog has a feature called OQRS (Online QSL Request System) that allows users (if they set it up that way) to request a card and pay for it online. LoTW is a pain to get setup, but once it's setup it is decent. It takes a bit to understand "why" you are uploading but it will make sense after awhile. |
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Here's the lowdown as I understand it. ARRL offers awards to stations for cirtain achievements such as "Worked all states" and DXCC "DX Century club" (Worked 100 different countries). Once you complete the requirements for an award, you get a plaque and some bragging rights.
In order to certify that you really made all the contacts you claim, ARRL accepts two methods of verification: You can send them your stack of physical QSL cards that you've gotten from around the globe, or you can basically say "Look at my LOTW records". ARRL doesn't accept contacts from QRZ or eQSL or any other log-sites for consideration for those awards. Now, lots of people upload logs to LOTW. If someone uploads a log that has you as a contact, and you upload a log to LOTW that has them as a contact (at the same time, band, etc...) then ARRL considers that a completed QSO. If you upload to LOTW and the other stations doesn't, or they get your callsign wrong, or put the wrong date/time or whatever, then that QSO never gets matched and you won't get credit for it. Further, some people for whatever reason, just don't upload logs to LOTW at all. Maybe they're just not interested in plaques. But perhaps they like collecting QSL cards just for the hell of it. If you send them a QSL card, they'll probably send you one back(eventually). Which you can then submit to ARRL as proof of the QSO when the time comes. But for sending and receiving QSL cards, there's the whole issue of "direct" vs "bureau", which is a whole 'nother discussion. |
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Quoted:
Here's the lowdown as I understand it. ARRL offers awards to stations for cirtain achievements such as "Worked all states" and DXCC "DX Century club" (Worked 100 different countries). Once you complete the requirements for an award, you get a plaque and some bragging rights. In order to certify that you really made all the contacts you claim, ARRL accepts two methods of verification: You can send them your stack of physical QSL cards that you've gotten from around the globe, or you can basically say "Look at my LOTW records". ARRL doesn't accept contacts from QRZ or eQSL or any other log-sites for consideration for those awards. Now, lots of people upload logs to LOTW. If someone uploads a log that has you as a contact, and you upload a log to LOTW that has them as a contact (at the same time, band, etc...) then ARRL considers that a completed QSO. If you upload to LOTW and the other stations doesn't, or they get your callsign wrong, or put the wrong date/time or whatever, then that QSO never gets matched and you won't get credit for it. Further, some people for whatever reason, just don't upload logs to LOTW at all. Maybe they're just not interested in plaques. But perhaps they like collecting QSL cards just for the hell of it. If you send them a QSL card, they'll probably send you one back(eventually). Which you can then submit to ARRL as proof of the QSO when the time comes. But for sending and receiving QSL cards, there's the whole issue of "direct" vs "bureau", which is a whole 'nother discussion. How do you do a combo of cards and LOTW for awards? |
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Thanks for the clarification. I was totally misiformed on my end. I thought it was more like a clearing house/bureau for sending QSL cards. At this time I really have no desire to get confirmation on my contacts. Currently I keep my log on paper and I send out QSL cards to specific contacts I want to like special stations and I just follow their directions. So far that's a very limited number. I'm still at the stage where often I make a contact just to see if I can do it, and will often look up their callsign to see where exactly they live etc...I still need to investigate how I can get a QSL to and from a contact in Cuba. He simply says on his QRZ bio page via bureau. Sorry, slow on the uptake and all new to me. Thanks. |
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Quoted:
How do you do a combo of cards and LOTW for awards? Quoted:
Quoted:
Here's the lowdown as I understand it. ARRL offers awards to stations for cirtain achievements such as "Worked all states" and DXCC "DX Century club" (Worked 100 different countries). Once you complete the requirements for an award, you get a plaque and some bragging rights. In order to certify that you really made all the contacts you claim, ARRL accepts two methods of verification: You can send them your stack of physical QSL cards that you've gotten from around the globe, or you can basically say "Look at my LOTW records". ARRL doesn't accept contacts from QRZ or eQSL or any other log-sites for consideration for those awards. Now, lots of people upload logs to LOTW. If someone uploads a log that has you as a contact, and you upload a log to LOTW that has them as a contact (at the same time, band, etc...) then ARRL considers that a completed QSO. If you upload to LOTW and the other stations doesn't, or they get your callsign wrong, or put the wrong date/time or whatever, then that QSO never gets matched and you won't get credit for it. Further, some people for whatever reason, just don't upload logs to LOTW at all. Maybe they're just not interested in plaques. But perhaps they like collecting QSL cards just for the hell of it. If you send them a QSL card, they'll probably send you one back(eventually). Which you can then submit to ARRL as proof of the QSO when the time comes. But for sending and receiving QSL cards, there's the whole issue of "direct" vs "bureau", which is a whole 'nother discussion. How do you do a combo of cards and LOTW for awards? I just did this.....I went to a local card checker and he sent the paperwork in to the ARRL. I was given credit on LoTW in about a month for the cards I submitted to the checker. Here is the link: http://www.arrl.org/online-dxcc-application |
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Here ya go... Incoming QSL service Outgoing QSL service The outgoing is free with your membership. The incoming you need to send funds or envelopes/postage to whoever handles your call. |
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Quoted: Here ya go... Incoming QSL service Outgoing QSL service The outgoing is free with your membership. The incoming you need to send funds or envelopes/postage to whoever handles your call. Thank you. |
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How do you do a combo of cards and LOTW for awards? For DXCC there used to be a combo application where you could apply using both cards and LoTW QSLs. It was a pain the ass to use, confusing to the card checkers, and Headquarters hated it. It was dropped a year or two ago. Now we have LoTW and card applications. Hot ticket is to use the LoTW DXCC Onlne application for your LoTW QSLs first. Just click Awards, DXCC, then Application on your LoTW page. This only takes a week or less to process. Once that is in the system then collect your cards, sort your cards by band, then mode within that band. Cards with multiple QSLs at the end. Then enter all that into the the Online DXCC Application which is different than the LoTW Online Application. Send the app and cards to your local card checker. He will check the cards and forward the application to Headquarters. Your cards are returned to you. Be sure to address and stamp all the envelopes and have a tracking number for the outgoing package and the return QSL package. Processing time is 6 to 8 weeks. For WAS there is a combo application. Works a lot easier than the old DXCC application. Go to your LoTW account. Click Awards, WAS, Application. Select the LoTW QSLs you want to apply for and start the application process. Whatever you're missing from LoTW you supply the cards. Forward the app and cards and have it checked in the same way as DXCC. |