I'm sure that after the dust settles, the engineers that code LoTW will need to look for a more scalable solution.   I think CQ WW SSB just gave them a nice indication of where the current architecture falls on its knees.

One of the problems is a lot of us uploaded our logs 2 or more times, because the system wasn't able to confirm (clearly to the user) that the log was being processed.  You get a message that it's been queued, but when you check your activity, it doesn't show up.  It should should the file as "queued".  So that's one improvement they could make.   They also need to implement some safeguards to prevent users from uploading files when the system reaches capacity.

Their cost for hosting this service is going to go up for sure.  Time to throw some more hardware at the problem.

I contacted support yesterday, and had an answer in my inbox this morning.  They are working on it.  Just let the databases grind for a week and then come back.

de Jeff, W6UX.

Thanks for confirming I can partially fix this on my own.  I'll contact ARRL next week after the storm is over and see what, if anything, can be done to remove the errant entries.  Their FAQ says no QSO can ever be deleted, but we shall see!

de Jeff, W6UX

Following the conclusion of the CQ WW SSB contest, I uploaded my log to LotW (using AC Log).  Unfortunately, the last time I used AC Log to do this, I had it sign selected log entries using my /P certificate.  There's a bug in AC Log that causes the currently selected station location to not be shown correctly.  It looks like my entire log got uploaded and resigned everything under my /P cert.

So now I've got a ton of incorrectly signed QSOs, many of which have been replaced with /P.  LOTW website has been overwhelmed lately with everyone uploading their logs.  I've contacted ARRL regarding the appropriate course of action.  Subsequent attempts to re-upload my file have been accepted, but after 2 days, I am not seeing anything get processed.  I have to assumed their servers are still swamped.

Was curious if anyone has had to fix this situation themselves? I am hoping I can just upload all my home station QSOs again, and LOTW will replace the /P QSOs correctly.  Ugh, it's a big mess now.

de Jeff, W6UX

Thanks to all, fantastic advice!

I will certainly look into the feasibility of putting up a moxon for some directional capabilities, this is something I am sorely lacking, but I've got a lot of constraints at this QTH.  I'll for sure pick up a copy of The Complete DXer.

Will be S&P in the contest this weekend to pick off the DX as I can get it.  Busting those pile ups the first 24 hours is brutal but fun.

73 de Jeff, W6UX

P.S. I'll keep this thread bookmarked, so if anyone else wants to chime in, please do!

I want to make the most of the solar conditions we anticipate having over the next 4 years, as we come into and out of the expected peak of the cycle.  In the 2 years I've been on HF, through a combination of contacting DXpeditions, contesting, and calling CQ, I've got 76 DXCC confirmed via LOTW (with 1 deleted entity).  I believe I'll get the basic DXCC within 6 months IF I can figure out a strategic game plan and then make the time to work the bands as much as my schedule allows.

What I have to work with:

- 100 watts (no plans to add an amplifier at this time)
- all bands from 10 to 40 meters
- phone and digital modes (currently RTTY, PSK, and JT65)
- at least 1 hour per weekday, more on weekends
- LOTW (preferred method of QSLing)
- Paper QSLing

From my QTH on the west coast, I generally see the bulk of DX activity being heard from after 8am until about 7pm.  It varies, of course.

My plan at this point:

- make a note of announced DXpeditions and put these into my operating calendar
- make a list of needed DXCC entities in geographic areas I know I can get into regularly; any keep an eye out for them on the air
- participate in as many Phone and Digital contests as time permits
- make it a habit of calling CQ for at least 1 hour per day (at least 2 or more on Sat and Sun)
- continue to learn CW; goal is to be making quick contacts within 6 months (e.g., S&P during contests w/computer assisted keying)

This is a journey for me which I want to enjoy, and if the other guy wants to ragchew, then we'll ragchew! Along the way I want to improve my operating skills and techniques (especially getting better at working the weak ones with my K3).

Looking for any suggestions from other little pistol operators that have achieved DXCC and beyond.

73 de Jeff, W6UX

I'm still scratching my head here with the trying to get T32C on RTTY.  They keep saying they are listening UP.  WHERE? Is it 1 up? 2 up? Sometimes it's 6 up.

They call CQ, and tens of seconds go by, sometimes a minute or more, before he calls a station.  Lately, seems only EU stations are getting answered, but they don't say they're working EU only.

We're running out of time, so any advice? I've only got them on 17 and 10 for RTTY.  Would like to get the rest through 40 before they pack it in.  Should I continue to be polite and just call once or twice per CQ, or do I have to abuse them like so many others are doing by calling continuously and then not hearing them when they answer you?!  (I'm not gonna do that!)

Cheers!
Jeff

I think it's usually the case of someone knowingly using more power than is needed, or they simply don't understand they've got issues with their setup.  I think 90% of the time it's the latter.  Newer ops need to take the time to understand setting up the audio drive and checking their ALC readout, dialing down the power (keep it under 30 watts usually), and then asking other ops if their signal looks clean.

I experienced something new last night.  I was calling CQ, and another station would come on and call CQ right on top of me.  So I'd move over and repeat.  Same thing, he comes over and calls CQ on my freq.   And I thought about this, and figured, his station must be tracking my nearby CQ and moving his TX freq over to mine.  I believe this would be his AFC?  I usually lock my TX/RX freqs when calling CQ, because I keep seeing my TX signal get pulled towards a nearby QSO.

So, chalk it up to inexperience on the part of the ops.  All you can do is politely ask them if they realize they are causing a problem and help them fix it.

73 de Jeff, W6UX

Wonderful, thanks so much for pointing out those tools to me!

-Jeff

I had had 700+ Qs for the CQ WW RTTY.  It was wonderful! I'm trying to put together a strategy to rack up a few awards in the coming year, and just looking for operating tips, tricks, and strategies for making lots of digital contacts between contests.

Well just to be consistent, I give out 53, 55, 57, or 59, or 59+ (10db over, etc).  On the QSL nets, It's 22, 33, 44, 55, 57, 59.  Sometimes I'll use the S meter to gauge whether I give out 55, 57, or 59.  Sometimes they are LOUD but only bump the meter to a 5.  So I'll give him 59 for that.

de W6UX

I love RTTY contesting, primarily because my station just seems to be able to work a lot more DX with 100w RTTY than SSB.  Through contesting alone I've got 49 states confirmed for RTTY through LoTW (still waiting for those DE ops to upload their logs  ).

If I wanted to make an all out assault on grabbing more digital awards for RTTY and PSK31 modes, what's are the recommended days and times a West Coast op should concentrate on? My antenna will do all bands between 10 and 40.  Usually when I listen for RTTY, I don't hear much.  Typically it's in the afternoon or evening.  Do I need to be getting up at 4AM PST on a Saturday typically to hear the DX?  Obviously band conditions influence the chances of hearing them, but when are most RTTY ops on? I generally find PSK31 is very active on 40 during the evenings, but not so much DX is heard at my QTH.  Sometimes Cuba or Puerto Rico.  Haven't been on PSK31 in 6 months, so it's probably gotten a lot better.

What about using CQ macros that identify the award you're trying to chase? I'd like to find a way to rack up the QSOs with folks in specific states and countries that use LoTW.  I seem to recall on occasion, seeing CQs something like "CQ WAS NEED NV,DE,NY VIA LOTW CQ" or something like that.

How have the digital award chasers here achieved their goals efficiently?

Thanks for any and all tips and pointers!

73 de Jeff, W6UX

Yeah, keep trying! I've got 10,12,15, and 20 on SSB, 17 RTTY.  100 watts and an inverted vee @ 43'.

Tried again on 30 tonight but he's working other continents it seems.  He's very strong into my QTH, but not hearing me.  Will try again tomorrow.

W6UX

When I say 1x3, I meant "W6UX W6UX W6UX".  I should have just said "sent my call 3 times".  I send 3x instead of 2x because, in my experiences, it dramatically reduces the error rate on the other op's end.  If a single character gets flipped due to noise, he's only got a 50/50 shot of getting it right.  Usually 2 of the 3 make it over intact, thereby increases his chances of coming back to you correctly.  I see this all the time in contests and the ones who send their calls 3x have to repeat themselves less.  Result is less time wasted getting the QSO completed.

Anyway, my point was that the QSO rate was dropping to around 1 per minute.  Either ops were sending their calls for 10-20 seconds, or several of them were not initiating their sends for 10-20 seconds after CQ was called.  I can only imagine the wall of garbage the T32C op was seeing on his screen, trying to pick out a call sign in the clear.

de Jeff, W6UX

Just an observation...seems like T32C is taking about 1 minute between RTTY QSOs.  When I checked the QSX freq, I observed people sending their calls like 10+ times.  And it didn't stop for like 45 seconds.  I haven't seen this with other DXpeditions (I've only been doing this for 2 years).  Seems like we'd help with their QSO rate just sending a single 1x3 after he calls CQ???

/soapbox

Thanks

de W6UX

Assuming you are using Windows? Simple would be the logging and contesting package from N3FJP.  It's not really updated anymore, but it's stable and covers most of the big SSB/CW contests.  For comprehensive coverage and digital contesting capability (RTTY), I like N1MM, but you'll need some patience and some time to get it setup the way you want it.  There are Yahoo groups for support.

There are also programs for OS X, but I haven't had time to play with them yet.

-Jeff