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| Reviews Summary for ARRL - Logbook of the World - LoTW |
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Reviews: 396
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Average rating: 3.4/5
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MSRP: $00.00
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Description: LoTW ... is a repository of log records submitted by users from around the world. When both participants in a QSO submit matching QSO records to LoTW, the result is a QSL that can be used for ARRL award credit.
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Product is in production.
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More info: http://www.arrl.org/lotw/
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write your own review of the ARRL - Logbook of the World - LoTW.
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DJ0RD
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 4, 2012 10:13
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Once Set Up Great!!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I'm 72 and if I can set it up anyone that can read can also. I am using it with Winlog32 and the Winlog 32 LOTW Manager I have successfully uploaded my old DJ0MBC and new DJ0RD logs. The DJ0MBC log was automatically merged into the DJ0RD log. You must have TQSL certificates for both calls!! I then could merge the logs into a single DXCC account. Be careful that you select which log is the DXCC default and which log to merge. 15 minutes later that was it. Vy73, Bob DJ0RD/WU5T
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N1KDO
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 4, 2012 07:57
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works great!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Lately, many DXpeditions upload immediately, allowing near-instant gratification. This morning I looked at LoTW and found that I have confirmations for my QSOs with VP6T (Pitcairn) and TN2T (Republic of Congo). Both confirmed within days of the QSO.
I was able to complete DXCC using LoTW last year, with all electronic QSLs. I still love to collect paper QSL cards, they are a lot of fun to look at.
It is interesting to note that I uploaded the same log data to eqsl, where I only got 59 countries confirmed. It is also interesting to note that eqsl can use LoTW membership as a method to "guarantee authenticity"...
I think the LoTW web interface looks like the UI was designed by an engineer, not a UI designer. So does eHam. Big deal. My K3 is not as polished looking on the outside as a FTDX-5000. I would not trade it. It works well. The same is true for LoTW. It works well. It does not need to look as slick as Facebook or iGoogle or Bank of America's website.
I am aware that DXLab has good integration with LoTW, and that HRD v5 has "working" integration with LoTW. I expect that lots of other logging software does, too. So once you get your certificate set up, your logging software can take care of the QSO data upload, leaving you only the task of logging into the web interface to watch the QSLs coming in, which is pretty fun.
For those that complain that the security is too high, go ahead and use a different service. ARRL clearly wanted to protect the prestige of DXCC as an award that actually means something. I think that is a good thing. I think that CQ thinks so, too, else they would be using a different service.
It's not that hard to set up. Take your time, focus, follow the directions to the letter, and you'll be all set.
The one thing that I can think of what would improve LoTW is if more amateurs used it.
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WO8USA
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Rating: 0/5
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Feb 3, 2012 15:25
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amateur
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is the worst review I have ever written here but feel I must...
This is my second try to use LOTW, spaced a few years apart. I finally decided that I needed to go soft copy with the recent postage rate hike and the annoucement of having CQ awards integrated. I got the instructions, watched the ARRL video/presentation, wrote it all out, etc. I do a lot with PCs home and work and figured these reviews must be overboard and my last expereince was certainly just "beta testing"....LoTW install failed on several counts. I would be willing to pay a small fee to order for the software to have an actual interface to install the mess. I use other much more secure stuff with PHI/certs and they do not work like this.
Anyway----I'll just keep using hardcopy and eQSL until the ARRL gets their act together on this. For something which is supposedly SO important (integrity of QSLs? seems like Ft Know compared to how hard copy QSL exhanges come about), seems like the software could be a lot more pro-like.
I'm out of LoTW until they figure our how to do it right. This software would be out-of-business with reviews like these. Outsource it to HRD and get it right!
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GM0VIT
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 3, 2012 09:50
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They're good people at LOTW
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Been away from the radio for a few months. TQSL cert expired. Disaster? Not a bit of it. The nice folk at ARRL sent me a replacement and I was up and running again. They couldn't be more helpful.
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VE3YF
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 8, 2011 16:15
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Not perfect but what is...
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Hi:
I have been using LOTW for quite a few years and while it is not perfect, it still should be fine for 99% of the users. Ref LOTW having delays in processing logs, what does one expect when literally 1000's of users uploading their logs right after a contest, even a CRAY would bog down. Not sure if CRAY is still in production, but I fail to see the issue with delays. Geez, if my logs are not processed in a day or two or even a week, not going to loose any sleep here. I guess if someone is on their death bed and waiting to get on the Honor Roll it might matter, but other than that, life is far too short to worry about a few delays.
Mike
VE3YF
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K9NZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 8, 2011 15:24
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only one with Integity
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I do use e-qsl but only as a courtesy. I have had so many qsl request from stations I have never worked, It is worthless to me. On the other hand Lotw has integrity, It maybe a pain to setup but it works. And as for the delay, I can remember back in the day waiting for a year and sometimes (years) for that rare card. Its the only honest game in town. If it is not paper or LoTW is it a good QSL ?
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NO9E
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 8, 2011 15:22
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Pretty useful, prefer low cost than lightning speed
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Very easy to use with utility in Logger32.
Temporarily a victim of its own success. Prefer it to be (occasionally) slower than costing an arm and a leg.
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K1OYQ
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Rating: 2/5
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Dec 8, 2011 13:43
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Losing Users Due to Delays
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I wrote to the ARRL last week and informed them that they are losing users due to all the delays they are suffering and that the future of LOTW depends on good service. Their reply was that they are working on it and they share the same feelings about losing users. There are millions of hams world wide, thousands of DXpeditions and Special Events year round and many of them see LOTW as a good concept to use for QSLs. The ARRL keeps blaming the delays on the all the contesters submitting lots of logs - DUH - what do they expect? In this day and age there is no excuse for an incompetent IT staff in any organization. If you look at all the problems that the ARRL webpage has, then I guess you have to expect the same from LOTW. eQSL is better, faster, and easier to sign up into. eQSL works with CQ awards programs also. Both systems will save you money on cards and postage. eQSL allows you to receive a QSL card also.
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NK5A
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 5, 2011 12:21
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Excellent
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Best online logging software anywhere !!
Simple, easy to use, easy to set up, very powerful features. AND it's free.
Saves mucho bucks for postage and QSL cards.
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WU6W
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Rating: 1/5
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Nov 15, 2011 17:18
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LoTW needs work !
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had LoTW over a year and the concept is great. Performance has been getting spotty and now collapse! But the things that really bother me is the ARRL does not communicate what the problem is, how do they plan to fix it, and when should we expect resolution. To make matters worse - We have something to compare LoTW to and that is eQSL, which runs on donations and has worked flawlessly !
The ARRL has refused to work with eQSL on awards. Too Bad because the ARRL sure could use eQSL's database !
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