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| Reviews Summary for ARRL - Logbook of the World - LoTW |
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Reviews: 255
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Average rating: 3.3/5
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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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More info: http://www.arrl.org/lotw/
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You can
write your own review of the ARRL - Logbook of the World - LoTW.
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W4MJA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 5, 2008 20:45
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Excellent
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Unlike others, I find LOTW fantastic! It really helps with DXCC QSL's, but no one seems to get how much it costs to send DX QSL's from the US.
Envelope: 3 cents
Card: 7 cents (This varies, I use UX5UO cards 1000, for $68)
Stamp: 94 Cents
Return postage: $2
Over $3 to get one card back, IF YOU GET THE CARD BACK! With postage rates rising, I can see LOTW activity jumping to an all time high.
The process of setting up is "Involved" but not difficult.
Now lets do some more math, your a moderate DXer, you might not have BS7H, but can work most of the DXpeditions with a little bit of trying. If you were to go for 5BDXCC, at todays rate of $3 per card sent, with 100% QSL return, your looking at at least $1500, 9BDXCC at least $2700, and should we go into the challenge award? What would you rather pay $2700 to get back QSL cards? Or a down payment on an Alpha 9500 to snag BS7H with?
LOTW is never going to replace paper QSLing, but it can help ease pain in the wallet with total living expenses on the rise.
Don't spend large amounts of money with QSLing, download LOTW, and buy that new Steppir or Alpha 9500 amplifier with the money you save.
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OK1RR
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Rating: 0/5
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Jul 5, 2008 15:25
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Linux software
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Two things here:
1. Linux portation is a crap and nobody cares.
2. Use of LoTW does not mean negligible costs of DXCC. It is a nasty biz, not ham radio activity. Do you remeber awards for return postage, coming with a big 'thankyou' for your proof of activity?
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W3ML
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Rating: 4/5
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Jul 4, 2008 09:23
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not hard to set up
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I had no problems setting up the LOTW.
My only problem is finding time to sit down and type in 30 years of contacts.
John
W3ML
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W8JAS
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 4, 2008 09:20
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LOTW - It's the Real Thing!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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There's a few toy electronic "QSL" Services out there that came out before LOTW, but they are generally false starts and don't offer REAL awards. Plus they are always pumping you for donations every time you log in. LOTW does not push for donations. Yes, it charges a fee when you want an award. Very reasonable and a heck of a lot lower than postage costs for QSLs. The other toy wannbe services also charge for their pretend awards (sometimes you have to print out your own awards instead of the professionally printed awards sent by the ARRL). The only respected awards like WAS, and DXCC, come from the ARRL not the fake QSL websites. Not to mention, LOTW is more secure and a far better implementation then the toy QSL services that came out first, but were not well thought out in their design.
Some folks have said LOTW is hard to set-up. Frankly I think it is very easy even for this old man and the instructions are very easy to follow.
It's a great, and well thought out electronic QSL service offering real awards. More active hams should using it and should quit messing around with "Bob and Joe's" electronic toy QSL service.
Like Coca-Cola, LOTW is the REAL thing!
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K6TPL
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Rating: 1/5
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Jul 4, 2008 07:18
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Stolen From eQSL
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Time owned: months
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eQSL was here first. Simple to use And doesn't cost. ARRL bothers me with their stealing the idea from eQSL and making money from it. Log Book of the World is very hard to set up. The ARRL refusing to recognize eQSL and then stealing the idea for their own use is just bad. And very wrong.I will continue to use eQSL.
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K4XD
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Rating: 4/5
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Jul 4, 2008 06:32
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Very good, Great if Everyone Used It!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Hi all --
I agree getting this set up is a bit of a pain, but with DXKeeper, a totally free logger, once you are set up it is a breeze to upload new QSO's and get your LoTW QSL's. So far my QSL rate is about 33%. It is so nice to submit an award application without having to bundle up paper QSL cards and mail them in.
Come on folks, you are in a technical hobby, toughen up and figure it out! It's a benefit to all of us, especially now when the PO increases the cost of postage faster than I can use the stamps I buy! Counting envelopes and QSL cards even a domestic paper QSL costs $1 and international cost over $3.
And to the ARRL -- please do work on making it easier to set up so more will use it. It CAN be done. Build some wizards to help people through the set up. I know I just told people to toughen up and figure it out, but you can do your part to lower the entry barrier and collect more award $$.
73,
Rowland K4XD
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W4SK
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 23, 2008 13:48
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Worked for Me
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Oh, yeah. Sucks so bad, I got my DXCC CW Honor Roll with it.
To each his own.
-73-
W4SK
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W4HLN
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Rating: 0/5
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Jun 23, 2008 12:07
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Waste of Time
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Save yourself a lot of trouble and dont even try it.....Took me a long time to get it going....Lousy return rate after years of entering QSO's.
After 3 years it still sucks!
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WW2JS
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 25, 2008 09:20
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I use all three methods
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Even though I am new to the hobby I try to withhold one of the oldest traditions, QSL'ing. I use paper, EQSL and LoTW. What I have found that many other operators do not respond to anything. In any case I use all three and I'm happy to receive any QSL by any method! LoTW is easy to use, my logging program (DXKeeper) is very compatible with it and I absolutely have no problems.
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K4FX
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 25, 2008 08:19
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Works fine for me
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have been using LOTW for a couple of years now, I find it very simple to use and a welcomed change from the high postage "paper" QSLs, Last week I worked YK9G on the 13th and I received the QSL 24 hours later, and the nice thing about these QSL's is I do not have to pack them up and send them in for DXCC credit, the ARRL already has them.
As far as all the reviewers complaining of LOTW being difficult, I would suggest you try another LOTW manager, in Winlog32 (a FREE logger) it's only a couple of mouse clicks to export your properly signed tq8 file.
I also use EQSL, but many people request me NOT to send an EQSL. Many of those same people will use LOTW, also I have noticed over the last year that most all of the big expeditions are using LOTW. I enjoy it, and will continue to use it.
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