|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
| Reviews Summary for ARRL - Logbook of the World - LoTW |
|
Reviews: 312
|
Average rating: 3.3/5
|
MSRP: $00.00
|
|
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.
|
|
More info: http://www.arrl.org/lotw/
|
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this review.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
|
You can
write your own review of the ARRL - Logbook of the World - LoTW.
|
N3QVB
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 23, 2009 12:21
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Works great
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I've been using LoTW for 1-1/2 years and I really like it. At first I was hesitant to try it, hearing all about how complex and difficult the setup was. I quickly realized all the hoops they make you jump through (although not that bad) are to prevent fraudulent use of the system. I found the setup procedure easier than expected. The logging program I use (DX Keeper)seamlessly uploads my contacts to LoTW, and there are other programs that do the same.
For those of us who still love getting QSL cards in the mail, this doesn't replace that, but it's an easy way to get confirmations and to submit for DXCC without having to sort the cards. I'm old school when it comes to QSL'ing, but I must say I like what LoTW does for me. Anybody hesitating because of the complexity of the setup, it's not that bad.
|
|
W2XS
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 23, 2009 10:53
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Worked with N3FJP
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
After reading these reviews, I was apprehensive about the process. But I followed the instructions on the ARRL LOTW pages and received my postcard in the mail with the special password. That password allowed me to complete the tQSL certificate process, which then led to the receipt of an email with another password. After reading the LOTW help page on the N3FJP website, I entered the emailed password into the N3FJP logging software and let ACLOG do the work. A little while later, 3000 QSO's in the log had been marked as "QSL Received". I am still learing what this is all about, but so far so good.
|
|
N8FXH
|
Rating: 0/5
|
Oct 23, 2009 07:11
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Don't stop using
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
I quit using the LOTW about three years ago as radio time was limited now I have been trying for six months to get it reestablished and still not working. Program security and set up stink. The Awards are not worth the frustration spent.
|
|
K3ROJ
|
Rating: 2/5
|
Oct 23, 2009 05:11
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Still Trying
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I dislike having to give a poor rating on any product but LotW makes me pull my hair out. Got to the point where I received the post card but just cannot understand how to proceed and have tried everything. Am using nGENLOG which will interact with LotW once I get it going and have thousands of DX stations stored in ADIF files. Receiving QSL cards is tedious and difficult to catalog even though I have several thousand of them in shoe boxes. Will continue trying to get it to work but am almost 70 and would like to have my awards before I reach 80.
|
|
MM0TFU
|
Rating: 3/5
|
Sep 21, 2009 13:45
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Not so bad after all.
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Having written a rather damning review of my bad experiences with LoTW below, I feel I should set the record straight.
Not long after writng the review I received an email from a very nice man at the ARRL, pointing out that an automated error (rejection) message had been sent because I had apparently attemted to upload two certificate requests, unbeknown to me, of course.
He gave me the information that I needed to complete the registration process, and Hey Presto! I am now up and running.
So there we have it, proof that the ARRL actually have humans working for them and that they can help you solve your problems with LoTW.
Having said all that, it really should not be this difficult.
Please, could some of the humans working at the ARRL have a look at this system and simplify it.
|
|
K2ID
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Sep 21, 2009 12:28
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
K2ID
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
I often wonder why is it so important to have such security for QSL verifications for a hobby? Are ham radio awards that valuable that a small percentage of cheating will undermine the value of the awards? Why does the security for LOTW have to be higher than that used for me to access my bank account and some much more important websites than this?
|
|
N4OI
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Sep 19, 2009 06:05
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Since When do Hams Need "Easy"?
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
As background, I am a relatively new ham -- almost seven years now. Not into DXing for the awards, but I have been uploading all of my logs to LoTW -- about 4,000 now. I received my first mixed DXCC award using all LoTW QSLs -- and now have 99 countries toward CW mode. This week I received the e-mail that my certificate was about to expire so I walked through the instructions for upgrading the TLCert program and new certificate. I was again uploading QSLs from my HRD logs in just a few minutes! Yes, I had to read an follow some directions, and yes, I had to do it correctly. But, is this not in line with the ham tradition of enjoying and learning from technical challenges? Compared to building my QRP kits,adding roofing filters to my XCVR, (or learning morse code for that matter) this was a "piece of cake." Great job ARRL and LoTW! Thank you! 74 de Ken - N4OI
|
|
N3FIU
|
Rating: 2/5
|
Sep 18, 2009 22:44
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Disappointing Set Up...
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
I've worked in the computer industry for about 25 years; I've never been through a more complicated set-up than I went through for LoTW. eQSL was MUCH simpler than this. I found myself asking repeatedly "Why?".
Amateur radio log submissions for any contesting has been around forever; I still remember when it was strictly paper-based and checking was done by hand. What has always been "understood" is that this was all on the honor system -- Before computers, not everything could be checked.
With the advent of computers, logs can be cross-referenced almost instantaneously. I can see the value in having a coded card sent to your QTH of record for authentication. But all of the passwords, certificates, etc., is ridiculous. At the end of the day, I am uploading a file that will be compared to other logs. If my log does not match that of my contact, then my QSO will be rejected. Certifying the computer, the file, etc. is overkill.
The process can be made much simpler; there have certainly been enough complaints written about the set up process to see that it's "broken" (which is sad when you realize how many people like LoTW once you are past the set up).
Please, ARRL -- Make this simpler!!! More people would use this if it wasn't such a chore...
Thanks,
Bob
|
|
K6KAP
|
Rating: 2/5
|
Aug 24, 2009 09:55
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Good idea.....But!
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
I finally got LOTW up and running after some trial and tribulation. The set up instructions are not clear at all. The registration is very cumbersome.
Even after reading the help, I can't figure out what my "Challenge" entries are.
The concept is good, but it needs much better documentation.
You know those DX entities that require green stamps for confirmation are not going to use it.
|
|
N1KFC
|
Rating: 0/5
|
Aug 12, 2009 15:28
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Still not ready for prime time
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
Frankly, I don't need someone to confirm the contacts in my log. if they are in there, I know that I made them. This LOTW system is too cumbersome vs other options like eQSL. If it's not fun, why do it?
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
