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| Reviews Summary for ARRL - Logbook of the World - LoTW |
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Reviews: 313
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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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write your own review of the ARRL - Logbook of the World - LoTW.
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N1KFC
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Rating: 0/5
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Aug 12, 2009 15:28
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Still not ready for prime time
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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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?
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K4XG
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Rating: 3/5
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Aug 12, 2009 14:55
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Great concept but difficult to use.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I applaud the ARRL for implementing LoTW as it is a great concept and very beneficial to the ham radio community. I have been a LoTW user since its inception and totally support the program.
However, until it is greatly simplified operationally, it will NEVER reach its full potential.
For example: My TQSL Certificate recently expired (again) and had to be renewed. I should have been able to log in to LoTW, go to My Account, and click on a button titled "Renew Certificate". That should have completed the renewal process but it was not to be.
Hopefully someone at HQS will get the message and eliminate some of the bureaucy in LoTW. Then, and only then, will LoTW be sufficiently user friendly and utilization will be greatly enhanced.
K4XG Life Member ARRL
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K4HB
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 21, 2009 11:06
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Go For It
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Needless to say, obtaining paper QSL cards can be expensive. And when you send an SAE with $ or a stamp, you still may not receive that card. For newcomers, I can understand the thrill of collecting another card, but once we have thousands stashed away, some of us are more concerned with award counters than paper cards. To me, LoTW was the perfect solution. There's been times I've had stations confirmed and the QSL already in Newington the same day I worked them.
On the downside, the only problems I have are that more don't participate and more awards aren't configured with LoTW. I understand that VUCC is scheduled to be included soon. I don't chase grids yet, but I believe this will encourage more usage. I've noticed many don't include their grid info with their uploads. This will be necessary for grid credits once the award is included. The procedure is simple:
Open TQSL
Single click Station
Single click Edit Locations
Single click location chosen
Single click Edit
(I believe prior uploads without this info will need to be uploaded again for it to show)
I'm sure there's other reasons some don't participate in LoTW, but there's those who will never participate because it will disrupt their cash flow. There's collectors who return a small portion of the QSLs received or don't return at all. Some receive more dollars than required to return a card, and wouldn't have it any other way. So LoTW will not be capable of 100% returns for your activity anytime soon. But it will save you some bucks, and will do better once more get on board. There's presently 326 countries on LoTW. So you may have to seek them out, but there's other users out there ready to work you and confirm that QSO without you spending big bucks.
As for the complexity of the program, give me a break. If I can do it, most anyone can do it. It does require some studying and some effort. If all else fails, follow the instructions. If you have problems, perhaps you can get a friend to help. There's discussion groups that cover the subject. And the staff at ARRL are very helpful if you have problems.
As for some wanting more than required for returning a card as mentioned above, perhaps this can be helpful... http://www.k4hb.com/postage.html
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KR4EY
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 12, 2009 09:15
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No Brainer
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I can't beleive all the negative reviews here. This is so easy my 10 year old neice or nephew can use it.
1 Open TQSL, select the adif you want to sign.
2. Select your Station ID and create a .tq8 file
3. Upload your .tq8 file to LoTW
Now how hard can that be. To me this is so easy. eQSL is useless to me.
DXCC is the only award I am after.
TQSL is a godsend for all the DX I work, I would be spending $100's a week without it.
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WW2PT
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Rating: 4/5
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Jul 10, 2009 19:19
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Needs better instructions, but works as advertised.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I share most of the bad experiences others have already stated. My initial attempt to register for LoTW ended in failure. I'm still not sure why. A few years later I tried again with better results. Still, the first time signing and uploading a file was confusing, and adding a certificate for my previous callsign left me scratching my head when no postcard came in the mail (I later realized that the postcard thing only applied to the first callsign certificate). In the end, I got it working and have had no further issues.
Now that I understand the system, I find it works as advertised. I upload new loggings regularly, painlessly, and with little effort. It's clear that the process in and of itself is not complicated; it's simply a case of really, really crappy instructions.
The ARRl web site has a "Getting Started" page with step-by-step instructions to walk you through the process of requesting a certificate and validating it with the password you receive from the postcard you receive in the mail. Then... nothing. It just stops short, with no info on creating or exporting the ADIF file, or using TSQL to sign and upload the file. Digging around further on the ARRL web site, I found and watched a PowerPoint slideshow that filled in the blanks. Only then was I able to put all the pieces together. Why all the information in the PowerPoint file isn't available on the "Getting Started" page is beyond comprehension.
In practice LoTW works like a charm once you get into the groove of things. I can appreciate the ARRL's desire for strong encryption methods to prevent fraud -- I use eQSL.cc as well as LoTW and while I enjoy the simplicity of it, I have received (and rejected) a few incoming QSLs from stations that I did not work; someone less scrupulous would merely have accepted the QSLs and padded their DXCC total without actually working the DX. At least with LoTW there can be no doubt that the DX was actually worked.
I also like the fact that I can get quick confirmation of QSOs and apply them to DXCC and WAS much sooner than it would otherwise take me to collect all the cards via snail mail and the bureau. I still send out "real" QSL cards as I enjoy collecting them, but for award purposes LoTW is a really great tool.
However, the League needs to address the fact that they have needlessly complex instructions for a relatively simple process. The number of people expressing anguish over registration and giving up on the system should be a wake-up call. I'm a fairly bright computer professional, and I'm sure everyone else complaining about LoTW's complexity and difficulties are fairly bright as well. If so many of have had trouble getting started, I think it's fair to say there's something wrong with the way it's being explained to us.
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W0DC
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Rating: 1/5
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Jul 10, 2009 14:44
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Like Tax Preparation...
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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If you like doing your taxes, this is the QSL program for you. I'll give it another try if ham radio ever becomes my full-time job.
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KG8JF
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Rating: 3/5
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Jul 10, 2009 09:36
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only for the wallpaper
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I have been using lotw for a while and find it no better than eqsl. The one thing that I never thought about is that I am going to miss the exotic qsl cards . I finally learned how to use lotw and it is not all that bad, but it sure was a pain getting through the learning curve
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K3GM
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Rating: 4/5
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Jul 10, 2009 08:20
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Hang in there and it gets easier....
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My initial review of LoTW was dismal. I stated the complexity probably rivaled the Presidential launch codes. Well, I've been using it for some time now and I find that it really isn't that complex to use. Yes, the initial setup is a little complicated, and afterwards you need to keep track of your passwords. But I find myself regularly creating upload files for only one or two casual contacts. Contest logs are a piece of cake as are any Cabrillo files; just convert them, sign them, and upload them. My current gripe with LoTW is the fact it doesn't offer VUCC awards for VHF operation. I urge everyone to upload you VHF contest logs and let the League know you'd like an award for VUCC. It beats stamps, it encourages stations that don't QSL to do so, and it's the only eQSL program that's backed by a large organization. I'll keep using it.
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KR4WM
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Rating: 1/5
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Jul 10, 2009 07:17
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Not worth the effort
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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For those who use it, I'm happy you got it to work. For me, it's way over-the-top too much trouble to set up. There's absolutely no reason to have such security for an honor-based radio service. I gave up about halfway through the process. eQSL is light-years much more user-friendly. If I'm going for an award, I'd much prefer a paper QSL. Personally, I would receive no personal gratification scamming an award, and I believe the honor system works best for us. I mean- if someone was going to go through all the trouble to scam a WAS award, it could be easily done with a computer and laser printer using some varied colored and sized card stock and a little time! Why make LOTW so user-unfriendly?
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N4EUK
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Rating: 1/5
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Jul 10, 2009 06:40
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A Waste of Time
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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As far as ease of use is concerned, LoTW is a dinosaur compared to eQSL. There is no reason to have such a complex, unstable and non-user friendly system in today's computer environment. The concept is a good one, to allow the exchange of verified information, but the process is outdated and needs to be completely revamped. There is no reason to treat every ham as if they are QSL thieves, just waiting for the opportunity to scam an award with false information. I still like the old cardboard QSL cards, but electronic confirmation is OK when the system actually is efficient and easy to use.
I am an ARRL member and this is one of their less stellar projects.
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