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Reviews For: ARRL - Logbook of the World - LoTW

Category: Ham Logging Software

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Review Summary For : ARRL - Logbook of the World - LoTW
Reviews: 511MSRP: 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.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.arrl.org/lotw/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
153.75113.3
K4KRW Rating: 2014-05-19
Fabulous Service Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using LOTW since early in its existence. It has always worked well for me.

Recently I went to renew my certificates and made a mistake with my certificate renewal request. I emailed support and they very quickly remedied the problem in an elegant and fabulous way which will prevent me from having my same issue when I renew next time. Every time I have contacted support they have been courteous and helpful. Thanks!

I just don't understand why so many reviewers have had such issues with LOTW. Yes, you have to jump through a few (very small) hoops to get going. If you use a good logging software package, it is really pretty easy. Once you have your logging software configured, there really isn't much to it.

I will say that where I have found fault with the process has almost always been less than clear configuration instructions from the makers of the logging software. Once I figure out what LOTW values they want in what fields, things work great.

I have found fault with some logging software packages which had Rube Goldberg like add on programs to accomplish the sending and retrieving of logs. It should be seamless.

I currently use LOG4OM and it handles LOTW quite well.
KF7CG Rating: 2014-05-19
Solid Usable, Not flashy but so what the radio is what is suppo Time Owned: more than 12 months.
LOTW is no problem for me. Not terrifically polished, but it is solid and gives a good percentage of QSLs per QSO logged. My percentage is 49.6, get about 24 with EQSL, and about 30 with paper.

No problem with keeping a backup of my digital certificate or changing it between computers. Even running LOTW from two different computers for the same call.

Of course I do "legacey" software and SQL database programming for a living, so that may explain it.

KF7CG
AF5DN Rating: 2014-05-19
It's Acronym is ….. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Seemingly Useless Complicated of Kind Software.

I just want to log my QSOs, NOT send highly sensitive financial documents, trade secrets, or government spy lists.
Are they kidding with the whole sending a top-secret code on a post card in the mail?
A web page with a SSL certificate should be all that is needed. Why do I need to prove it’ me? I send them my dues, is that not enough?

K6SBA Rating: 2014-05-19
I'm Puzzled Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used LotW since its inception, and have had no problems with the installation, upgrading, renewing, or installing on a new computer. I have double the number of my verified DX QSL's since I started using LotW.

I realize there are a large number of capable and experienced hams who have just the opposite experience. I find this very puzzling.

Some people are frustrated with the number of times LotW goes offline. In my experience this seems to happens more often after a big contests with, I assume, lots of uploads. It's not my bank account or my 401(k), so these interruptions are pretty low on the scale of things for me.

I am puzzled why this program is relatively simple for some (including me) and a nightmare for others. There just doesn't seem to be a consistent pattern or explanation.

In comparison, I have a huge number of paper QSL's to DX stations which have never been answered. At an average cost of $3-4 dollars for postage both ways, this is a much greater irritation than anything encountered with LotW.

73 to both the haters and lovers of LotW,
David K6SBA
Santa Barbara, CA
K7FD Rating: 2014-05-18
Dumped it after one year Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
A year was long enough suffering with LoTW; I quit working DX because of it...
KV1P Rating: 2014-05-18
Fantastic Site Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I can only say if you can read English and able to follow directions there should not be any problems. Been using it for over 10 years, and very pleased with the results. Have over 2000 qsls to my credit that's a big saving in postage!

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by KV1P on 2011-04-07

Easy to get started, and just as to to use everyday. DXCC, WAS, LOTW saves not money from overseas postage; but you get QSL credits just days after a major DX contest due the fact that most major contest station both USA and DX are uploading their contest logs to LOTW.
Just read the instruction on how to get started; and enjoy the benefits from LOTW!
AI8O Rating: 2014-04-23
Poor documentation Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had a major malware infestation, and had to reload the OS and everything kelse on my laptop. Lost all tokens,presets, etc.
The TSQ file was of course lost along with everything else.
I have not been able to follow the instructions on the ARRL website because I don't have log-in credentials, and I can't create a new account because an account already exists for AI8O.
ZL3TRR Rating: 2014-04-23
NOT USER FRIENDLY Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I find this site and program to complicated and its not user friendly.

The site needs a complete revamp.

I have only 4000 QSO's yet the site says I have 6000 and when I tried ask why I got a grumpy old man who was not interested in fixing problem.

As for getting the certificates to upload logs again to complicated.

I wont be uploading my log again

That's my two cents worth.
IZ5LJB Rating: 2014-04-19
Too much security & complications Time Owned: more than 12 months.

I have been a Lotw user from some years now and I do sincerely appreciate the idea and the work that ARRL does with LOTW and I am thankful.

Anyway the "digital signature certificate file" is an exaggerated kind of security level and, often, both the lotw-log and/or TQSL become quite complicated to handle, even for a quite expert computer user like I am.

I really believe that a good standard of security, like, for example the one I use for my internet banking :-), maybe with telephone, identity card and national database call-sign check, will be ok and that there is really no need for high level encrypted digital signature certificate files "military style" that make all things much more complicated and difficult to interface.

It will be good if lotw + eqsl.cc and qrz.com confirmations (and others) could be used "together", to certificate our QSOs in different ways.

For these reasons and difficulties I believe that LOTW is not used so much by worldwide ham operators.

For example, I receive, almost daily, automatic QSOs confirmations from qrz.com and qsl.cc and only a few any 2 or 3 months from Lotw log...

I believe, honestly, that Lotw unfortunately, at the present, is a quite "poor" (my rating is 1) and complicated platform, even if I will continue to use it and I thank ARRL for their work and help.

Max
K0KL Rating: 2014-04-17
Works swell! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Earlier I expressed my frustration with the system and the lack of help. Included is a lack of concise explanations to a non- digital knowledgeable person.
With the help of a friendly Elmer who saw my review I have LOTW working.
It does as advertised, works well, interfaces with DXCC et all. I thoroughly enjoy using it, the folks that built it did a good job.
As stated elsewhere, we need a tech writer to come up with non- engineering directions. I am now a happy camper having given birth to triplets (or so it seems).