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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
NK3V Rating: 2012-12-12
Got Lucky Once Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Spent a couple of hours trying to help a buddy reinstall his LoTW. What a nightmare.

I've been running it for about 18 months but it must have been my lucky day when I installed on my computer because I sure can't get his new certificate loaded.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by NK3V on 2011-10-02

My previous post took ARRL to task for poor support of LOTW. However my problem of not being able to update my file stemmed from the fact that uploaded files are batched processed.

My misunderstanding was I thought the file would be updated instantaneously. My frustration has abated since my previous post. For me LOTW is worth the effort required to get it up and running.
W3AGT Rating: 2012-12-06
Not Ready for Prime Time Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I originally put off using LoTW because of the hoops you had to jump through to sign up BUT with the costs of postage these days it became a necessary hurdle to overcome.

I uploaded my first tq5 file a week ago today.

Yes, I know they had a bug and they were overwhelmed with contest logs but REALLY a week?

As an IT professional and database administrator I find the performance of LoTW abysmal and an embarrassment to an organization as prestigious as ARRL. I expect better of them.

The last message I got indicated my file was qued for processing but the system doesn't provide any information regarding current status of that file.

Like I said; not ready for prime time...
W5UV Rating: 2012-11-19
TOTAL FLOP Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Let's see, combine an overly-unfriendly user program with a system that is totally under-powered and is either down or running days to weeks behind and you have the definition of a total washout. I think it's time to pull the plug and start over.
KT4EP Rating: 2012-11-17
LoTW down again Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The only problem I have with LoTW is the system being down from time to time. Right now, it's been down and then up. Now down again. Can't log into the LoTW page. There is no way to determine the status of your log file once uploaded. You can only read on their webpage that the system is backlogged. It's irritating to me because I like to keep my logging and QSLing up-to-date.

K0IC Rating: 2012-11-09
Could be better for me. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had a hard drive crash a few years ago. The new hard drive had information that got lost according to the computer tech. I could not renew my certificate earlier this year so now I just have EQSL. There is something wrong with LoTW if one needs to start at square one again once one has LoTW installed. I might be doing something simple wrong, but how am I to know since I do not have a degree in computer science? I have information to re-install LoTW. I will try again. I will not keep trying if I get the same results all over again.
AC7U Rating: 2012-11-09
Too Convoluted Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I installed this 4 years ago, but never used it. Now I requested a NEW certificate, which I got, and then read it in. I got the customary circle/slash in the certificate field, just like they said I would. It loads up with NO Errors, but I still have the circle/slash in front of my Callsign. I go to the LOTW site & try to do the next step, which I can't even remember now & it tells me I have some kind of "Overlapping Date" problem. I write software for a living. You guys at ARRL/LOTW have got to get your stuff together. So now, 4 years later, I have YET to be able to use this for anything.
W3ACO Rating: 2012-11-06
Poor, can't get to work Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I loaded everything as directed. I even have the little gold ribbon in my TQSL directory. After 4 telephone calls to Mike at ARRL, it still doesn't work. LOTW accepts my uploaded file, then says file in que. later when I check my account it says file load aborted. Happened three times. It seems the serial numbers for the tq8 files don't agree between my p12 file and ARRL. Mike continues to assure me I'm doing everything right but he is still unable to fix it. Now LOTW is down (Nov 6) and it takes 40 hour or more to find out if your file is accepted. LOTW is complicated enough but when it has bugs in it, it's no good.
AC4BT Rating: 2012-10-16
Works well ... but you need to read the documentation Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
LoTW is a well designed feature-rich system that greatly aids any Ham who is interested in confirming their contacts and applying for DX and WAS awards. LoTW has a high degree of security built in and a definite focus on ensuring integrity in its processing. With that said, in order to have a pleasant experience installing the required certificate and uploading new contacts from your log you definitely need to read the instructions and FAQ files on the LoTW web pages. ARRL staff should create a tutorial section (Utube videos) to address the many Hams who may not be very comfortable with the certificate process or comfortable with using software logging, uploading files, etc.. I had been away from the hobby for about eight years and when I returned, earlier this year, I decided to give LoTW a try. After reading the documentation I had no trouble getting a certificate and using the system. However, I was confused on how to get the several hundred paper qsl cards I had accumulated over the years processed and recognized in the system. I contacted ARRL via email and found the ARRL staff to be extremely helpful and after following their advice I now have all my paper cards in the system and am able to see all my credits for the various modes and bands. THe ARRL staff responded to all my emails literally within one or two hours from when I sent them. You can't ask for more than that! Outstanding customer service. For those who are experiencing issues with getting LoTW working for them I strongly suggest emailing the ARRL and asking them for help. I also appreciate how fast my uploaded logs are processed. During the week, the logs are processed within a couple of hours and in about a day following the weekend (when there are contests and many log files are being uploaded and the system gets heavily used). The continued success of LoTW is greatly tied to the number of users who utilize it on a regular basis. If anyone seems overwhelmed or needs help with getting LoTW configured and working correctly I would be glad to help. My contact information (AC4BT) is on QRZ.
KB5IAV Rating: 2012-10-13
Good system Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I decided to try LOTW because other hams were frequently asking me if I used it. The set up process, mainly the security, was a little more complicated than necessary, but after that, I didn't find it hard to use. If I want or need a QSL, I will send a card and if someone sends me a card, I will always respond. In some cases where I've sent cards, the only QSL I got was via LOTW. The cards are great, but it's kind of nice to be able to apply for PSK31 WAS and only have to send one card to ARRL HQ as opposed to all 50. I'm also working on my DXCC application over half of the QSLs are LOTW. I entered all of my paper logs back to 1989 when I first started and even though it didn't net me anything new, it will reduce the number of cards I have to get checked. In addition to the confusing set up process, the only complaint I have is sometimes LOTW runs slow when uploading and a few times, I've had to re-upload an ADIF file because even though LOTW had it queued for processing, the QSOs never showed up on the system. I've changed computers since I started and in fact, I have LOTW on 2 different computers and have had no problems. I think it's a good system that will make applying for awards simpler and less expensive than in the past.
W6QT Rating: 2012-10-08
A great tool Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Setting up LoTW has a bit of a learning curve, but don't let the "curve" throw you off! The negative reviews might have been unhappy with the various "steps" you're required to complete before setting up your account.

Cons: The only real negative I can think of is contacts who are LoTW users may not upload on a regular basis and you'll have to wait for their upload to confirm your DX contact. Other than that, it's a great program.