[CQ-Contest] LoTW question

[k8gt at twmi.rr.com]

Greetings,

I agree completely, Chuck.  I also am a "tangible" QSL card collector and have wondered the same thing.  I do know some contesters that either don't QSL or do not want to, and LoTW is the perfect excuse for them not to even have any more cards printed.  I would settle for a downloadable authenticated QSL card if I couldn't get it any other way, but I do want a tangible QSL card.

73, Gerry,  K8GT



----- Original Message -----
From: Chuck <k3ft at erols.com>
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2003 7:23 pm
Subject: [CQ-Contest] LoTW question

> Greetings!
> 
> LoTW sounds quite good and I'm giving serious thought to uploading 
> contestlogs that I generate from K3FT.
> 
> K1VU asked ONE question that I've been seeking an answer for - and 
> as of yet
> haven't found one. Perhaps ARRL is waiting till LoTW launch is fully
> successful and operational with lots of Q's before they announce 
> that part
> of the information.
> 
> 
> I have a more specific question. Since many folks will use LoTW in 
> lieu of
> QSL'ing with 'the old fashioned loveable "pasteboard" card... WILL 
> this make
> it MORE difficult for folks like me who PREFER the 'good old fashioned
> cardboard QSL via snail-mail to get one?
> 
> In other words.. NOW, if you are an active station and you get 
> QSL's via
> regular mail from someone who also uploaded logs (and obviated the 
> need to
> exchange the card) and for which you don't really NEED a card 
> (like WHO
> REALLY needs a K3 from MD, if you are ACTIVE?? ;-) and I send you 
> one in the
> mail.. do you believe that this would REDUCE my chances of getting 
> a return
> card?  I tend to use SASE's as a rule so that's not a cost 
> question on the
> other station.
> 
> The 2nd part of the question is this... Is a DX station who would 
> normallyuse 'the burro' more likely than not to QSL if he knows 
> that the other
> station also uses LoTW?
> 
> My personal preference is that I LIKE the old fashioned way. It is a
> tangible item, it makes for a great conversation piece and there 
> is just
> 'SOMETHING' about being able to pull out a pile of cards (or one 
> card) and
> enjoy the trip down memory lane.  You know what I mean.
> 
> I'm NOT trying to begin a large thread on this.. but it's 
> something that has
> been niggling at my mind for some time.  Ancillary to that is this 
> part. If
> LoTW (and other aspects of electronic QSO logging/storing on 
> remote systems
> takes a good strong hold, how soon before we see (electronically
> authenticated) QSL's that are displayed and available for me to 
> print out on
> the printer without any thing being sent through the mail?
> 
> I'm NOT against that - I'm NO Luddite as evidenced by the fact I 
> sent this
> via Internet and my PC. :-)
> 
> It gets back to the intangible 'SOMETHING' that comes from having 
> a card
> that someone filled out, mailed, and was sent to me..
> 
> Dunno.. Am I looking at this from an 'old fashioned, I'm afraid of 
> the new
> stuff' perspective OR am I suffering withdrawal pains at the 
> thought of not
> being able to do things the good old-fashioned comfortable way?
> 
> 73
> 
> Chuck K3FT
> 
> 
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