[CQ-Contest] Increasing contest participation

[James Cain]

Want to increase contest interest and participation? Wrap ARRL's Logbook of the World into all major contests. Let the contest sponsor automatically load all submitted contest entries into LotW. 

CQ, and all the other major contest sponsors other than ARRL, would have to cooperate. Why wouldn't they? Contest entrants could be allowed to opt out, but why would they? ARRL's requirements for LotW registration are fine and I agree with them, but surely a submitted contest log would be adequate proof that the log and QSOs are legitimate. After all, it's only a hobby. 

Then, maybe allow LotW confirmed QSOs for more awards: WAZ, USA-CA, etc. 

Paper QSLs are so 20th Century and too much expense and bother. We did away with paper logs more than 20 years ago. Isn't it time we did the same with paper QSLs?

Jim Cain, K1TN
(50,000 contest QSOs uploaded to LotW since 2005)