[CQ-Contest] ARRL Public Logs

[Jim Brown]

On 12/21/2019 12:59 PM, N4ZR wrote:
> I really don't resent the ARRL monetizing LOTW,

Ummm, it costs ARRL money to implement LOTW. I'm a strong supporter of 
the platform, and won't send a paper card for a QSO that's not confirmed 
in LOTW. If I'm contesting casually, I'm much less likely to call a 
station that doesn't support LOTW (and nearly all DX contesting from W6 
is casual)!  I'm part of a team that activates rare counties (and 
sometimes rare grids) in state QSO parties, and our logs are always in 
LOTW within a week or so. Last I looked, about 55% of my QSOs since 
moving to W6 in 2006 are confirmed in LOTW.

Last I looked, my average cost of a paper QSL for a DX QSO was 
approaching $4, assuming 100% return. While OQRS has eliminated the mail 
theft, it hasn't reduced that cost. Note that this is NOT a complaint 
about supporting DXpeditions, which I routinely do for those I consider 
well done operations.

73, Jim K9YC