Topband: LOTW Participation

[Jeff]

I love the LoTW system. The money I save on cards and postage goes into 
radios and antennas. I'm not much of a contester any more, I just kind of 
hunt and peck vs. S&P when I do work contest stations. One of the things do 
is to look for DX stations that have taken the time to become active on LoTW 
and reward them with a W7JW contest qso. Not much of a return on their 
investment for sure but it does provide them with one more contest point 
that would other wise never have happened. So, this weekend while ur 
listening around on TB during the contest for new ones, think about handing 
out some reward points to those DX stations who went that extra mile so we 
can get those coveted awards we all like.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Wayne Mills
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 8:08 PM
To: wa3mej at comcast.net ; topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: LOTW Participation

Jim.



There are a number of reasons why more people don't use logbook. There's the
perception that it's too complicated (mostly, IT guys have problems), and
the fact that non-US hams must send a letter to ARRL, unlike US hams. There
are also many people who like to collect paper cards. In Europe, the bureau
system is much more popular than it is in the US largely because incoming
and outgoing services are free with the membership in some national
societies -- never mind that their dues are far greater.



Actually, however, there are ma large number of hams who do use LoTW. Some
estimates put the number of at least semi-active DXers at around 100K to
150K. Consider then that the nearly 50K individual users of LoTW is quite
significant. Here's something to think about: I wouldn't be surprised to
learn that the percentage of regular LoTW users is higher than the
percentage of non-LoTW users also who QSL regularly. LoTW is a different
animal than conventional QSLing.



73, Wayne,  N7NG

Jackson, Wyoming







-----Original Message-----
From: topband-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of wa3mej at comcast.net
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 5:28 PM
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Topband: LOTW Participation







This has probably already been asked on here.. geeze I hope it doesnt start
another gripefest.  But I am wondering with the cost of QSL cards, postage
etc Why dont more people working DX (especially hams O-CONUS) use LOTW? It
appears that a lot of DX does not participate in LOTW.  Is it because they
dont like ARRL, dont like their activites controlled (if your not in the US
you gotta mail stuff in etc.) or what?   I just dont understand this is the
most painless method to get confirmation you could possibly have. Or maybe
they just like collecting all those cards that we put into shoe boxes and
put into the closet.







I just got  22 QSLs for contacts work less than two months ago.. some of
them even less than a week ago.  How good can it get?  Sure make my work
easier







Jim WA3MEJ



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UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

_______________________________________________
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK