Topband: LOTW Participation

[Julius Fazekas]

Why not use 'em all? (LoTW, eQSL, ClubLog, hard card)

Although hard QSLs have a nice physical presence, I can only say a handful of the hard cards I get are not computer generated, most also for award purposes. 

Of the hundreds that roll in, maybe a half dozen have a neat design, or better yet a personal message worthy of a smile, or chuckle.

Generally I don't expect anything considering how many are contest related contacts. 

It's easy enough to upload logs and take care of the Ham on the other end who may not use "real" QSLs.

72/3,
Julius

Julius Fazekas

N2WN



Tennessee Contest Group

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Tennessee QSO Party

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Elecraft K2     #4455

Elecraft K3/100 #366

Elecraft K3/100 #

--- On Fri, 2/17/12, Eddy Swynar <deswynar at xplornet.ca> wrote:

From: Eddy Swynar <deswynar at xplornet.ca>
Subject: Re: Topband: LOTW Participation
To: "Jeff" <w7jw at arrl.net>
Cc: topband at contesting.com
Date: Friday, February 17, 2012, 9:16 AM


On 2012-02-16, at 9:25 PM, Jeff wrote:

> "...so we can get those coveted awards we all like."

Hi Jeff et al,

I certainly have nothing against LotW, or the folks who swear by it. It is the "coming thing" IMHO, and given time will surely render hardcopy QSLs a place atop the scrap heap of Ham radio history that includes such quaint novelties as spark transmissions, cat's whisker detectors, separate transmitter-receivers, etc. etc.

Personally, however---despite its many obvious advantages---I want no part of it. I enjoy the look & feel of an honest-to-goodness QSL card in my hands, & even after 41 years in the game, I still thrill at the prospect of opening up that  fresh bundle of cards that might await me in my mail box from the QSL bureau. 

Look at this way: LotW caters especially to the awards-seeking crowd, correct? Instant gratification! Great! But what if the ARRL, and others, was to suddenly announce that they'd no longer issue hard copy certificates---"virtual awards" only, viewable on-line...? I wonder if that might cool one's enthusiasm for ANY paper-chasing. We now have virtual QSL cards---can virtual awards be far behind...?

So many objects of desire in to-day's society anymore seem to be reduced to fleeting collections of electrons visible on a computer screen: turn the power off, the objects are gone. Yet real, paper QSLs are actual things that can easily outlive our own stay in this place & time---I liken them to leaving proverbial footprints in the sands of time. Long after MY own "...collection of BIOLOGICAL electrons" ceases to function & disappears, my hard copy cards & certificates, for better or worse, of relevance or none, will remain, testament at least to the fact that at one time I really & truly was here...

Somehow I just don't think the virtual world of eQSLs & LotW will work quite the same way...

~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ



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