Topband: LOTW Participation

[Greg]

Why not do both, Eddy...I enjoy QSL cards, too...but LOTW has not prevented
me from getting the QSL cards.  It has relieved me of the burden of a big
part of card checking for the DXCC awards that I want.  While it is true
that if you confirm on LOTW someone may not initiate sending a card to you
to get yours, if you want a card from them you can always send for it.  Eh?
73 de Greg-N4CC

-----Original Message-----
From: topband-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Eddy Swynar
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 7:16 AM
To: Jeff
Cc: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: LOTW Participation


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