[VHFcontesting] Bill Moore's Objections to the "Stop-Gap Proposal" for VUCC/LoTW

[Les Rayburn]

As Steve pointed out, Bill Moore's objection to allowing card checkers to accept print outs of LoTW credits until such time as ARRL programmers can fully implement VUCC into LoTW doesn't seem to hold water on a number of fronts;

I'll briefly cover why I think Bill is missing the point of the suggestion: 


1.) Bill maintains that card checkers would lack the experience with LoTW to be able to verify the print outs. I'm puzzled by this assertion, since by now most card checkers have a lot of experience at checking "mixed submissions" for DXCC credit, where a submitter is providing both LoTW print outs and paper cards for verification. 

I've checked with three card checkers in our area, and all of them feel that this should not present a hardship for card checkers. The ability to "pull up" the actual LoTW account is not intended to be the norm, but only to provide a second check as a deterrent to cheating, and a means to resolve disputes. 

In most cases, the card checker will be relying on the print out from LoTW provided by the submitter, and a the list of grids worked. 

2.) Mr. Moore also maintains that many LoTW entries do not contain the grid location of the DX station. True enough, but it fails on it's own merits for two reasons. 

Number one: The VUCC rules in paragraph 7 recognize that many paper cards will also lack grid information, and provides a remedy. 


(b) For the convenience of the Awards Manager in checking cards, applicants may indicate in pencil (pencil ONLY) the 

grid locator on the address side of the cards that DO NOT clearly indicate the grid locator. The applicant affirms that 

he/she has accurately determined the proper location from the address information given on the card by signing the 

affirmation statement on the application. 

Number two; This problem will continue even when VUCC is fully integrated into LoTW. How does the league plan to determine the grid location for those contacts? How will it address stations that have moved since submitting their original logs, portable operations, and rovers? 

Ultimately, I think we'll have to go with rule #7( b ) above. The submitter will have to pencil in the grid square and log it on the application form...just like we've been doing since 1996. 

I won't characterize Bill's objections to the proposal, which seems to offer immediate relief from the high costs associated with paper QSL chasing associated with VUCC. But I will say that in light of these facts, I hope he and other ARRL officials will avoid knee jerk reactions and objections to a proposal that seems to offer the best solution to our current state of affairs. 

I respectfully request that my Division Director and VHF Men who are ARRL members contact their elected officials and the ARRL and request that we move forward immediately to accept the proposal to allow LoTW printouts to be accepted immediately. 

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
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