Greetings!
LoTW sounds quite good and I'm giving serious thought to uploading contest
logs that I generate from K3FT.
K1VU asked ONE question that I've been seeking an answer for - and as of yet
haven't found one. Perhaps ARRL is waiting till LoTW launch is fully
successful and operational with lots of Q's before they announce that part
of the information.
I have a more specific question. Since many folks will use LoTW in lieu of
QSL'ing with 'the old fashioned loveable "pasteboard" card... WILL this make
it MORE difficult for folks like me who PREFER the 'good old fashioned
cardboard QSL via snail-mail to get one?
In other words.. NOW, if you are an active station and you get QSL's via
regular mail from someone who also uploaded logs (and obviated the need to
exchange the card) and for which you don't really NEED a card (like WHO
REALLY needs a K3 from MD, if you are ACTIVE?? ;-) and I send you one in the
mail.. do you believe that this would REDUCE my chances of getting a return
card? I tend to use SASE's as a rule so that's not a cost question on the
other station.
The 2nd part of the question is this... Is a DX station who would normally
use 'the burro' more likely than not to QSL if he knows that the other
station also uses LoTW?
My personal preference is that I LIKE the old fashioned way. It is a
tangible item, it makes for a great conversation piece and there is just
'SOMETHING' about being able to pull out a pile of cards (or one card) and
enjoy the trip down memory lane. You know what I mean.
I'm NOT trying to begin a large thread on this.. but it's something that has
been niggling at my mind for some time. Ancillary to that is this part. If
LoTW (and other aspects of electronic QSO logging/storing on remote systems
takes a good strong hold, how soon before we see (electronically
authenticated) QSL's that are displayed and available for me to print out on
the printer without any thing being sent through the mail?
I'm NOT against that - I'm NO Luddite as evidenced by the fact I sent this
via Internet and my PC. :-)
It gets back to the intangible 'SOMETHING' that comes from having a card
that someone filled out, mailed, and was sent to me..
Dunno.. Am I looking at this from an 'old fashioned, I'm afraid of the new
stuff' perspective OR am I suffering withdrawal pains at the thought of not
being able to do things the good old-fashioned comfortable way?
73
Chuck K3FT
---------------------------------------------------------------
The world's top contesters battle it out in Finland!
THE OFFICIAL FILM of WRTC 2002 now on professional DVD and VHS!
http://home1.pacific.net.sg/~jamesb/
---------------------------------------------------------------
_______________________________________________
CQ-Contest mailing list
CQ-Contest@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
|