Tom -
This message reached me, and as Expedition Leader for K7C, I want to provide
a few remarks.
I am sorry that the timing for your QSO confirmation was awkward, and
sincerely hope that the results, while delayed, are correct. We are pleased
that K7C was important enough that you were concerned.
I want to tell you a bit more about what happened with the DXCC and K7C. As
you know, I developed the real-time website DXA as an aid to DXers who want
to know ASAP that their QSOs are safely in the DXpedition log. The K7C/DXA
operation, except for the initial day when the system was slowed by
overloading due to extraordinarily high demand on the servers, provided
automatic confirmation within a minute, or a few minutes, of the QSO.
The ARRL/DXCC office was very concerned with the security of DXA, believing
(incorrectly) that it exposes the complete log (all 5 QSO elements). A few
weeks before the K7C DXpedition, they imposed on us the requirement that we
"make no changes in the log" if we used DXA, together with the threat of
non-certification for DXCC if we violated that. What "no changes" meant was
never defined, and we were left to interpret it, understandably in
considerable fear of making an error. Additionally, as a condition for
receiving the Colvin Grant, we were required to upload the logs to LotW no
later than 1 year after the operation.
We followed these requirements to the best of our ability to understand
them, and I believe completely. QSLing was delayed about 3 months while I
made inquiries as to what "no changes" meant. When there was no response, in
the face of mounting pressure, we were forced to go ahead. Tom N4XP did a
superb job of the QSLing, always under my dictum that he "make no changes to
the log."
We made a deliberate decision to postpone uploading the K7C logs to LotW for
two reasons: (1) DXpeditions depend on income through the direct QSL
requests, a function that is compromised by LotW uploads; (2) We needed to
have some guidance as to whether we should make basic error corrections
before uploading the logs. We continued to ask for this guidance through the
year after the K7C operation, but it was never forthcoming. Finally, to meet
the deadline, the logs were uploaded, apparently about the same time you
made your direct request.
I hope you can see that the situation with the K7C log was very unusual.
What I believe is that the ARRL/DXCC program is dealing with a lot of new
situations generated by new technology, especially real-time online
information, and that the policies are under review and possible revision.
We all have to be patient, but hardworking, as we drag DXing into the 21st
Century!
Good DXing to you, and 73,
Bob KK6EK
Dr. Robert Schmieder
4295 Walnut Blvd.
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 934-3735
schmieder@cordell.org
www.cordell.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "Byron Lichtenwalner" <w3wkr@verizon.net>
To: "RTTY List" <rtty@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 1:18 PM
Subject: [RTTY] K7C card/LOTA
> Friends
>
> I waited a long time for the K7C crew to post their Q's on LOTW. After
> several inquiries as to when that would happen, and being assured it
would
> be in July or august, nothing happened.
>
> Wanting to do a mailing to the DXCC desk, in frustration, I mailed them
a
> card.
>
> I received a prompt reply with a very attractive card. A few days
later
> the K7C confirmation was posted on LOTW!
>
> I know the real time reporting of QSO's created some concern with the
DXCC
> rule keepers. Does it mean that LOTW data won't be uploaded until
paper
> confirmation is received by DX peditions that use real time reporting?
>
> Or was this just one of those crazy coincidence?
> Byron, W3WKR
> _______________________________________________
> RTTY mailing list
> RTTY@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rtty
>
>
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