LOTW is worthless for DX

[AB1QP]

I just experienced the pain and suffering everyone knows getting LOTW to work. I succeeded after a tremendous headache. I uploaded 80 QSO's, all DX and confirmed with my eQSL, and received a match of 2 QSL's. 2. 2/80 = 2.5 % on DX QSO's. I checked all my QSO call signs and none uploaded a log. So it's not a matching problem, its just that people don't use it. Mmmmm. Now that is worthless, why bother when all your contacts are Asia, Russia Dx, Dx ,etc, nobody uses it. What a waste of time.

Lets see....I have been back on the air only since APRIL, after a 50 year layoff. I have 1800 QSO's entered and 600 confirmed on LoTW...78 of the 138 DX Entities confirmed. You are so right. LOTW is not for everyone. Enjoy your eDX75 certificate.. It comes out of your own printer, so it must have 'worth', nes pas?

[WH2HAO]

I did not realize that W2HAO is in Guam. I think he found a pattern in LoTW usage. He would be working more "local" DX in Asia and Russia, stations that may not work continental US stations much. In the continental US, we work Asian and Russian stations that work DX (from their point of view) often, so those stations would use LoTW more. DX DX'ers will use LoTW more than DX non-DX'ers. Does that make sense?

Well this does make sense. Never thought about it this way. I guess I didn't realize there was a difference but it makes sense. I say DX, but yes, I'm on Guam so I guess DX has a different meaning than on the mainland. I appreciate the responses, it makes me realize I'm just connecting with contacts that don't use LOTW. On Digital almost all my JA contacts say no lotw. Same for all the surrounding islands, China etc. Yes I guess it would be considered local if you call 3000miles local. But then again nothing is really local to Guam. I'll keep trying, but on LOTW they say you can look up the call signs you worked to see if they uploaded logs recently. I did this and none of them uploaded any logs on record, so I'm assuming that means they never used LOTW and that is my reason for my 2.5 % return rate. I don't think ADIF file evaluations would change that. Thanks for the input.

[KF7ORO]

I've been on HF less than a year. Japan and China were a couple of the first LOTW confirmations I got and they were both PSK31 contacts. It's probably just the stations you've worked. If you keep at it, I'm sure you'll get a confirmation before long.

Similar story here though. I'm about 5 states away from WAS and one of the ones I still need is my home state of NV. I've made plenty of contacts but nobody seems to upload them.

[K7MH]

If you watch the spots on DXwatch.com there is an option to show whether or not the spotted stations use LOTW. It is pretty handy if concerned about LOTW confirmations.

[WA6MHZ]

To use LOTW, U need to be using a LOGGING program. I only do PAPER LOGS, but recently made an attempt to transcribe 44 years of contacts into a digital log.

I failed.

I don't have 100,000 hours to sit and type all that in.

Guess I will stick with the TRIED AND TRUE Paper Logs and QSLs. They have worked since radio was invented.

[KE3FG]

Pat, it is pointless to transfer QSOs from that long ago, since many of the hams are inactive or dead. Many of my QSOs from the early nineties will never match. Just make an effort to transfer the last 5 or 10 years.

[N4OGW]

Pat, it is pointless to transfer QSOs from that long ago, since many of the hams are inactive or dead. Many of my QSOs from the early nineties will never match. Just make an effort to transfer the last 5 or 10 years.

I have entered qsos back to 1986 and have gotten matches that far back. You may be surprised what comes back.

My overall lotw qsl rate is almost exactly the same as NN3W's : 34387/92466 = 37.2%

Tor
N4OGW

[KB2FCV]

I only recently started using Lotw when I decided to "cash in" on my QSO's and go for DXCC. Of about 400 QSO's entered (manually) that I already had QSL's for, 136 dxcc entities came back as good. Instant DXCC! I had the certificates hanging on the wall just over a week later. While I still collect paper QSL's for everything, I do now have a couple in there that I have been unable to get paper QSL's for (such as Pakistan). I'll still keep trying for that paper, but it's nice to have it confirmed for DXCC. So... worthless? Nope! I think not...

[WH2HAO]

I only recently started using Lotw when I decided to "cash in" on my QSO's and go for DXCC. Of about 400 QSO's entered (manually) that I already had QSL's for, 136 dxcc entities came back as good. Instant DXCC! I had the certificates hanging on the wall just over a week later. While I still collect paper QSL's for everything, I do now have a couple in there that I have been unable to get paper QSL's for (such as Pakistan). I'll still keep trying for that paper, but it's nice to have it confirmed for DXCC. So... worthless? Nope! I think not...

I guess worthless is not the best term, but certainly not worthwhile. I feel good for your paper certificate on the wall, you should feel better now. However, if it took you 400 contacts to get credit for 136, you were cheated... I wouldn't brag about that statistic.. Good luck to you wasting your time. That's all I can say. The security features are designed to prevent "cheating" . But it is the individual operator that is cheated when you can claim less than 100 % of your duly earned contacts. Just my opinion. For those that think 25-60% QSO return rates are good, I can say no more. If you worked 20 hours and only got paid for 8 hours , would you think that is acceptable and be so happy for your wasted time ( QSO's). I think if LOTW wants to be the premier service it needs to get everyone on board otherwise the service is , well.. I'll keep trying.

[KF7ORO]

We'll have to disagree I guess. LOTW is faster, easier, and cheaper than mailing paper cards so if you get 40% of your contacts confirmed that way, it saves you time and money. You can still combine paper cards with your LOTW confirmations for awards if that's what you're after. I completely understand if someone prefers paper QSLs but some people would just as soon take the faster, easier, and cheaper route.