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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Logbook of the World Now Easier Than Ever

Bill Moore, NC1L, ARRL
Awards Manager, reports: "In order to better accommodate new users as well as existing account holders, ARRL's Logbook of The World (LoTW) has been updated. According to ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Assistant Manager Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, these improvements were made based on tracking Manager LoTW help questions and listening to users. 'Through the efforts of Membership and Volunteer Services Dave Patton and Information Technology Manager Jon Bloom, we have also added an automated results table on the LoTW Users Home Page that lists members in numeric order who have achieved the Triple Play Award,' said ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B. 'IT personnel have also fixed a number of long standing issues with Logbook in recent weeks, and some additional enhancements are underway.'

Some things that have been added at: http://www.arrl.org/lotw/
* An LoTW User's Corner that includes quick links to log onto your account, save or renew a certificate and ways to address PC failure.

* The GET STARTED section
has been simplified with links for each of the four steps in the certificate process.

* LoTW instructions are now available in nine languages: English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Russian, Slovenian and Spanish. Options to select a language have always been available, but they have now been moved up front to the GET STARTED page. The languages are identified with icons of flags to represent each language.

* The GET STARTED pdf file has been updated to include new screenshots and refinement of some of the processes.

* The software download section now consists of only three icons representing the three operating systems for which software is available: Windows, Mac and Linux. The user simply selects their operating system and they are redirected to the download specific to
their system.

* A new link has been added for QSL Manager, Club Calls and DX-peditions. This link gives details on establishing an account for these special operations and includes a section for 1×1 call signs.

* A new PowerPoint overview is available from the LoTW site. This presentation has also been added to our multimedia library.

The program is an overview of LoTW and what users can expect from the service. There are screenshots of LoTW pages, as well as a condensed version of the certificate and award application process.

With more than 200 million QSOs submitted, ARRL's Logbook of The World system is a repository of log records submitted by users from around the world. When both participants in a QSO submit matching QSO records to LoTW, the result is a QSL that can be used for ARRL award credit. Yaesu is the principal sponsor of the LoTW Web site."
(Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin # 894)