[Dxbase] forwarded with Jerry's permission are some comments about LoTW

Thu Mar 10 17:25:09 EST 2005

Below is a copy of a post I made tonight on the dx-list reflector, responding to several 
negative
posts I saw about LOTW. Since most of the "badmouthing" I mentioned was done here on the 
LOTW
refector, I thought it only fair to post a copy here. The guys that were patient and 
helped me
out--- they know who they are... and I appreciate it. LOTW is working fine for me now, and 
I have a
second chance at its benefits, thanks to you.
*********************************
I badmouthed LOTW all over town, on the reflectors, and wrote complaint letters to ARRL.
Fortunately, a few patient guys finally convinced me to re-examine LOTW, give it another 
chance,
they stuck with me and helped me along, and I am very grateful that they did. Now that I 
know how to
work it, I think LOTW is a very good idea AND not all that difficult to operate. You do 
have to read
the instructions and follow them carefully, step by step. But if you do, it works very 
well.
My objections to LOTW were based on incorrect assumptions about the complexity, security, 
and
difficulty of operation, and I'm now convinced that anyone that can understand the menus 
and other
operating complexities of today's radios should... with a little patience... be able to 
learn to
operate LOTW.
LOTW deserves another look by everyone. This is a very good system and only looks complex 
because of
the need to maintain some semblance of integrity. I too compared it to a bank account, 
and asked
why all the big deal security. I think I was probably just being stubborn and blockheaded. 
I now
understand that banks don't upload data, or at least they don't do it in the same way, so 
they don't
open themselves up to hacking like the LOTW system does. It makes the security problems 
different.
While I once urged everyone to boycott LOTW, I would now encourage everyone to try it 
again, with an
open mind and a little more patience. It worked for me.
73, Jerry K3BZ
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OLD IS WHEN..... A sexy babe catches your eye and your pacemaker opens the garage door.
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Bill H. in Chicagoland