Logbook of The World
Logbook of the World (LoTW) was a web-accessed database provided by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) to implement a contact verification service among amateur radio operators. Using LoTW, radio amateurs (hams) were able to claim and verify contacts (QSOs) made with other amateurs, generally for claiming credit for operating awards, such as DXCC. Previously, hams had to rely on paper QSL cards and submit to ARRL; a slow and somewhat expensive process. LoTW began operation in 2003.[1]
Confirmation process[edit]
The LoTW system used "secure" authentication using cryptographic key distribution. An amateur's computer-based logbook, in ADIF[2] or Cabrillo[3] format, had to be "signed" using a key obtained from ARRL. (Logbook data includes callsigns and locations of stations, contact time, frequency, and operating mode.) ARRL assigned such keys to amateurs who appear in the U.S. FCC licensing database or to non-US amateurs who provide alternate proof of identity.
Once a log file was signed using ARRL's "TrustedQSL" (or equivalent) program, it was uploaded to the ARRL server and entered in the database.
Log records in the LoTW database were automatically compared so that when a contact at a particular time, operating mode, and frequency band was claimed by both participating amateurs (both of whom must have submitted their logs), a "QSL" (confirmation) was declared for a later award claim, e.g., for contacts with all U.S. states or 100 different countries. The matching process was blind, meaning that neither of the two stations could see pending confirmations before they uploaded a matching record. The LoTW QSL was purely electronic; there were no paper confirmations. However, a participant was able to print out a record of each confirmed contact, complete with its LOTW record number.
A LoTW-registered amateur was able to log into the LoTW website to view their logged QSOs and the verified QSL matches. When the amateur obtained a sufficient number of LoTW and/or traditional paper QSLs, they were able to apply for an ARRL award. As of January 2012, LoTW credit could be used for credit for awards issued by the ARRL and by CQ Magazine. The ARRL did not recognize other web-based QSL systems, such as eQSL,[4] for awards credit.
Statistics[edit]
As of (May 26, 2022) the LoTW server[5] provided the following information:
| 1,527,031,336 | QSO records have been entered into the system. |
| 329,084,756 | QSL records have resulted. |
| 159,231 | Users are registered in the system |
| 227,651 | Certificates are active |
| 55,553,189 | User files have been processed |
| 21.6% | Percentage of submitted QSO records confirmed as QSL records |
Software[edit]
All registered LoTW users had access to the main user data site: lotw.arrl.org. The TrustedQSL software for certificate management and logbook signing was available through the main LoTW information site: www.arrl.org/logbook-of-the-world. Versions of this software were available for many versions of Windows, Macintosh, and Linux operating systems.
Programmers' information and source code are available at trustedqsl.sourceforge.net, in particular the 2001 design specification.
LoTW functions were integrated into a number of amateur radio logging software packages, simplifying the signing and upload process.
2024 Network Access Incident[edit]
On May 16, 2024, the ARRL announced that it was responding to a "serious incident involving access" to its network and headquarters-based systems. This incident resulted in access to Logbook of the World being unavailable.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ Mills, Wayne (October 2003). "Introducing Logbook of The World". QST. 87 (10): 46–47.
- ^ "ADIF Amateur Data Interchange Format".
- ^ "Cabrillo Summary Sheet V3.0". 21 August 2014.
- ^ "eQSL.cc The Electronic QSL Card Centre".
- ^ "The ARRL LOGBOOK of the World". Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ^ https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-systems-service-disruption