Hi!
Back in February, shortly after ARRL announced that the VUCC award would be supported in Logbook of the World, I uploaded my satellite QSOs to that system. I have since added other non-satellite QSOs, and have uploaded subsequent satellite QSOs (including the QSOs from the Sierra Vista AZ hamfest and my operating from the DM51/DM52 grid boundary last Saturday). On 8 February, I filed an application for a satellite VUCC award using the 103 grids I had credit for in LOTW. After 3 months and lots of face-to-face chats with my ARRL section manager and division director, along with e-mails to the LOTW help desk and other e-mails copied to several in the ARRL hierarchy, my VUCC application was cancelled yesterday.
There have been problems in the migration of the VUCC award into the LOTW system, and my application was apparently a victim of those problems. Thankfully, the credit card I submitted with the application had not been charged - probably the only thing ARRL did right in the past 3 months with that (not charging it until the application was processed). I don't know the reason(s) why my application was cancelled, even after additional e-mails yesterday asking for more information. I was told that I could resubmit my VUCC application, now that the original application was cancelled.
In the past 3 months, my grid count in LOTW went up 10, to 113. I filed my application, and waited. This time, the application was approved in 24 hours! When I log into LOTW now, I see that I have been awarded a satellite VUCC. Other than seeing what gets charged to my credit card for the new application, ensuring there is no charge for the cancelled application and getting the certificate in the mailbox, this is the way things should work when an application is filed through LOTW. The fees are another matter, but at least the process of getting a VUCC through LOTW appears to be finally working.
Thanks to all of those who have been uploading satellite QSOs to the LOTW system. Many - like me - started in the last few months since the announcement that VUCC would be supported in LOTW. A few have been uploading satellite QSOs over the past few years. I'll wait and see if ARRL revisits the matter of the VUCC fees before I apply for an endorsement to my satellite VUCC (I have over 300 more grids I could add to it, using QSL cards), but for now I have a VUCC coming my way. I will continue uploading my satellite QSOs to LOTW, for those who want to use that to apply for or endorse a satellite VUCC.
I know I could have applied for a satellite VUCC with QSL cards as far back as late 2006. I know I had accumulated enough cards for a VUCC back then. I put it off, thinking "Why not wait until I have 125?" Then 150, 175, 200, and so on into the 300s. Around the 350 mark, I decided to wait until I reached 400. By this point, it was about the time ARRL made its announcement about VUCC in LOTW along with the new fee structure. I decided to try the on-line application, instead of having to buy dinner for my local card checker as he went through my cards (especially if I filed the application with all the grids I have confirmed). I may still be on the hook for a lunch or dinner, if I write out an application to endorse my VUCC in the future. :-)
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
Well, first of all, congratulations are in order !!
I still have issues with LoTW as to satellite contacts and the VUCC. I still DO NOT see where I am getting credit for multiple contacts (different grids) with you and other stations that roam. LoTW is only giving 1 credit for the other station, despite different grids. Asking them about it is, of course an exercise in futility !!
Anyway, congratulations to Patrick
73, Ted, K7TRK
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 3:17 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] satellite VUCC applications via LOTW
Hi!
Back in February, shortly after ARRL announced that the VUCC award would be supported in Logbook of the World, I uploaded my satellite QSOs to that system. I have since added other non-satellite QSOs, and have uploaded subsequent satellite QSOs (including the QSOs from the Sierra Vista AZ hamfest and my operating from the DM51/DM52 grid boundary last Saturday). On 8 February, I filed an application for a satellite VUCC award using the 103 grids I had credit for in LOTW. After 3 months and lots of face-to-face chats with my ARRL section manager and division director, along with e-mails to the LOTW help desk and other e-mails copied to several in the ARRL hierarchy, my VUCC application was cancelled yesterday.
There have been problems in the migration of the VUCC award into the LOTW system, and my application was apparently a victim of those problems. Thankfully, the credit card I submitted with the application had not been charged - probably the only thing ARRL did right in the past 3 months with that (not charging it until the application was processed). I don't know the reason(s) why my application was cancelled, even after additional e-mails yesterday asking for more information. I was told that I could resubmit my VUCC application, now that the original application was cancelled.
In the past 3 months, my grid count in LOTW went up 10, to 113. I filed my application, and waited. This time, the application was approved in 24 hours! When I log into LOTW now, I see that I have been awarded a satellite VUCC. Other than seeing what gets charged to my credit card for the new application, ensuring there is no charge for the cancelled application and getting the certificate in the mailbox, this is the way things should work when an application is filed through LOTW. The fees are another matter, but at least the process of getting a VUCC through LOTW appears to be finally working.
Thanks to all of those who have been uploading satellite QSOs to the LOTW system. Many - like me - started in the last few months since the announcement that VUCC would be supported in LOTW. A few have been uploading satellite QSOs over the past few years. I'll wait and see if ARRL revisits the matter of the VUCC fees before I apply for an endorsement to my satellite VUCC (I have over 300 more grids I could add to it, using QSL cards), but for now I have a VUCC coming my way. I will continue uploading my satellite QSOs to LOTW, for those who want to use that to apply for or endorse a satellite VUCC.
I know I could have applied for a satellite VUCC with QSL cards as far back as late 2006. I know I had accumulated enough cards for a VUCC back then. I put it off, thinking "Why not wait until I have 125?" Then 150, 175, 200, and so on into the 300s. Around the 350 mark, I decided to wait until I reached 400. By this point, it was about the time ARRL made its announcement about VUCC in LOTW along with the new fee structure. I decided to try the on-line application, instead of having to buy dinner for my local card checker as he went through my cards (especially if I filed the application with all the grids I have confirmed). I may still be on the hook for a lunch or dinner, if I write out an application to endorse my VUCC in the future. :-)
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Hi Patrick and the group!
I think they are having problems all around with their LoTW and awards programs. I had the local card checker process my cards for VUCC on January 24, 2011 and as of May 11, 2011, I've yet to receive my award. I'd contacted the award desk at ARRL and was told about the integration of the system, no mention of any problems, and to give it a couple more months. I'm going to wait until the end of the month of May and see what's going on. If I don't receive anything by the end of June I'm going to contact them again and request they refund my money or send me the award....immediately.
LoTW is a great concept and saves a ton of money and time. However, I get the feeling that this program was not professionally layed out, implemented nor maintained by even the lowest standards. If they can't get their act together on developing a simple system to track confirmations of countries, states and grids for the enjoyment of it's membership, I would suggest abandoning it before it becomes the poster child for incompetent failure.
73,
Jeff WB3JFS Las Vegas, NV DM26
----- Original Message ----- From: "Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)" amsat-bb@wd9ewk.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 3:16 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] satellite VUCC applications via LOTW
Hi!
Back in February, shortly after ARRL announced that the VUCC award would be supported in Logbook of the World, I uploaded my satellite QSOs to that system. I have since added other non-satellite QSOs, and have uploaded subsequent satellite QSOs (including the QSOs from the Sierra Vista AZ hamfest and my operating from the DM51/DM52 grid boundary last Saturday). On 8 February, I filed an application for a satellite VUCC award using the 103 grids I had credit for in LOTW. After 3 months and lots of face-to-face chats with my ARRL section manager and division director, along with e-mails to the LOTW help desk and other e-mails copied to several in the ARRL hierarchy, my VUCC application was cancelled yesterday.
There have been problems in the migration of the VUCC award into the LOTW system, and my application was apparently a victim of those problems. Thankfully, the credit card I submitted with the application had not been charged - probably the only thing ARRL did right in the past 3 months with that (not charging it until the application was processed). I don't know the reason(s) why my application was cancelled, even after additional e-mails yesterday asking for more information. I was told that I could resubmit my VUCC application, now that the original application was cancelled.
In the past 3 months, my grid count in LOTW went up 10, to 113. I filed my application, and waited. This time, the application was approved in 24 hours! When I log into LOTW now, I see that I have been awarded a satellite VUCC. Other than seeing what gets charged to my credit card for the new application, ensuring there is no charge for the cancelled application and getting the certificate in the mailbox, this is the way things should work when an application is filed through LOTW. The fees are another matter, but at least the process of getting a VUCC through LOTW appears to be finally working.
Thanks to all of those who have been uploading satellite QSOs to the LOTW system. Many - like me - started in the last few months since the announcement that VUCC would be supported in LOTW. A few have been uploading satellite QSOs over the past few years. I'll wait and see if ARRL revisits the matter of the VUCC fees before I apply for an endorsement to my satellite VUCC (I have over 300 more grids I could add to it, using QSL cards), but for now I have a VUCC coming my way. I will continue uploading my satellite QSOs to LOTW, for those who want to use that to apply for or endorse a satellite VUCC.
I know I could have applied for a satellite VUCC with QSL cards as far back as late 2006. I know I had accumulated enough cards for a VUCC back then. I put it off, thinking "Why not wait until I have 125?" Then 150, 175, 200, and so on into the 300s. Around the 350 mark, I decided to wait until I reached 400. By this point, it was about the time ARRL made its announcement about VUCC in LOTW along with the new fee structure. I decided to try the on-line application, instead of having to buy dinner for my local card checker as he went through my cards (especially if I filed the application with all the grids I have confirmed). I may still be on the hook for a lunch or dinner, if I write out an application to endorse my VUCC in the future. :-)
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Hi Jeff!
I think they are having problems all around with their LoTW and awards programs. I had the local card checker process my cards for VUCC on January 24, 2011 and as of May 11, 2011, I've yet to receive my award. I'd contacted the award desk at ARRL and was told about the integration of the system, no mention of any problems, and to give it a couple more months. I'm going to wait until the end of the month of May and see what's going on. If I don't receive anything by the end of June I'm going to contact them again and request they refund my money or send me the award....immediately.
Yes, ARRL has had a lot of problems with the conversion of VUCC to the LOTW system. Lots of problems. My e-mail from earlier this week has attracted a lot of responses, and some action. Maybe they are about to wrap up the bug-fixing there. I'm not sure, but for the first time since late February ARRL has updated the satellite VUCC standings at:
http://www.arrl.org/vucc-standings
It had last been updated on 24 February, despite other VUCCs having their stats updated in recent days on that page.
If ARRL is now processing VUCC applications via LOTW, I would hope they also restart processing the paper applications as well. Now is a good time to pursue the matter, and next week at Dayton (for those who will be there) may be the best time of all. I still need to get the actual certificate and any other paperwork that is supposed to be sent out, but at least I'm in the satellite VUCC listing at that link today.
LoTW is a great concept and saves a ton of money and time. However, I get the feeling that this program was not professionally layed out, implemented nor maintained by even the lowest standards. If they can't get their act together on developing a simple system to track confirmations of countries, states and grids for the enjoyment of it's membership, I would suggest abandoning it before it becomes the poster child for incompetent failure.
My $0.02.... LOTW has worked well for terrestrial operating, and any operating that involved a single grid per station location. Multiple grid locators for a station location were obviously not planned for in the original LOTW. ARRL may be getting things to work properly now, but it has been a long time coming. Too much has been invested by ARRL HQ to throw LOTW out the window, despite a relatively small number of hams being registered in that system (current LOTW user count is just over 41000). It appears to work well for DXCC, and I have not heard much about those who have tried applying for WAS with LOTW. There are still glitches in that system for VUCC, namely how it isn't always picking up all the grids from a station in more than one grid. I've heard about that one many times from other satellite operators who worked me from various grid boundaries, and seen it with some of my LOTW QSLs, to know it is still an issue.
Along with the long wait for VUCC support to into LOTW and the post-implementation problems that continue to pop up, the increase in VUCC fees does not help the ARRL's case to drum up more usage of LOTW at all. I will pay as much for my VUCC application with 113 LOTW confirmations and a certificate as I did for an application to get 3 DXCC certificates a few years ago. I still have to pay a few more pesos if I want a VUCC pin. And wasn't DXCC supposed to be (quoting from http://www.arrl.org/dxcc ) "Amateur Radio's premier award"? Based on price alone, it looks like VUCC is more prestigious than DXCC these days. The new VUCC fee structure would be another good point of discussion with the ARRL people at Dayton next week.
I've said my piece. Everything in the past two paragraphs has been said in e-mails and face-to-face conversations with ARRL people over the past few months. I hope that the VUCC-related problems in LOTW get fixed once and for all. I also hope ARRL takes another look at the VUCC fee structure. Until then, I will continue to upload my satellite QSOs to LOTW as I print and mail out QSL cards. No changes there. Office-supply stores and the post office will still see me as a regular customer. :-)
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
participants (3)
-
Jeff Yanko -
Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) -
Ted