Awards

I had received my Worked All States (WAS) award many years ago under one of my old callsigns.  Recently, I checked logbook of the world and realized I did not have it credited under my current callsign. There were enough credits as W6GRV for the award in mixed mode, but I was missing a few for CW, SSB, and digital modes. Having just updated my DXCC records, I thought the same type of list was needed for WAS that showed all bands and modes. There are lots of holes for me to fill, and now I know where they are.

This website was then updated to add a WAS section under awards to keep DXCC company, and the WAS listing was added.

After sitting down to fill out the Most Wanted DX survey before it closes on Oct 15th, I realized that the list I have been using is a bit out of date. So, I went to update my excel spreadsheet for the first time on over a year. September seem to be when I update the records and make my annual submission for endorsements to my DXCC award, and today seemed like as good a day as any to update it.

There are a number of digital contacts this time, but still about 6 short of being able to apply for a digital DXCC award. For mixed, there were three new countries confirmed (PY0S, J2, and KH8 Swains Island). Using the contacts in LoTW only, an updated application was submitted. My list was updated (in pencil) with those and the cards sitting on my desk. Filling in the survey went very quickly now that my list was accurate.

Once the application is accepted and the credits are verified, I will update my list (add the pencil marks to excel file) and re-post it. Now to get back to the pileups.

Update (Oct. 15, 2013):  Application was accepted, and the page with my my DXCC status is current.

I was recently asked if I still send paper cards, or if I prefer the logbook of the world.  My first thought was, “of course I still send and request paper cards.” However, when I started thinking about it, that seems be less often than in prior years. In fact, I have not sent one card out via the bureau in over a year, and recently even allowed the number of envelopes at the incoming bureau drop to zero. The number of direct cards sent & requested has also dwindled down to only those needed for awards or responding to direct QSL requests.

In comparison, the electronic confirmations have been kept up to date.  This includes all the contacts in hand written logs going back to 1976. The contact information has been re-typed using an ASCII editor (Notepad), converted to ADIF 1.0 format (using a simple C++ program), and submitted to both LoTW and eQSL. Recently, these electronic confirmations have been used to update awards.

The eQSL setup was straight forward, and had a simple user interface, making it a great place to start with electronic QSLs.  LoTW was harder to setup, get signature certificates, keep certificates current, and even sign & submit logs. For me, once over that initial hump, electronic QSLs have been faster, easier, and less expensive.

That said, I still favor a contact confirmation that I can hold in my hand over one that lives in a cloud. Paper cards from across the globe help others to visualize amateur radio. A hand written logs is more enjoyable to read than a neatly formatted electronic list, and a hand written card is so much more personal than bits accessed with a computer. I plan to continue to send old fashion hand written cards as long as there continues to be room in the closet to put the ones received.

DXCC Status for W6GRV

• Current Only:
• Mixed: 325
• SSB: 307
• CW: 307
• Digital: 52

• With Deleted:
• Mixed: 332
• SSB: 312
• CW: 313
• Digital: 52

DXCC Challenge: 1592

Finally, these numbers have been updated to reflect my most recent submission to the ARRL.  After comparing my numbers to the printout from my last application, and tracking down the discrepancies, the numbers finally match.

Now that this list is up to date, it is time to sit down with the latest cards received, and put together the next application.  Also, there are a couple of confirmations pending credit in LoTW.

My latest DXCC records have been uploaded. The records are based on the latest QSLs received. I hope to get a few more band countries in this weekend’s CQWW DX CW contest.

73 Rob.