Setting Up LoTW And Uploading Signed ADIF Files

This is a quick guide on setting up TQSL and getting your key set created and signed by ARRL. Want an easy path to award verification? This video is the starting point!

[@Zombified-]

You really made this easy for me. I seriously appreciate the video because the instructions written on the website are something else. Thanks! 73

[@AG6AG]

Glad it helped! Stu AG6AG

[@JaySteiner]

Great video! Just upgraded to general and getting everything setup for working HF!

[@AG6AG]

Congrats on the upgrade! Welcome to HF. Stu AG6AG

[@LizMLopez]

Exactly what I needed - thank you!

[@bubbajeph]

Great video so far up to time 8:44. I am now awaiting for my post card to arrive. &#s KD4MAN

[@SteveG4YTK]

Hi Stuart, I have a question I had LOTW working great via my logbook HRD. For some reason it's stopped uploading. It works fine downloading. I dont understand what the HRD logfile is telling my whats up. I do know you dont use HRD.

[@AG6AG]

Hi Steve, I don't use HRD, but whenever I have an issue with uploads, I always make sure the TQSL is working and that it's the newest version. Good Luck! Stu AG6AG

[@SteveG4YTK]

@@AG6AG Stuart, the problem turned out in my logbook instead of my country been England it had changed to Albania so lotw rejected it. All sorted now, thanks

[@eengsuherlan1224]

Thank U Mister..Very..very mantappp...

[@AG6AG]

You are very welcome. Stu AG6AG

[@giffjim55]

Just what I needed. What QSL program do you recommend to log in before uploading to LoTW?

[@AG6AG]

I like Log4OM. I actually have a few videos that discuss all the settings. Stu AG6AG

[@jst245]

Thanks for the video this was very helpful

[@AG6AG]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tyellowquill]

I kinda felt awkward seeing I ran the installer as admin which it says not to do, but then you do it with no problems?

[@AG6AG]

The issue arises if you were not logged into the PC as your normal daily user when you created your SSL Key and Key Request. The act of installing the software needs Admin access to properly install. Stu AG6AG

[@ReverendBow]

I applied for mine 01 Mar 2021... They are still doing Snail mail... Technology is overrated...

[@NsndoBrasil]

Formatei meu Micro onde estava o Eqsl instalado eu não estou conseguindo instalar no W11 antes era W7 funciona bem quando fui para W11 eu tinha pedido renovação do certificado digital chegou mas quando vou instalar aparece a mensagem que eu nao tenho instalado nesta maquina . Alguem sabe resolver isso ?

[@AG6AG]

Hi Oliveira, Using Google Translator to try to answer this. It sounds like you wiped out your PC Harddrive, and now you are trying to install the signed cert without your original private key? If that's the case, you will need to generate a new private key and signing request and let LoTW know that your original key pair was accidentally destroyed. Once you get the new request made from your new private key, you should be able to install it without issue. Let us know if that helps! Stu AG6AG

[@joekrepps]

Very helpful! I _FINALLY_ got my current logbook uploaded. Tnx de WB3CFN…dit dit

[@AG6AG]

Glad it helped! Stu AG6AG

[@douglaswilliams6834]

I recently got a vanity callsign, and am getting back into amateur radio after a long absence. I made many contacts under my old callsign, and all I have is a paper logbook with those old contacts. I wouldn't mind putting those into LOTW. Would I need a separate certificate for my old callsign?

[@AG6AG]

Hi Doug, Here is a link to the LoTW FAQ regarding this: lotw.arrl.org/lotw-help/frequently-asked-questions/?lang=en#oldcall. Hope that clears things up! Stu AG6AG

[@Thomas-rl8kw]

No offense to you. I'm just ranting. I was trying to sign a log remotely through ssh and tqsl wanted to pop up a window instead of using the terminal. Just made me look back again at how they make the process way harder than it needs to be.

[@AG6AG]

Hi Thomas, Non taken... I know that many logging programs use an API to access the software. Might be an interesting project to come up with a command line utility... Are you using Cygwin for the SSH server or are you accessing the system through Linux/Unix and mounting the Windows partition? Stu AG6AG

[@AG6AG]

Look what I found... www.arrl.org/command-1 Have not tried this at all so your mileage may very. Stu AG6AG

[@Thomas-rl8kw]

@@AG6AG yrah i read that first. The program wont evej show the version in the terminal. Without a graphical environment the commandline for the program is useless.

[@rlgreaves]

As always add the information I needed. Thanks Rob G4ZEO

[@AG6AG]

Glad it helped! Stu AG6AG

[@W2AYZ]

Looking forward to watching your next video about setting up Log4om for Lotw. I do have a question, about uploading adif file to Lotw. I have done it manually through TQSL and QRZ.com separately before, but found that the QRZ.com would create duplicates in my Lotw account. Does it mean I should stick with one TQSL only? My second question is that if I use multiple computers for TQSL, should I apply for different certificates for the same callsign or should I use only the same certificate in different computers? Thanks and 73, Victor W2AYZ

[@AG6AG]

Hi Victor, Glad you enjoyed the video. All programs that can upload to LoTW, will upload any QSOs that it thinks are "NEW". Some upload agents have the ability to check a status flag and not upload, but I don't think QRZ does that. As for multiple keys, you can not have more then one key for your call sign. You can export and then import the key on the other system if desired. I typically would only upload from my main logging system and manage any additional QSOs on other systems by doing a ADIF import. I have my logging setup to consolidate all QSOs in my daily log file, and manage all uploads from that system. Any other systems (like a laptop for remote use) I import into that daily system and upload the QSOs from there. Hope that all makes sense... Stu AG6AG

[@billholden20]

Thanks for the video. A convoluted process, indeed! Is there a place in LotW to enter a signal report?

[@AG6AG]

Hi Bill, I do not believe they have those fields available. Since the reason for LoTW is to manage awards for ARRL, I'm guessing they are looking at just the Call, Time / Date and Band. Stu AG6AG

[@billholden20]

@@AG6AG okay, great. Just making sure I wasn't missing anything! Thanks again Bill W5JAZ

[@Steve_The_Ignorant_Astronomer]

I just watched your video and it helped a lot BUTTTT not sure if I did it exactly right.. On my log I got one star on my log so I guess someone confirmed me , but I am not sure if I confirmed all the contacts in my log..BTW I only have about 28 . Is there a way to check, I find this thing very confusing ....

[@AG6AG]

Hi Steve, You should log into the LoTW website and click on the "Your QSO's" menu item. You should be presented with a search screen. Fill out what you want to look for and submit it. Remember: QSOs are not confirmed and QSLs are. Hope that answers your question! Stu AG6AG

[@Steve_The_Ignorant_Astronomer]

@@AG6AG Thanks for getting back to me Stu , so I will not know if I did it right unless I get conformation from the other person.. I think I did it right , but do not have any stars in my log

[@AG6AG]

Hi Steve, So, If you are trying to bring the data back into your logging program you will need to do downloads from LoTW and import the downloads back into your log program... That make sense? Stu AG6AG

[@Steve_The_Ignorant_Astronomer]

@@AG6AG So confusing , I amy get it one day

[@janvelter3253]

Hi Stu. I have a question. I have 2 call signs. My primary and a Vanity Call. I wanna keep all my phone contacts under my primary call and all my CW contacts under my Vanity call. How do I keep my qso's separated and uploaded that way to LoTW ? I have allready made 2 different logs for phone and cw in Log4OM but when they are uploaded to LoTW they all seem to be under my primary callsign on LoTW. How do I fix that ? How do I get them separated over there in LoTW ? 73 ON1JV / OP5J

[@AG6AG]

Hi Jan, You would need two separate signed keys for each call sign. That's a different account for each which means a different Profile. Not a huge deal, but it really means two different setups not just two different logs. Hope that helps, Stu AG6AG

[@janvelter3253]

@@AG6AG Hi Stu. I got my 2 tqsl key's allready and 2 different logs in Log4OM. Question is how do I get them separated logging up to LOTW ?

[@janvelter3253]

In lotw I see my CW contacts under my primary call and not under my vanity call so it must be a setting somewhere ... I guess I missed that one somewhere in Log4OM .... I can select my vanity call in lotw but it's empty ... for now ...

[@AG6AG]

Hi Jan, You need to have a different configuration as well as a different log. I also think you need a different location configured in TQSL specifying your vanity call. Remember, all setting can be changed between different configurations, which means that you would have different LoTW configs for those setups. If you are still struggling, you might want to check out the Log4OM2 web site for support. Hope this steers you in the right direction. Stu AG6AG

[@janvelter3253]

@@AG6AG Hi Stu ... one step further. I got 2 user configurations now and I made for each of them a shortcut to my desktop, ,very handy. They both have there separate correct log in log4om ... all works well on my PC but if I close my Log4OM ... and the upload starts ... they all appear in Lotw under my primary call over there. In lotw I can select between my calls ... but my cw qso's which I make only with my vanity call keep going to the log under my Primary call over there. Still figuring out what goes wrong here.

[@richarde735]

Staurt, how long does it take to get the code / password in the mail? it's been 2 weeks, I submitted my request on the 12th.

[@AG6AG]

That's a good question... I know it took a while before COVID-19 showed up. I would probably send an email to them (ARRL) and see if there was an issue with the cert or if they are just that backlogged... Stu AG6AG

[@verystupidhandle]

Will LOTW ever catch up with the 21st Century? It seems sooo caveman Windows 3.1 days...Gotta be a modern version coming Right???

[@AG6AG]

Hi Mark, Well it depends what part you are talking about. It would seem they approached the whole "Why can't we just upload all our logs and let you guys sort it out for awards???" in a way that allowed for the same verification of QSOs done manually. Before LoTW, most of the respected awards (WOS, DXCC, etc...) were verified by getting all your QSL cards received by snail mail together and having them audited by a volunteer auditor. LoTW certainly seems more 21st Century then that! The use of signed certificates to verify you and your call as the submitter is just one more layer of their audit. This keeps someone from submitting log entries that aren't yours for awards they didn't earn. Anyway, that's my opinion... Stu AG6AG

[@willjones4179]

Been trying to operate the LOGW for the last several days. Can't seem to get it right. No one to ask help from. A most complicated program.

[@AG6AG]

Hi Bill, Bummer you are having trouble... What error are you getting? Stu AG6AG

[@billdillon8139]

It's incredibly difficult in my opinion!

[@AG6AG]

Hi Bill, Compared to many things we have to setup and use now in the hobby, it's a one time adventure in wonderland. The other option of chasing QSL cards in order to qualify for awards is an ongoing adventure in wonderland... The reality is that once you get your key signed, your pretty much done with the hard part. But, you can still go the long way around with trying to get QSL cards from all your contacts. QSL cards are a great part of the hobby, but it seems that not a lot of people use them any more... I send one if I receive one, but I don't send them normally. Stu AG6AG

[@drmisfit]

where do i find the upload from tqsl stu

[@AG6AG]

Hi, Not sure what you are looking for. If you are signing and saving a logfile then it's wherever you choose to save it. If you are signing and uploading in one shot from LoTW, then I'm pretty sure the signed file is vapor. If you are trying to diagnose an issue with a logging program you are trying to use to auto upload the software, then all bets are off on where it's saving it, if it saves it at all... Stu AG6AG

[@SeanDoranirishman]

Great video. Very helpful. -W8OKN

[@AG6AG]

Glad it was helpful! Stu AG6AG

[@Thomas-rl8kw]

the process is just a huge waste of time for the users and money for the arrl. IT is outdated and silly. Let the user log in and upload a file. All this sending stuff in the mail truly shows how they think. They act like a bureacracy. The IRS is more user-friendly. It's not 1995 anymore.

[@Thomas-rl8kw]

Some of these guys need to lose their licenses and I don't mean their ham license. I mean their drivers license. They are in the way of progress.

[@richarde735]

secure and unsecure website(s)

[@AG6AG]

Yeah... In the software world they tend to use 'insecure' and 'unsecure' interchangeably. Ironically, most spell checkers flag 'unsecure' as misspelled and want to change it to 'unsecured'. Regardless, I hope I explained the issue experienced in a way that made sense to the viewers... Thanks! Stu AG6AG

[@dawka6335]

Thank you very much for the video! 73, Dawid SP9SKA

[@AG6AG]

You are welcome! Stu AG6AG

[@NsndoBrasil]

Friend, that's exactly what happened. I asked for the renewal of the Certificate and I already received it from LoTW ok. I have the Key I got when I first did it. But when I activate it, the message that I don't have it installed on my computer appears. Oliveira pu2olt

[@AG6AG]

Chances are you do not have the private key on the new PC. I would contact ARRL and find out what you should do. I'm pretty sure they will have you generate a new key on the new system and send them the new request. They then will send you a new cert matched to the new private key... CHECK WITH THEM BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING! They should be able to guide you through this. Stu AG6AG