When browsing social networks like Facebook or Reddit these days, I see many Hams ranting and being grumpy about the downtime of ARRLs Logbook of the world. People are demanding faster recovery times, more communication towards the issue and ask themselves and their communities the question if they should instead change over to a different QSL-exchange platform. I cannot even begin to understand this actionism, the frustration and the lack of understanding, and here is why:
I started the hobby in February 24 only. I informed myself about all the available online services and found QRZ, eQSL and LoTW to be the biggest three players. So I set up an account on any of these platforms. Took me a few minutes to create accounts and to edit my profile data which really was fun on QRZ to upload pictures and stuff. Setting up LotW with TQSL was the most time consuming thing.
Anyways: After a long day with many QSOs I once export all my QSOs in ADIF format from my logger.
I take that file, upload it to QRZ, upload it to EQSL and to LotW. This whole procedure takes 3 minutes for all three platforms together. So why bother at all with the question which platform to use? Use what is there, be happy to see some QSOs be confirmed on eQSL that weren’t confirmed on LotW or the other way around. I import this back into my logger and I’m happy for each confirmed QSO.
I think the major problem of all three platforms is that they have a look and feel and user experience as videotext in 1997. But once again: Free services. Better than none.
LotW will come back. If not next week, then maybe next month. In the meantime, everybody has their own personal logbook and backup. So just keep it for a few days and upload again to LotW when they are back online and all the QSOs will be confirmed then.
I also don’t understand all the bad vibes. ARRL is a club, that is giving everyone the opportunity to use their LotW service for free. At no cost. I can use it, although as a German DARC member I don’t pay ARRL to provide that service for me. Who am I to judge them now or to demand faster recovery times from them? I’m happy they exist and have a great impact on our hobby.
It seems they have been attacked by a hacking or ransomware group. Those protagonists are the bad ones, don’t blame the victim. One thing to those demanding more transparent communications from ARRL: As a person that has been involved in the fight against cyber security attacks, forensics and recovery tasks I can only tell you that there is good reason to not communicate openly while working on the matter.
Please, think about your position towards ARRL and free services like LotW. Where have values like loyalty, righteousness and empathy gone?
Waiting patiently and loyal to my ARRL friends, 73, DO8YDP