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LOTW Quick Start
This page is a quick start guide.
For complete documentation click "Learn More".
Get Started
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Use the following instructions to set up your LOTW account, brought to you by ARRL.
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Step 1 - Download and install the software
Logbook of the World uses a free software called TQSL. (Latest version 2.0)
TQSL works with MS Windows; there are versions for Mac OS X and Linux.
If you are using anti-spyware programs such as Bit Defender or Kaspersky or others, you must configure your software to allow TQSL to run.
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Step 2 - Request a certificate for your callsign
Requesting a certificate is a simple process of entering some basic information such as your call sign, name, address and your e-mail address.
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Step 3 - Authenticate your location (USA)
For radio amateurs in the USA authentication is done with a postcard that is mailed to your address that is in the FCC database. If this address is not current please visit the FCC ULS website and update your address information.
You will go to the LoTW web page and enter an eight digit code from the postcard after which the TQ6 file will be e-mailed to the user.
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Step 3 - Authenticate your location (non-USA)
Non US stations will have to send a copy of your radio amateur operator permit and a copy of another identification such as a driver's license, passport or utility bill.
Send to:
ARRL LoTW Administrator
225 Main St.
Newington, CT 06111
Please, no electronic submissions. This must be postmarked from your location.
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Step 4 - Acccept Your Call Sign Certificate (TQ6 file)
At this point you have received an e-mail from LoTW with your TQ6 file. This e-mail also contains your username (your call sign) and a password to log onto the LoTW userpage. This information is in the lower portion of the text in the e-mail message.
These instructions will show you how to load the TQ6 file and more importantly how to save the certificate. The TQ6 file by itself is not your complete certificate so please be sure to use the instructions to load and save your certificate.
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Step 5 - Create a station location
The station location contains all of the geographic information for your operation. This includes ITU and CQ zones, grid square, US State and county and IOTA number if you operated from an IOTA island.
Please be accurate and complete when entering the information in this step because this is how the other station will receive credit for your geographic positions from a QSO with you.
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Step 6 - Sign Upload Your Log Files via the Internet
Logbook of the world accepts digitally signed files called Trusted QSL files. You have already used these types of files in the certificate process - TQ5 and TQ6.
When you digitally sign an ADIF or Cabrillo log file you are making a new file called a TQ8 file. The information in this new TQ8 file is much like what is on a QSL card. Your call sign and DXCC entity is taken from your certificate, the QSO information comes from your ADIF or Cabrillo log file and all the geographic information is in your station location in TQSL.
TQSL 2.0 allows you to sign and upload the log file to the LoTW system via the internet.
Some logging programs feature a shortcut for signing and uploading your log. Check with your logging program developer's page for information on features like this.
