Introducing Logbook of the World
Logbook of the World (LoTW) is an online service that enables you to
As stated in LoTW's Mission and Objectives, membership in the ARRL is not a requirement. To use LoTW, download the free TQSL application and direct it to request participation. You'll be issued a unique Callsign Certificate, and provided with access to an LoTW Account via the world wide web.
After you're registered, you can submit QSOs to LoTW by either using TQSL to digitally sign those QSOs and convey them to LoTW via the internet, or by using one of the many logging applications that provide this capability.
If the information in a submitted QSO matches the information submitted to LoTW by the your QSO partner, the LoTW Accounts of both you and your QSO partner will show the submitted QSO as confirmed.
A Callsign Certificate authenticates the source of each submitted QSO, and no operator is permitted to see the information submitted by other operators. This combination maintains the integrity of the QSO verification process that has long been the hallmark of ARRL awards.
Via your LoTW Account, you can submit a confirmed QSO for credit in one or more of the DXCC, VUCC, WAS, WAZ, and WPX award programs.
There is no fee for obtaining a Callsign Certificate, submitting QSOs, or using one's LoTW Account to view submitted QSOs, confirmed QSOs, or award progress. A fee is only charged when submitting confirmed QSOs for Award Credit.
When the processing of a WAZ or WPX application made from LoTW is complete, your LoTW confirmations will be conveyed to the CQ WAZ or CQ WPX Award Manager, respectively. You can then apply to CQ for awards, placques, or pins.
If you're not yet using LoTW, here's how to get started.
If you're already using LoTW and need information, check the Using Logbook of the World "navigation bar" on the left, consult the searchable list of Topic Titles, or try Frequently Asked Questions. You can also search the contents of this help system using the Search facility in the upper-right corner of every page.
Documentation note: the screen shots that appear in some Using Logbook of the World topics make for relatively wide web pages; you can use your keyboard's left and right arrow keys to direct your web browser to horizontally scroll.