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Log of the World.
In 1991, I passed an exam that gave me a certificate issued by the City and Guilds of London Institute, that allowed me to apply for an amateur radio licence, I sent off my fee, application form, and record of achievements (from the city and guilds) to the Radio Communications Agency, or as we all called it, the RA. They then issued me the callsign GD7JQI
(The RA service has since been taken over by Ofcom )
In 1993 I sat, and passed the 12 wpm CW test, something of a dwindling art these days, but I'm glad I've got it. As I passed this CW test, I had to apply for a new callsign, this procedure involved me forwarding two identity photographs to the RSGB, who in turn provided me with a validated CW passed certificate.
The next step was to apply to the RA for what was at that point in time, a full class A callsign. All bands, DC to light. All modes, and a power level up to 400w.
In 2000, I applied for a
Special Research Permit for higher power on the 6m band (50mhz).
Under the Wireless
Telegraphy act 1949, this Notice of Variation was applied to my currently held
Radio Amateur Licence. This Research Permit allows me to explore moon bounce on
6m, using either CW or digital modes. This has proven to be highly interesting,
and I have learnt a lot from my experiments, not only about radio, but also
about the area I live in, the topography, and general effect this land has on my
radio signals. Another interesting aspect of these tests are the amount of
licensed radio amateur stations from America whom I contact using the moon as a
reflector.
I think that it is safe to say that I am operating legitimately, and I'm known to the relevant powers that govern all UK licensed amateur radio operators.
So, back to Log Book of the World
The ARRL web site sates:
Every non-USA operator requesting an initial, unsigned certificate for Logbook of the World must send a copy of his/her Amateur Radio operating authorization
OK, I've no problem with that, it is valid proof of my licence, and who I am. After all, the procedure above took some doing, and the licence wasn't 'gifted' to me, it was well earned.
in addition to a copy of one other government-issued document indicating his/her identity. Such an additional document might be a driver's license, or the first page of a passport. (Identity documents will be destroyed after certificates are successfully issued.) These documents must be sent via postal mail (to the ARRL HQ address below), not email. Using the postal mail for documenting an operator's primary callsign helps to protect your callsign as well as helping LoTW to authenticate its users.
And it is this part (above) that I take exception to.
My paper QSLs are accepted for DXCC by the ARRL, simply by producing the card within a bundle gains credit for the DXCC award program. But the electronic LoTW system that is supposed to make life easier, is asking for to much in the way of personal information, and, I find that their request for this additional documentation that has nothing what so ever to do with them, is a step to far. The ARRL has no real need for this documentation, my licence should be proof enough.
Update: Following an
exchange of emails on the RTTY reflector, I find that there is a small minority
of people (mainly from America) who can not believe my concerns, and have
suggested quite vehemently that there are other reasons for my not participating
in the LOTW programme. Comments received include "
Information?
Why is that a problem? " This comment
was with regards to the above mentioned copies of '
government-issued document indicating his/her identity
' the implication is that because I would not forward copies of such
documentation to persons unknown, in what is to me, a foreign county, that I am '
simply
not telling the truth about their real reasons for not participating
'
If that comment wasn't ludicrously stupid,
I would have laughed. Has the originator of the comment never heard of identity theft?
I responded with ' Simply put, I neither need, want, or desire to send any information of mine to persons unknown who reside in a foreign country. ' and yes, America IS a foreign country to me! It was my hope that the discussion would falter and simply die of its own accord. Although a few emails flew back and forth following this exchange, the conversation basically did just that.
One final comment, and this points to the credibility of the ARRL.
Certain stations were adamant that the ARRL needed this information so that it could maintain its integrity with regards to the legality of logs forwarded onto the LOTW programme. This might be true, but I will counter that with this comment:
When the said society accepts
QSLs from a country for an award as legitimate, even though it is clear to most people
and societies
in Europe that the radio operation concerned was from a country that still did
not have legal access to that particular band and thus ALL activity from
said country was illegal,
(and I repeat: that this fact is quiet
well known to most societies in Europe) how can the integrity
of the ARRL survive as a society?
As previously, I end
with;
Thus, I do not partake
in the LOTW programme.
GD0TEP pirate callsign piracy GD0TEP