ARRL Triple Play Award

The ARRL announced a new award based upon Log of The World (LoTW) confirmations. The “Triple Play Award” will be implemented in January, 2009. The award will be given for working all (US) states on voice, CW, and digital modes – with the confirmation exclusively through the Log of The World.

Many hams are close to achieving this award right now – but the new award starts in January with everyone’s count being zero.

The commentary has centered around whether this is really an award or simply a promotion of LoTW.

I think it is both.

The award is challenging as it stands. Working all states in three different modes requires some versatility and patience. You can’t work every state in one contest because three modes are required.

The promotion of LoTW as the confirmation is also great. There is no manual handling of cards, confirmations are electronic, and the reporting is simple. I’m hoping that this gets more people to use Log of The World.

Want to know who is on Log of The World? Check out HB9BZA’s Log of The World site.

Are you interested in this award?

Scot, K9JY

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Ed - WY4J

If the ARRL wants to promote LoTW then, allowing us to utilize LoTW toward VUCC award makes more sense than what the ARRL is currently doing with the Triple Play which is nothing new to recruit new users or help the members that support it by paying our annual dues. The cost of mailing a QSL card is getting very expensive and lets not forget the SASE which some keep and never send you their card. I have a pretty good portion of my VUCC confirmed via LoTW so mailing that many cards and SASE would be cost prohibited. So for the time being, I sit and wait for the ARRL to make up it's mind.

I've have contacted David Summer @ ARRL and explained my situation and the fact that I completed my DCXX and WAS the old fashioned way back in the 1970's. His reply was , Oh well, I'm in the same boat as you but you can always use LoTW for DXCC and WAS which made no sense and said, basically nothing.

Bob K0NR

@Alan -

I agree with Alan....where's VUCC support on LoTW?

I just inquired about this with my ARRL director, who happened to be attending the ARRL Board meeting. The answer back was that VUCC support was coming but other work was taking priority. Apparently, Triple Play is one of those priorities. Since VUCC is THE award for the VHF crowd, it makes more sense to support it first. Then we'd have the basics covered: DXCC, WAS and VUCC.

By the way, I am a fan of LoTW...it can save tons of time and hassle on getting contacts confirmed.

Bob K0NR

Scot, K9JY

@Bob K0NR - I agree. It is good to get content and then go after marketing, which the Triple Play Award is in my opinion. I'm glad they are doing it, but having the VUCC award in there also gets a good portion of the ham population interested in doing the Triple Play.

Thanks for the comment, Bob.

Alan

Sorry, I meant to say "why not look after the existing award programs before creating new ones?"

Scot, K9JY

@Alan - It is a tough choice, isn't it? I think it is easier to establish awards using LOTW to promote acceptance of the award. At least the ones that the ARRL controls (I can hear the DXCC crowd screaming at that one...).

On the other hand, you need to have other sponsors of awards utilize the LOTW database for their acceptance.

So, Alan, I think you are on to something here. Get the current ARRL awards programs validated through LOTW (it is a report, after all) to move the use of LOTW. Then add awards.

Good thinking. Thanks for the comment.

Alan

It'll be quite a challenge, but I'd have been a lot happier if they'd fixed it so we could use LoTW to apply for VUCC. Why not look the existing award programs before creating new ones?

Alan VA2UK

Dave Kalahar

Scot, I actually think it's a good idea. The ARRL badly needs to promote LOTW as a powerful tool. Too many DXers have snubbed it. I've talked to hams that think QSLs should come from mail (the old fashioned way) or it's too easy. Postal rates make award hunting very expensive. I've got DXCC and WAS the old way, but I've also got another DXCC and WAS with LOTW only and it was fun.

Love ur blog - 73 - Dave

Scot, K9JY

@Dave Kalahar - I have to say that LoTW has really saved me a bunch of work. Coming off of my VP9 DXpedition, over 300 contacts were immediately confirmed upon upload of just over 2,000 contacts.

For very active hams, the confirmations happen quickly.

For the rest of the hams who are not as active, I think they need to place a reminder to upload their logs once a month or some time frame. It would help getting more QSO's up there.

Exploring Amateur Radio

ARRL Triple Play Award