Saturday, May 19, 2012

ARRL's Online DXCC




Welcome to ARRL's Online DXCC

Submitting Your DXCC Application Online — Step by Step

  1. Now that you have logged in, you may go to the Enter QSLs tab and begin entering information from your QSL cards. All your entries are saved and you may leave the Enter QSLs tab at any time while entering QSLs, and return to it later.
    1. You must enter all of the required data for each card. If you want to submit more than one QSO from a single card, then enter the information about those QSOs together — one right after another — on theEnter QSLs tab.
    2. If — once both the Call Sign and QSO Date are entered — the DXCC entity you want to select does not appear among the choices in the pulldown list, select the Show All choice from the pulldown list to select from the complete DXCC List.
    3. You may enter your QSL cards in any order; when you submit your cards for checking, they must be placed in the same order that you entered them. During the submission process Online DXCC will produce a DXCC Record Sheet for you that shows this order.
  2. If you use a logging program, you will find it faster and more accurate to prepare an ADIF file containing the QSO information for the QSLs that you want to submit with your application rather than manually entering the information from each card. Use the Import ADIF tab to import your ADIF file.
  3. When you have finished entering data for the QSLs you want to submit, you may begin the application process by clicking on the Submit Application tab and proceed sequentially through the ApplicationSelect QSLs,PaymentPreview Application and Preview QSL List steps.
  4. The Preview QSL List step of the Submit Application tab provides a Submit Application button. Clicking this button completes the application process and saves your application. You may leave and return to the Application History tab at any time to view and print your completed application.
  5. Verify that your QSL cards are in the same order as shown on your DXCC Record Sheet. Then:
    1. Take a printed copy of your completed DXCC Award Application and all pages of your DXCC Record Sheet along with your QSL cards to a DXCC Card Checker. You will need to provide the DXCC Card Checker with an SASE or sufficient postage to cover mailing your paperwork to ARRL HQ.
    2. If there is not a DXCC Card Checker in your area, you may send your QSL cards directly to ARRL HQ; include a copy of your DXCC Award Application.
  6. Once you have submitted an application by clicking the Submit Application button, you cannot make further changes or add QSLs to this submission. You cannot start a new application in the Online DXCC system until your pending application has been processed by ARRL HQ. You may continue to use the Enter QSLs tab to enter new QSLs and to edit or delete QSLs that are not contained in a pending submission.

Enter QSLs

  • Enter the information from your QSL cards in the data entry area below. Enter the information from one QSL at a time. Remember to press the Save button for each QSL.
    • Drop-down lists are used to ensure the accurate entry of information. Keep in mind that accuracy always trumps speed.
    • If — once both the Call Sign and QSO Date are entered — the DXCC entity you want to select does not appear among the choices in the pulldown list, select the Show All choice from the pulldown list to choose from the complete DXCC List.
    • Only one QSL per combination of band + mode + DXCC entity may be saved. The system will alert you if you attempt to save a QSL that has the same band, mode and DXCC entity as a QSL that you have already saved. QSLs are not checked against your DXCC records for duplicate credits; QSLs entered using this system are checked only against each other.
    • When you click the Save button, the QSL information will appear at the top of the table located below the entry area.
  • You may edit or delete a QSL using the Edit or Delete buttons on the right-hand side of the lower table. If youEdit the information for a QSL that is other than the most recently entered one, its position in the list will change and you will need to move the corresponding QSL card accordingly.
  • You may use the arrows located to the right of the column labels in the table below to temporarily change the sort order of your records. Do not change the order of your QSL cards to match this temporary sort order. This option is available to make searching your records easier. Click the Restore Default Sort Order button located below the table to view your records in the default sort order. The Restore Default Sort Order button only appears if you have clicked on an arrow to temporarily re-sort the table.
  • Note: QSLs entered into this system are not automatically submitted to DXCC. You must complete and submit aDXCC Application, the cards must either be brought to a DXCC Card Checker or sent to ARRL HQ and finally your application must be processed at HQ before the QSLs are credited to your DXCC record!

Import ADIF

  • You can import an Amateur Data Interchange Format (ADIF) file which contains the QSO information for the QSLs in your DXCC submission. This will save you the time and effort of entering the information from each card on theEnter QSLs tab. Your logging program should be able to produce an ADIF file from selected QSOs. Or you could create one yourself.
  • Do not import an ADIF file containing your entire log — this is never what you want to do.
    • Only one QSL per unique combination of band + mode + DXCC entity may be saved in your Online DXCC account. When imported from an ADIF file, a QSO that duplicates the band + mode + DXCC entity of a QSL that is already in Online DXCC will replace the existing QSL.
    • QSLs are not checked against your DXCC record for duplicate credits; QSLs entered using Online DXCC are only checked against each other.
    • The Online DXCC Application system prevents you from including some — but NOT ALL — duplicate credits in your submission.
    • Online DXCC does not select an optimal set of QSLs (the combination that has the minimum number of QSOs) from an ADIF file upload — this is the applicant's responsibility when preparing the ADIF file. Many logging programs can assist you in selecting which QSOs to include in your submission
    • Note: the applicant will be charged for each QSO included in a submission even if that QSO duplicates a credit in the same submission or one for which you have already been awarded DXCC credit.
  • The records from your ADIF file are automatically added to your Online DXCC account on import. Once imported, you will be able to view the QSO information on the Enter QSLs tab. You will also be able to edit or delete QSO information imported using the Enter QSLs tab.
  • QSLs imported from an ADIF file appear on the DXCC Record Sheet produced by Online DXCC in the same order as in the ADIF file.
    • QSOs which appear on a single QSL card must be grouped together on your DXCC Record Sheet. If your ADIF file does not have such QSOs in consecutive records, you will need to group these QSOs yourself using the Enter QSLs tab.
      On the Enter QSLs tab, press the Edit button and then immediately press the Save button for each QSO that is on the same QSL card (do NOT make any change to the QSO information). Doing this will move these QSOs to the bottom of your DXCC Record Sheet. The QSL card on which these QSOs appear now needs to be placed at the end of your QSLs. Repeat this procedure for each multiple QSO card you are submitting. Note: The top of the display area on the Enter QSLs tab corresponds to the bottom of your DXCC Record Sheet.
  • For DXCC — other than Satellite — each record of an ADIF file to be imported into Online DXCC must contain valid values for the CALLQSO_DATEBAND (or FREQ), and MODE fields. Each ADIF record should contain a valid value for the DXCC field.
  • For Satellite DXCC each record of an ADIF file to be imported into Online DXCC must contain valid values for theCALLQSO_DATEPROP_MODE and SAT_NAME fields. The value of the SAT_NAME field must be a supportedsatellite name; the value of the PROP_MODE field must be "SAT". Each ADIF record should contain a valid value for the DXCC field.
    • When a valid value for the DXCC field is not present in a record, an attempt is made to determine the DXCC entity from the call sign in the record. This determination is not 100% accurate. It is in the applicant's best interest to ensure that a DXCC field containing the correct value is present in each record of an ADIF file imported to Online DXCC
  • You can find out more about the Amateur Data Interchange Format on the ADIF web site. There are a number of programs that can convert a log file to an ADIF if that capability is not included with your logging software.

  1. Click the Browse... button to find and select the ADIF file on your computer. ADIF files typically end with .adi.
  2. Click the Import button to begin importing the contents of the selected file into your account.
  3. Informational and error messages during the processing of your ADIF file are displayed in the area directly below the progress bar.
  4. When your import has completed, you can verify that the contents of your ADIF file have been added to your online DXCC account by clicking the View All My QSLs button on the Enter QSLs tab.

Submit Application

  • When using this system to submit a DXCC application —
    • Do not fill out a paper DXCC Application Form and Record Sheet by hand. Online DXCC will generate and allow you to print out a DXCC Award Application Form and DXCC Record Sheet.
    • You must print out and bring the both the DXCC Award Application and all pages of the DXCC Record Sheet produced by this system when taking your cards to a DXCC Card Checker.
    • You must print out and include the DXCC Award Application produced by this system if you are sending your cards to ARRL HQ for checking.
  • QSL card information entered via this system does not automatically become part of your DXCC record. You will be awarded credit for the QSLs that you have entered after you complete and submit a DXCC Award Application and accompanying DXCC Record Sheet and then either:
    • DXCC Card Checker verifies your cards, forwards your paperwork to ARRL HQ and HQ staff completes the processing of your application; or
    • the ARRL HQ staff receives and verifies your cards and then completes the processing of your application.

Click the button at the bottom when you are ready move on to the next step of submitting your application.
You may return to steps that you have already completed using the tabs located below.
A new tab appears after each step is successfully completed.

Award Application

You must enter at least one record before you can apply for an award or endorsement.

Application History

Find a card checker in your area.
You have not completed any Online DXCC applications.

Learn More

About Online DXCC

  • Online DXCC provides an alternative to filling out and submitting the paper DXCC Application Form and Record Sheetby hand. You can use this system to apply for a new DXCC award or endorsement. Submitting your DXCC application using Online DXCC is easier than making a paper application. It will also save you time and money.
  • Advantages of submitting your DXCC application using Online DXCC include:
    • You'll pay significantly lower award fees when you submit your DXCC application through Online DXCC. In particular, the Application fee and the Extra QSO fee for Online DXCC are half those of a traditional paper application.
    • Making your DXCC submission with Online DXCC is more accurate than a paper application that you fill out by hand because typographical errors are eliminated (except for the callsign). There will be no data entry errors at ARRL HQ because the contents of your Online DXCC application are being transmitted directly to the DXCC system at HQ.
    • Making your DXCC submission using Online DXCC speeds up the processing of your application because the information on the DXCC Award Application and DXCC Record Sheet do not have to be manually entered into the DXCC system by ARRL HQ staff. And the more applicants who use this system, the smaller the backlog of applications and the faster the turnaround will be for all DXCC program participants.
  • The system saves the QSL card and application information that you enter for future access. You may enter information from your QSLs as you receive them, and then submit your cards for checking when you are ready to apply for a DXCC award or endorsement.
  • Your QSL cards still need to be checked, either by a DXCC Card Checker or sent to ARRL HQ for checking.
  • Any radio amateur in the world, ARRL member or non-member, may use this system. If you are applying for a DXCC award:
    • with a U.S. call sign — you must be an ARRL member. If you are not yet a member, you can create an Online DXCC account, begin entering your QSL card information right now and then join the ARRL when you are ready to submit your application.
    • with an overseas portable U.S. call sign (like TF/NN1N) — you must be an ARRL member.
    • with a non-U.S. call sign — you do not need to be a member of ARRL.

Online DXCC FAQ

Read the answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Online DXCC

About the ARRL

Founded in 1914, the ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio in the USA. Today, with more than 158,000 members, the ARRL is the largest organization of radio amateurs in the world. Our mission statement is to promote and advance the art, science and enjoyment of Amateur Radio. Learn more about Amateur Radio and the ARRL here.
Not an ARRL member? Join or Renew your Membership

About the DX Century Club (DXCC) Award

DXCC is Amateur Radio's premier operating award that hams can achieve by confirming on the air contacts with 100 countries (entities). You can begin with the basic DXCC award and work your way up to the DXCC Honor Roll. To learn more about the DXCC Award:

About Logbook of the World (LoTW)

Logbook of The World (LoTW), is an exciting way for Radio Amateurs to confirm two-way contacts they have made and use the confirmations as credit toward various awards including DXCC, WAS and VUCC.
Because Logbook of The World uses double blind comparison, users cannot see what other users have uploaded unless there is a matched QSO. All files uploaded to LoTW are electronically signed by verified users. Logbook of The World maintains the integrity of the QSO verification process that has long been the hallmark of ARRL awards. Learn more about Logbook of the World and DXCC.


No comments: