WSPR Two Way Confirmations

[VK3ZAZ]

I just noticed in my ARRL LOTW
that ARRL have matched two wspr entries and matched them as a confirmation

VK3ZAZ US7ISA 2014-04-09 07:44:00 10M WSPR UKRAINE

Mode WSPR (DATA)
Band 10M
QSL 2016-06-26 08:54:03
On ARRL LOTW at least.
So much for electronic log books.

[VK6OX]

WSPR a 2-way mode? To confirm a "QSO"? Really?

No way!

[VK3ZAZ]

I agree
ARRL system is flawed
as is club log and eqsl
all have furfies
and qsos which did not occur

Don't shoot messenger

[VK5PJ]

Steve,
the question I have is how did the data get into LOTW, did you put the WSPR Spot in your logbook as a QSO? and then it would have to be done at the far end in a similar manner to get a match in LOTW?

not looking to shoot the messenger but am curious how the 'match' occurred in LOTW given their strict guidelines for this.

Regards,
Peter

[VK5BC]

Hi peter

I did a quick search and found this on a forum from sept 2013 (http://wsprnet.org/drupal/node/4253);

I asked ARRL their position on WSPR for DXCC. Here is their response:

"Hi Doug:

WSPR mode is set up in LoTW and logs with these QSOs will be accepted.

For DXCC they would only count as Digital but I can see that if someone had, say, 50 states on WSPR a WAS could be considered for this.

Regards

Bill Moore NC1L
Awards Branch Manager
ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio™

So obviously it is not new to LOTW. I guess if you think about it it is really no different to JT65, JT9 etc provided you get the appropriate decode both ways in the time span allowed by LOTW for qso's to match. Just another digital mode. LOTW doesn't even care about reports just the appropriate call signs and date & time match.

As for Steve's comment that all systems are flawed, I think more correctly all systems maybe can be abused and it is obviously difficult to stop those who feel they need to cheat, they are fooling nobody but themselves.

73's Brian
VK5BC