QUICK-START
===========
In Windows, once the software is installed you’ll find the programs TQSLCertand TQSL under the Start/Programs/TrustedQSL menu. (Unless you selected a different menu during installation.) The installer also lets you place shortcuts to these programs on your desktop.
To install on Mac OS X, open the disk image file (.dmg) and drag theTrustedQSL folder to your Applications folder. If you are replacing an existing installation of TrustedQSL, you should choose “Replace All” when prompted if the existing files should be replaced. You could also drag the existing TrustedQSL folder to the trash first as no user data will be lost.
On a Mac OS X 10.8 or later system, you may need to grant permission forthe applications to run. To do that, right click on the application icon, then choose Open. You will receive an “Are you sure” dialog box. Click the “Open” button to permit the application to open. You will only need to do this once for a given TQSL release.
Instructions for installing on Linux can be found in the INSTALL document included with the source code.
Initial Setup
=============
IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO PERFORM THE FOLLOWING STEPS IF YOU ARE SIMPLY
UPGRADING TO A NEW VERSION OF THE SOFTWARE.
1) CREATE A CERTIFICATE REQUEST. Run TQSLCert. You’ll get a message reporting that you have no certificates and asking if you want to request one. Say YES. Then proceed through the request wizard, saving the request into a file.
a) The request wizard will ask you to supply a call sign. Use your present call sign — without any portable identifiers.
b) The QSO start date is the first date for which you’ll enter QSO records into the system using the call sign you supply. Normally this is the issue date for your license. Leave the QSO end date blank for a license that is current.
c) For US call signs, your mailing address should agree with the address in the FCC database. If your address is different, you must register your new address with the FCC.
d) The request wizard includes a page that allows you to digitally sign the certificate request. On your initial request, you must choose “unsigned” since you have no certificate with which to sign.
e) Remember where on your computer you save the certificate request file for the next step!
2) SUBMIT THE CERTIFICATE REQUEST. Send the .TQ5 file created in step 1 as an attachment in an email message to lotw-logs@arrl.org, or upload it via the Web (https://www.arrl.org/lotw/). If you are a US licensee, you will then receive a post card in the mail with further instructions. (The post card will be sent to the address you have in the FCC database, so make sure that’s correct!) If you are a non-US licensee, you must submit proof of license and identity to receive your certificate. See http://www.arrl.org/lotw/ for details.
NOTE! IT IS IMPORTANT that you do NOT delete the certificate request (the red-lined icon) from TQSLCert once it has been sent. Each certificate request is unique and must match the certificate that will be returned to you by the issuer. If you delete the certificate request from TQSLCert, you will NEVER be able to load or use the received certificate!
3) LOAD THE CERTIFICATE. Once your certificate has been issued it will be sent as a .TQ6 file to the email address you entered into the certificate request during step 1. You should be able to double-click the attachment in the received message to launch TQSLCert to load the .TQ6 file. If that doesn’t work, save the attachment to disk, run TQSLCert and use its File menu’s “Load Certificate File” command to find and load in the .TQ6 file. Once that’s done, TQSLCert should show your certificate in its certificate list with a gold emblem next to your call.
4) SAVE THE CERTIFICATE. This step is strongly recommended. If you do not perform this step and later lose your certificate (due to a hard-drive crash or system reinstall, for example), your certificate will be unrecoverable. Click on the certificate in the certificate list to select it, then choose the Certificate menu’s Save command. Save the certificate file onto a floppy disk or other off-line medium.
5) REQUEST ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATES. Logbook of the World treats a call sign with a portable identifier (e.g. NU1AW/4 or KP2/W1AW) as a separate call sign. To submit log data using such a call sign, you need a certificate with that call sign in it. Once you have received your certificate for your present call sign, repeat the process above, but in step 1d, sign the request with the certificate for your present call sign.
This will speed the process of getting the certificate and will ensure that all of your certificates appear under your Web site user account.
6) CREATE A LOG FILE. If you have a logging program that can produce log files in ADIF or Cabrillo format, you can use those files directly. If you just want to enter a few QSOs into a log file, you can run TQSL and choose the File menu’s “Create New ADIF file” command.
7) CREATE A STATION LOCATION. In TQSL, select “Station/Add Location” from the menu. Step through the wizard to specify the location of the station used to make the contacts you’ll be submitting. At the end of the wizard, enter a name to use for this station location, e.g., “Home” or “Portable in EM29.”
8) CREATE A SIGNED LOG SUBMISSION. In TQSL, select “Sign existing ADIF or Cabrillo file” from the File menu. In the resulting “Select Station Location” dialog, select the station location and click “Ok.” You’ll then be asked to select the log file (a file in ADIF or Cabrillo format) to sign. Finally, you’ll be asked to name the file and select the location (directory) where TQSL will save the .TQ8 (signed log) file.
9) SEND THE SUBMISSION. Send the .TQ8 file created in step 8 as an attachment via email to lotw-logs@arrl.org. You will receive an email response. (More than one file can be attached to an email message.) Or you can upload the file at https://www.arrl.org/lotw/
10) Visit the LOTW Web site at https://www.arrl.org/lotw/ to view your submitted data and confirmations and apply for award credits. Submit any bug reports to lotw-help@arrl.org.