Here you will find some questions that may assist you with LoTW.
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Some anti virus programs, such as Bit Defender, or firewalls require the user to configure their software to permit certain programs to operate.  Please consult your anti virus program for information about assigning permissions to software programs such as Trusted QSL.

 
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If you have experienced catostrophic computer failure or formatted your computer and lost your Trusted QSL files recovery can be as simple as clicking your mouse if you saved your certificate as instructed in the beginning.  Please note that you cannot simply copy files from one drive to another.  This will not work.  Trusted QSL files are used once.  TQ5, TQ6 and TQ8 files have no value once they have been used.

If you saved your certificate (p12 file) then you can simply download the Trusted QSL software to your new computer and load the p12 file.

This process only takes a few mouse clicks.   Click here for an illustrated version of these instructions.

In the new computer (or re-formatted computer) download and install the TrustedQSL software version 1.13

1. Open TQSL CERT
2. If asked “do you want to request a certificate?” answer NO.
3. Select FILE - LOAD CERTIFICATE.
4. Load the PKCS#12 from your memory stick or disk.
5. Now you have the gold ribbon.
6. Now you can create your station location in TQSL.

If you have not saved the p12 file then you will have to request a new certificate.  Note: US ops will NOT have to wait for a postcard and DX ops DO NOT have to send documents.

Follow this link if you have experienced hard drive failure, formatted your drive or replaced your computer and have not saved a p12 file.

Please note that you cannot simply copy files from one drive to another.  This will not work.

Trusted QSL files are used once.  TQ5, TQ6 and TQ8 files have no value once they have been used.

Here you can ask questions of other LoTW users.

 
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Check your ADIF or Cabrillo file for QSO data.

When requesting your certificate you were asked to supply a QSO begin date and a QSO end date.  For currently active call signs the QSO end date should be left blank so the QSO end date automatically follows the certificate expiration date.

If you are receiving a "QSO out of date range" message when signing your log file this simply means that there are QSOs in your log that fall outside the QSO date range of your certificate.

First verify that the QSOs do in fact belong to the call sign of the certificate that you are signing the file with.  If you have a log that goes back a while these QSOs could belong to an old call that you held so the out of date range is not an issue because the certificate is doing its job by filtering the QSOs that do not belong to the call sign.

If you need to change the date range of your certificate you can simply renew the certificate making sure to use the correct dates for QSO begin and end.  Remember to leave the QSO end date empty if the call sign is currently active. 

Click "Go Now" for instructions on how to renew a certificate.
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An invalid call sign is just that.  Check your log for things such as the letter O where a zero should be or missing numerals or other errors in the call sign.

This message results when the mode expressed in your ADIF file is not expressed in standard ADIF format or is not in the ADIF table in TQSL.

First be sure that you are using TQSL 1.13 and have the latest CONFIG file.

To map modes:

Open TQSL 

Select FILE - PREFERENCES - ADIF MODES

Click the ADD button on right.

In the mode window enter the mode as it is expressed in your logging program.

Use the drop down menu to select the mode that you want it to represent.

Click OK - Click OK

Now you can sign the log and upload the TQ8 file.

This message is received when signing Cabrillo files from a contest that is not in the TQSL tables.

Open TQSL

Select HELP

Expand TQSL UTILITY HELP

Expand PREFERENCES

Select PREFERENCES - CABRILLO SPECS

"Certificate Is Not Yet Valid": You receive this message because the clock in your computer is set to a time and date in the future. Please set the computer clock to the correct time and date.

When a certificate request is made a TQ5 file is created that you send to LoTW.  In response a TQ6 file is sent back to you.  These files contain unique keys therefore the TQ6 file must match the TQ5 which made the request.

This message occurs when a TQ6 file cannot find the matching file which made the certificate request.

Some causes for this error message are that the TQ5 file was deleted before the TQ6 file was loaded, you are attempting to load the TQ6 file into a computer that did not make the original TQ5 request, you made a new certificate request before the first request was processed.

If you receive this message click OK and continue loading the certificate file.  If you do not acheive a gold ribbon certificate then request a new certificate.

The simplest solution to most certificate issues is to request a new certificate.  Follow this link for detailed instructions to get a new certificate.

 
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You have attempted to upload a file that is not a TQ5 or TQ8 file.  Most users get this when they try to upload their ADIF log file. Please see "Signing and Uploading Logs" above.

1. Verifiy the certificate serial number in your TQSL CERTIFICATE program matches the certificate in your user account. (See step one above)

2. If you have more than one certificate in your TQSL CERTIFICATE program then delete the certificate that does not match the certificate in your user account.

3. Verify that you are not uploading an old TQ8 file.  TQ8 files may be deleted once they have been uploaded to LoTW.

4. Verifiy that you are selecting the correct station location when signing your log file.