Yesterday I worked KH0W on 10 meters. The Saipan CW Club. The Northern Mariana Islands. Another joyless ATNO for me as I discovered LoTW was verboten to them.

This has not been an uncommon experience. When I set out on this quest for a little DX wallpaper in 2022 I knew I faced long odds. The little pistol station being the primary problem, my lack of prowess as a DX chaser being another. And I had also declared whatever would be achieved would be confirmed via LoTW. ONLY. On the way I’ve discovered that most digital operators I worked always confirmed via LoTW while a somewhat large number of CW operators I’ve worked do not.

I know. It’s a self-inflicted problem. And at least in this case the online QSL info declares it loudly, NO LOTW. My experience has been working lots of stations via CW who say they use LoTW, but apparently only upload their logs every five years or so. Because you know, clicking a button with a mouse is so difficult that it must be put off for as long as possible… These are the bigger disappointments as initial hope fades slowly for the confirmation that should, but never does, arrive.

I could get a paper QSL card from KH0W, but then I would have to get that card checked and added to my DXCC account. It’s a song and dance that DXers have been doing from the beginning so there will be no sympathy for me about this minor inconvenience. I’ll probably just bite the bullet and request a card via postal mail to begin the process. Normally, I’d wait and hope to work another KH0 who uses LoTW. According to the Club Log Most Wanted list KH0 is number 162, just above Zambia and below Rodriguez Island – not terribly rare.

But this was the first time I’ve heard KH0 on CW and I don’t want to wait “years” for another shot… I hate it when I break my own rules.