K5ZD put out a request for folks to help enter paper logs that were submitted for the 2009 CQ WW WPX CW contest. I’m a quick and accurate typist so I sent Randy an email and he suggested downloading a program called LM to use to enter in the info. He also sent a PDF for a large paper log that was submitted which was then scanned.  The paper log contained 503 Q’s!! Do you think this op should have used a computer? Well, he actually did as the paper log he submitted was typed into a computer, so there’s no reason he couldn’t have typed it in to any logging program. It would have been much easier for him. It took a couple hours of my time to enter it on a rainy Sunday.

I sent back the log and Randy asked if I’d do another so he sent along a log with 135 Q’s. This one was hand written and once I reviewed the pages I could tell how the op wrote 1’s, I’s, B’s, 3’s, 2’s, Z’s and 7’s. This log took just over 1 hour to enter, review for any mistakes made typing in the call signs or the report (serial number) and then send it off via email.

Over time those that continue to log via paper will likely continue to dwindle as a result of moving to computer logging or going to that big ham shack in the sky. Until then, if you do log in a contest on paper, consider submitting your log electronically if you have any capability (any computer) to do so.  This was an eye-opener for me to see as I’ve only ever logged on the computer for all non-contest and contest contacts.

73,
K2DSL