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Electronic Certificates
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by nh7a on December 21, 2002
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The League takes a year to process contest certificates. CQ takes years. I am all for being able to download a certificate when the results are published.
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Electronic Certificates
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by K5RT on December 25, 2002
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While OH3BU does make some valid points, there are some factors that should be addressed that (at this time) preclude "E-Certificates" being issued.
1. It takes time to compile contest results. CQ actually prints the line scores in our magazine. As most of you know, ARRL has decided that its members no longer wish to see contest line scores on the pages of QST and posts them on the Internet for viewing. Either way, getting the scores into a viewable format (not to mention checking logs) does take time. ARRL has a staff of fulltime employees working in support of this task, CQ uses volunteers. Either way, this is a 4 to 6 month process when you allow for mailing of logs, cross checking and tabulation. For CQ, you need to add on another 60 days for the printing timeline.
2. Mistakes in the tabulated results do happen. All contest sponsors realize this and try to allow time for such errors to surface and be addressed. Why issue (or allow for print) invalid certificates when there can be only one winner of an award?
3. Not everyone who operates contests has a good Internet connection. This is becoming less of an issue with each passing year, but its still a concern when trying to download a large graphic file.
4. Certificate server management is also concern. Good security software does not come cheap. Not all contest sponsors can afford this expense. Additionally, how would the sponsor be able to track/manage those who want an "E-Certificate" as opposed to those who prefer an "original" copy? Its becomes one more headache for the contest sponsor to deal with, but I think this one could be handled pretty easily during the log submission process.
5. Finally, certificate quality will vary widely. I can see where the sponsor will wind up having to send "original" copies of certificates out for years to come because not everyone has the means to own a "Photo Quality" printer and they become dissatisfied with their copy of the certificate. Again, one more headache for the contest sponsor.
Closing thoughts. ARRL, CQ and other sponsors don't manage contests for any revenue opportunity. Its a "visibilty" (read that marketing) expense for most of us. Besides the "visibilty" for the sponsor, it is good for our hobby that we have contests. They promote activity, sharpening operating skills, and advancing the technical arts of our wonderful hobby.
The idea of providing a buck or two for a certificate is certainly appreciated, but I'm not sure how to manage this without adding to the timeline of certificate printing and mailing. One other item, who do the donatations get mailed to and how are they tracked, what currency is acceptable and so forth? Using credit cards for such small transactions isn't very cost effective. Its not a big deal, but its one more thing for the sponsor to have to handle. Maybe the sponsors themsevles have some ideas on this topic.
I'd like to offer a couple of ideas.
First, CQ can ALWAYS use help with getting certificates printed and mailed. If you are interested in helping out, please drop CQ an e-mail indicating your desire to help out. Please bear in mind, if you are willing to make such a committment, you really need to try to honor it.
Second, send a note or e-mail to the contest sponsor thanking them for their efforts. Even with a paid staff, many of the folks who "toil in the contesting vineyard" do so at the expense of time for something else.
As I started out my note, being able to generate your own certificate is certainly viable from a technical point of view right now, but I don't think the processes involved are ready for the challenge just yet.
This is an excellent topic for discussion and I am quite sure that just about every contest sponsor would appreciate your input and ideas. This subject is exactly like "E-QSL"s. Its a really great idea, the devil is how to do it while maintaining accuracy and security without adding to anyone's workload.
VY 73
Paul K5RT
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Electronic Certificates
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by w7dra on December 26, 2002
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interesting idea, i earn more certfs that i get, i guess i am too far down the food chain to get a certif for every bold listing in a mag. i mount EVERY award i receive, electronic media would be fine, its the rememberance that counts
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Electronic Certificates
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by N6JLJ on December 27, 2002
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No special security is needed. The security criterion for electronic [sic] certificates should be to match the current level of award forgery prevention--which is none. Anyone with more money than scruples can print their own awards and forge custom-made plaques today; they don't even need to be a ham.
W7DRA nailed it: the certificate is a rememberance. Working hard and doing as well as you can in a contest is its own reward. And forging a plaque or certificate that sits on the wall and reminds you every day that you not only didn't win, but are such a loser that you have to lie about it, surely is its own punishment.
I would gladly trade an original signature for speedy delivery of awards, and especially for reduced workload for contest staff, since this could lead to more and better contests.
It would be nice to escape the error of calling them "electronic" certificates, though. PDF files are even less electronic than paper (at least paper *contains* electrons). Why not just refer to it as PDF *delivery* of the award certificate?
73, Andy N6JLJ
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Electronic Certificates
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by kr1g on December 28, 2002
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Last I knew, DXCC was NOT self-substaining. It costs the ARRL a lot of money to run.
Interesting article however! And we don't really need any special security, as their isn't any now (ie, anyone can design/scan and print their own certificates now)
73
ted KT1V
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