Requesting an Initial Callsign Certificate

LotW requires that you request your initial Callsign Certificate using the same computer from which you will accept that initial certificate.
1.Create a folder in which to maintain your Callsign Certificates. In these instructions, the folder C:\MyLoTWCertificates will be assumed, but you can choose any folder that does not conflict with your operating system's policies.
   1.aOn Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8, using a folder within C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86) would require starting TQSL with Run as Administrator, because these versions of Windows consider those two folders to be protected; thus it's best to choose or create a folder that resides elsewhere.
2.If you start TQSL before receiving your Initial Callsign Certificate from the ARRL, an Alert dialog will appear that informs you that you have no Callsign Certificate, and asks if you want to request one; click the Yes button.
 Alternatively, start TQSLCert, and select the File menu's New Certificate Request... command.
3.The Generate Certificate Request dialog will appear; in the Generate Certificate Request dialog,
   3.aYou will be informed that a new certificate request file will be created; click the Next button
   3.bSpecify your callsign, DXCC entity, and begin date
       3.b.1.Specify your present primary callsign, without any portable identifiers
       3.b.2.Select your DXCC entity
       3.b.3.Set the QSO begin date to the date of the first QSO made with your present primary callsign
       3.b.4.Leave the QSO end date blank
       3.b.5.Click the Next button
   3.cEnter your name and address
       3.c.1.For US callsigns, the mailing address you enter must match your address in the FCC database
       3.c.2.Click the Next button
   3.dEnter your email address; then click the Next button
   3.eYou will be prompted to enter a password
       3.e.1.If you're using a shared computer, you should protect your Callsign Certificate by entering the same password in both textboxes; you'll be asked to provide this password each time you direct TQSL to digitally sign a log file. If you control access to the computer you're using, you can leave both textboxes empty, thereby avoiding the need to provide a password each time you direct TQSL to digitally sign a log file.
       3.e.2.Click the Next button
   3.fLeave the Sign Request panel set to unsigned (because you do not yet have a Callsign Certificate with which to sign the certificate request file being generated) and click the Finish button
   3.gYou will be prompted to save a file whose name is your callsign and whose extension is .tq5; save this file in the folder C:\MyLotWCertificates; this file will be referred to in these instructions as YourCallsign.tq5
   3.hThe tQSL Certificates dialog will now show an entry for your Callsign Certificate with a "pending" icon:  (because the certificate is not yet functional); to avoid losing this entry to a hardware malfunction, save it in a form suitable for storage on external media like a thumb drive or on another PC connected to your network:
       3.h.1.Click on the entry for your Callsign Certificate to select it
       3.h.2.Create a Certificate Container file by selecting the Certificate:Save menu item; the Enter PKCS#12 file to save to dialog will appear
       3.h.3.In the Enter PKCS#12 file to save to dialog, set the Save in folder to C:\MyLotWCertificates, set the File name to ProtoCert.p12, and click the Save button; a PKCS#12 Password dialog will appear
       3.h.4.If you're using a shared computer, then in the PKCS#12 Password dialog, specify the same password in both textboxes, and click the OK button; be certain to remember this password, as you'll be asked to provide it should it be necessary to recover your Callsign Certificate. If you control access to the computer you're using, leave both textboxes empty, and click the OK button.
       3.h.5.Copy the file ProtoCert.p12 from your C:\MyLotWCertificates folder to external media or to another computer on your network
   3.iClose tQSL Certificates by selecting its File:Exit menu
4.Upload your certificate request file to the ARRL via https://p1k.arrl.org/lotw/upload ; use the Browse button to navigate to the folder C:\MyLotWCertificates and select the YourCallsign.tq5 file you find there
5.Retain the YourCallsign.tq5 file; its presence in C:\MyLotWCertificates will be required when you accept the Callsign Certificate that the ARRL will send you, so don't delete it!
6.If you are a US licensee, you will receive a post card in the mail
   6.aAbove your address on the front of the postcard, you will find your 8-character Postcard Password
   6.bUsing your web browser, visit https://p1k.arrl.org/lotw/password
       6.b.1.Enter your callsign (the one you specified in step 3.b.1 above)
       6.b.2.Enter your Postcard Password
       6.b.3Click the Submit Password button
       6.b.4.You will receive an email message with your Callsign Certificate attached within 3 business days
7.If you are not a US licensee, you will receive an email message asking you to submit proof of license (for example, a copy of your license) and a copy of one other official document that shows your name (for example, a driver's license). For additional details, see https://www.arrl.org/lotw/docreq . You will receive an email message with your Callsign Certificate attached after your documentation is reviewed and accepted.