### Requesting an Initial Callsign Certificate

LoTW requires that you request your Initial Callsign Certificate using the same computer with which you will accept Your Initial Callsign Certificate.

To request your Initial Callsign 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.a | On 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, or if you have not installed a Callsign Certificate on the computer you're using, 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 to request your Initial Callsign Certificate; if you have one or more Callign Certificates on another computer, you can move them to the computer you're using.
| Alternatively, start TQSL, and select the Callsign Certificate menu's Request New Callsign Certificate Request... command.
3. | The Request a New Callsign Certificate dialog will appear:
| In this dialog,

| 3.a | Specify your callsign, DXCC entity, and begin date

|  | 3.a.1. | Specify your present primary callsign, without any portable identifiers
|  | 3.a.2. | Select your DXCC entity
|  | 3.a.3. | Set the QSO begin date to the date of the first QSO made with your present primary callsign
|  | 3.a.4. | Leave the QSO end date blank
|  | 3.a.5. | Click the Next button

| 3.b | Enter your name and address

|  | 3.b.1. | For US callsigns, the mailing address you enter must match your address in the FCC database
|  | 3.b.2. | Click the Next button

| 3.c | Enter your email address; then click the Next button
| 3.d | You will be prompted to enter a password

|  | 3.d.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.d.2. | Click the Next button

| 3.e | If your computer has internet access, you will be asked if you want to upload this certificate request to LoTW; click the Yes button; if your computer does not have internet access,

|  | 3.e.1. | you 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`
|  | 3.e.2. | this file will be referred to in these instructions as `YourCallsign.tq5`

| 3.f | Select the Callsign Certificates tab; an entry for your Callsign Certificate will be displayed with a pending icon: (because the certificate is not yet functional).
| 3.g | If you did not upload the certificate request to LoTW in step 3.e, protect your pending Callsign Certificate, by directing TQSL to create a Backup File.
| 3.h | You can terminate TQSL by selecting its File menu's Exit command (on OS X, by selecting the Application menu's Quit tqsl command).

4. | If you did not upload the certificate request to LoTW in step 3.e,

| 4.a | 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.
| 4.b | 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!

5. | If you are a US licensee, you will receive a post card in the mail

| 5.a | Above your address on the front of the postcard, you will find your 8-character Postcard Password
| 5.b | Using your web browser, visit https://p1k.arrl.org/lotw/password

|  | 5.b.1. | Enter your callsign (the one you specified in step 3.a.1 above)
|  | 5.b.2. | Enter your Postcard Password
|  | 5.b.3 | Click the Submit Password button
|  | 5.b.4. | You will receive an email message with your Callsign Certificate attached within 3 business days

6. | 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.