These instructions assume that your Callsign Certificates reside in the folder C:\MyLoTWCertificates
(if you've stored them in a different folder, adjust the instructions accordingly).
1. | You will receive email from the ARRL containing an attached file named theCallsign.tq6 -- save this fileinto the folder C:\MyLoTWCertificates |
2. | To proceed, the file theCallsign.tq5 must be present in C:\MyLoTWCertificates ; if you deleted this file, you'll have to start over by requesting a new certificate from the ARRL |
3. | Start the TQSLCertapplication; the tQSL Certificates window will appear |
3.a | in the tQSL Certificates window, open the File menu and select the Load Certificate File command; the Load Certificate File window will appear | |
3.b | in the Load Certificate File window, set the type of certificate to TQSL (.tq6) , and click the Next button; the Select Certificate File window will appear | |
3.c | in the Select Certificate File window, select the file C:\MyLoTWCertificates\theCallsign.tq6 and click the Open button | |
3.d | in the Load Certificate File window, click the Finish button | |
3.e | the tQSL Certificates window should now show an entry for your certificate with a yellow medal icon: ![]() |
3.e.1. | click on this entry to select it | ||
3.e.2. | open the Certificate menu and select the Save command; the Enter PKCS#12 file to save to window will appear | ||
3.e.3. | in the Enter PKCS#12 file to save to window, set the Save in folder to C:\MyLoTWCertificates , set the File name to theCallsign.p12 , and click the Save button; a PKCS#12 Password window will appear | ||
3.e.4. | in the PKCS#12 Password window, specify a password in both textboxes, and click the OK button; be sure to remember this password, as you'll be prompted to present it when using this Callsign Certificate to submit QSOs to LotW. |
3.f | terminate tQSL Certificates by opening its File menau and selecting the Exit command |
4. | Configure your Backup and Restore application to include C:\MyLoTWCertificates\theCallsign.p12 in the list of files it backs up |
5. | At the completion of these actions, the folder C:\MyLoTWCertificates will contain |
* | the file theCallsign.tq6 -- contains the actual Callsign Certificate, but in a form that cannot be moved to another folder or saved on an archival storage device | |
* | the file theCallsign.p12 -- contains the Callsign Certificate in a form that can be moved, backed-up, and recovered; you can use the tQSL Certificates application to extract YourCallsign.tq6 from YourCallsign.tq12 if needed |