So i just got my general a few months back and ive been making contacts pretty regularly, mostly HF on 40 and 20m. Someone in my local club mentioned i should be uploading to LoTW but then another guy said eQSL is better for certain awards and now im just confused about what the difference even is between all of these and whether i actually need to bother with paper cards at all.

Like i understand the basic concept, you log the contact and the other person logs it and if they match up you get a confirmation. But i dont really get why there are so many different systems. Do most people use all of them? And is there any reason to still bother mailing physical cards through the bureau or direct? Seems like a lot of effort when you could just click a button.

Also somebody mentioned ARRL and DXCC and i think LoTW is related to that somehow but im not sure how it all fits together. Sorry if this is a really basic question, just trying to figure out what i should actually be doing with my log.

Not a basic question at all, its actually kind of a mess when you first look at it so dont worry. The short version is that LoTW (Logbook of the World) is run by ARRL and is basically the gold standard if you care about DXCC or other ARRL awards. The confirmations you get there count toward those awards directly which is why most serious DXers use it. eQSL is a separate thing, its been around a long time and has its own awards system and a lot of casual operators use it because its easier to get started with and the cards look nicer honestly.

Paper cards are still a thing and some DXers really love them, especially for rare entities where a physical card feels more meaningful. Plus some awards programs still require paper or have special categories for it. The bureau system through ARRL lets you send and receive cards without paying individual postage for each one which helps. I still get a kick out of getting a card in the mail from somewhere exotic, theres something about holding it that a PDF just doesnt replicate.

Most active operators just do all of it — upload to LoTW after every session, set up eQSL, and send paper cards for anything special or when someone specifically requests one. TQSL is the software you use to sign and upload your log to LoTW, that part trips people up at first. If you want DXCC eventually definitely get LoTW sorted out sooner rather than later because retroactive uploads work but its nicer to have it running from the start.

yeah i was in the same boat about a year ago. honestly just set up LoTW first since thats the one that matters for most awards and then add eQSL when you have time. i use Log4OM and it uploads to both automatically after each session which is nice, dont have to think about it. paper cards i only bother with if someone sends me one first or if its a really rare DX that i want something physical for.