ok so i just got my ticket a few months ago and ive been making contacts and logging everything in WSJT-X and then importing to HAMRS which then goes to... somewhere i think. anyway i'm trying to figure out this whole QSL confirmation thing because apparently there's like three different ways to do it and nobody seems to agree on which one matters.

from what i can tell LoTW is the one that counts for DXCC and awards but you have to get a certificate from the ARRL which takes forever and involves a notary or something? and then eQSL is easier to set up but some people act like it doesn't count for anything real. and then there's actual physical cards which i think you send through the bureau or just directly to someone's address which you look up on QRZ?

i've already got like 200 FT8 contacts logged and honestly i have no idea if any of them are confirmed anywhere. do most people just do all three or is there like one that's actually worth the effort for a new ham trying to work toward some basic awards

Welcome to one of the more confusing parts of the hobby honestly. So the short version: LoTW is the gold standard if you care about ARRL awards like DXCC or WAS. The certificate process is a bit of a pain but its not as bad as it sounds — you dont need a notary anymore, you just mail a form with a copy of your license to ARRL and they send you back your certificate files. Took maybe 3 weeks for me.

eQSL is fine and some people really like getting the digital cards, theres even an Authenticity Guaranteed tier that counts for some awards, but yeah most of the serious award chasers are focused on LoTW. That said a lot of DX stations upload to both so why not use both.

For FT8 specifically almost everyone is uploading to LoTW automatically through WSJT-X or through their logging software, so a big chunk of those 200 contacts are probably already confirmed or waiting for the other station to upload. Once you get your LoTW cert set up and upload your log you'll probably see a bunch of confirmations come in pretty quick. Physical cards are kind of a separate thing — some people love them and collect them, others never bother. I still send and receive paper cards but mostly for DX that feels special, not for every FT8 contact.

yeah i was in the same boat not too long ago. honestly just get the LoTW cert sorted first thats the main thing. i put it off for like six months and then kicked myself because i had all those unconfirmed contacts sitting there. the eQSL stuff is fun too though, some of the cards people design are really cool and its kind of nice to have something visual to look at even if its just on a screen. paper cards i've only sent a handful of times for special contacts, like my first DX or whatever. the bureau is supposedly cheaper but slow, direct mail is faster but you're paying postage and some IRCs if it's overseas which adds up