International Lighthouse/ Lightship Weekend
This is the only official web site for the ILLW event. 
Entries submitted on other web sites purporting to be official will not appear on this list.

In 2001 when I took over compiling the entrant's list and created the ILLW web site, I commenced using Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society (ARLHS) identification numbers in addition to those of other countries awards numbers.  This was done to assist anyone working the ARLHS awards and other awards in conjunction with the ILLW event.  Over the years this action created a big problem for Mike and I in that it gave people the impression that the ARLHS ran the event and in doing so  gave them the impression that the ARLHS contest rules applied to the ILLW.  This created confusion especially with  the ARLHS 1000 yard/meter rule.
 
In August 2006 the ARLHS President decided that ARLHS number should be shown in full for example: ARLHS-USA-1234 rather than USA-1234. This was not acceptable for the ILLW list as it only perpetuated the concept that ARLHS ran the event. I also did not have room on the web page for a 13 character identifier. He also insisted that if I he gave permission for me to continue using ARLHS numbers, I would not be allowed to use numbers from other country's awards. This condition was also not acceptable as many other countries have lighthouse awards and also lighthouse lists with numbers and to give preference to one group at the exclusion of all others was discriminatory.

The management of the list also changed hands in August 2006 as did the format of the list and consequently "museum" lighthouses which were previously show separately, were lumped in with "historic" lights. Historic lights on the ARLHS list are lights which no longer exist and are not recognised by ILLW whereas museum lights are.

All things considered the ILLW organisers, the Ayr Amateur Radio Group in Scotland, therefore agreed to discontinue showing ARLHS lighthouse numbers on the entrants' list as from the 2007 event onwards. Participants are, of course, quite at liberty to exchange any information they like with other contacts as well as including information such as lighthouse numbers on QSL cards.

From 2008 we are using our own numbers, see http://illw.info primarily as a quick means of identifying a lighthouse in poor radio conditions. This list is only for the ILLW event and is not intended to be a definitive list of all lighthouse around the world. Lighthouse are added as they enter for the first time.

Best 73

Kevin vk2ce
ILLW Webmaster and Oceania Co-ordinator