QSL. Do you Acknowledge Receipt? I Acknowledge Receipt

Transcription

1 QSL Do you Acknowledge Receipt? I Acknowledge Receipt

2 Earliest Use of QSL Cards UV (Buffalo NY) and 3TQ (Philadelphia)

3 What s a QSL Card? The final courtesy of a contact. Confirmation of Two way communication between you and another station One way receipt of a signal from Commercial stations Short wave listeners Your personal calling card Impress visitors

4 Cards of the 50 s

5 I Like it. Why QSL? Educational Learn about other places and things Awards Track your Progress One Purpose of the Amateur Service. Part 97.1 (e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international goodwill.

6 A Modern Look

7 First, You Need a...

8 Paper or Plastic?

9 Electronic Logs Cheap! Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!

10 What to look for in a 1. Free or Modest Cost 2. Simple to Use 3. ADIF Import/Export

11 You might also want to include ability to: Interface with: eqsl Logbook of the World Print QSL Labels; Address Labels Print actual QSL Cards Kick it up a Notch

12 Free to Use Pay for awards Not designed to be a general purpose log A platform for ARRL sponsored awards DX Century Club Worked All States VHF/UHF Century Club CQ WPX Awards

13 LOTW is a blind system You upload your QSO and hope the other guy does the same Must match Call Sign, Band, Mode and Time (+- 15 Min.) Cannot Edit Contacts once they are uploaded. Trusted QSL (TQSL) Free Utility from ARRL Takes ADIF data from your log, encrypts it and uploads it to LOTW Some Log programs are integrated with TQSL

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15 eqsl

16 Basic Membership - Free Bronze, Silver. Platinum Donations required eqsl card Designer available Upload your ADIF file See QSO from others

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18 Competitor to LOTW Not Recognized by ARRL Sponsors its own eqsl Awards ewas edx100 eqsl confirmations are recognized by CQ Magazine WAZ Worked all CQ Zones WPX Worked Prefixes USA CA USA County Award Some awards sponsored by other countries

19 My Approach I prefer Paper cards to LOTW and eqsl They can be expensive. Most DX contacts expect you to provide return postage. When you are dealing with certain countries: No guarantee you ll get a card back May not have a QSL Bureau May not accept IRC s

20 When I send a card Want my card to stand out Professionally printed Usually send direct Self Addressed envelope (SAE) Enclose return postage (Green Stamps) Use Security Envelopes No Call Signs on Envelope or label In U.S I send a SASE and no Green Stamps

21 Some things to remember Follow Instructions Check QRZ.com Check their web site Green Stamps or IRC? Do they have a QSL Manager? Stock up on mailing supplies Envelopes Green Stamps IRC s Labels Avery 8160 or Equiv.

22 Some DX stations No IRC Want Green Stamps only No Stamps please Want to use Bureau only Do not want your card but will send you one Confirm your QSO by ; send requested postage by PayPal

23 Incoming QSL Bureau ARRL Sponsored - Staffed by volunteers Register with your appropriate bureau based on call sign district Send preaddressed envelopes or buy from Buro. Free to use Be prepared to wait.

24 Outgoing QSL Buro Run by ARRL Must be ARRL Member to use Only for International Best for bulk shipments Fees: $2 for up to 10 cards; $3 for up to 20 Cards Over 20 by weight

25 OQRS On Line QSL Request Service More and more Dxpeditions and DX use this service There are two OQRS websites. They are not the same N2OO /Club Log M0URX If you need or want a paper card Search their log online at the OQRS Site Order the card(s) Provide payment (donation) by PayPal

26 OQRS - ClubLog

27 ClubLog Many tools for you. Free to Join Access to OQRS Upload your log; find matching QSO s Log Matching Log inspector Most wanted list

28 Upload or design your QSL Graphic Editor built in to site Upload your ADIF file Global QSL: Prints your QSL cards Mails to recipients From Israel Great for Dxpeditions Can also order as few as 100 for use in the U.S.

29 And Finally...

30 To QSL or Not? Remember Part 97 (e) Be a good will Ambassador It can be expensive but there are ways to minimize that. LOTW eqsl OQRS Use Simple, Basic card There are lots of tools to help you. Get friendly with software and websites Have an adequate log program. It s a hobby. Have fun.