An Introduction to QSLing Bud Semon N7CW March 5, 2009.

An Introduction to QSL’ing

Bud Semon N7CWMarch 5, 2009

2

What is a QSL?

• Traditionally, a QSL is a postcard verifying the details of a contact.– They have been used almost since the

beginning of ham radio

3

Why QSL?

• A QSL is the final proof that the contact took place– Remember WB9VGJ’s

presentation on “Chasing Awards”?

– In order to qualify for almost any award, you must submit QSLs for every contact to the award sponsor

4

What Goes on a QSL?

• Critical Information– Your location – Callsign of the other

station– Time (in UTC), date

(in UTC), signal report, band, mode

– Standard size is 3.5” x 5.5”

5

What Goes on a QSL?

Your Design - Infinite Possibilities!

Junior High Print Shop – circa 1966

All the information on one side.

It can be mailed like a postcard.

6

What Goes on a QSL?

Copy a photo from the InternetUse some cheap card stock and Powerpoint

Printed at home

7

What Goes on a QSL?

Use your own photo Some glossy card stock and Microsoft Publisher

Printed at home

8

What Goes on a QSL?

My Current Favorite

My photo on one side.Information on the other.Printed by UX5UO in the Ukraine.

9

What Goes on a QSL?

Photos front and back

Printed by UX5UO in the Ukraine.

10

How to Trade QSLs

• Traditional way – via the Post Office– About 20% (or less) of hams will QSL an HF

contact– If you really, really want a QSL from someone

in the US, include a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE)

– If it’s a DX station, include a Self-Addressed Envelope (SAE) and an International Reply Coupon (IRC)

11

How to Trade QSLs

• IRCs– An IRC is worth 1 Airmail stamp in countries that

accept them– The Post Office is often behind on pricing – that’s why

the extra stamps

– Most USPS employees have never heard of IRCs and you have to ask for the PostMaster to get them

– They must be stamped on the bottom left – otherwise, they will be rejected

12

How to Trade QSLs

• IRCs– Some DX stations will ask for more than 1

IRC– They are trying to cover their postage costs

for US hams that don’t send IRCs and the cost of QSLs

– How badly do you want that QSL?

13

How to Trade QSLs

• Postage– In most countries, the cost of postage has

increased dramatically in the past few years– In the old days, a dollar bill (“green stamp”)

would cover the cost - now it takes several dollars

– Don’t send dollars• It’s a pain for the DX station to exchange them• In some countries, it is illegal to have dollars• Postal employees soon learn that hams get

dollars and steal the mail

14

How to Trade QSLs

• Postage– In place of IRCs, you can buy stamps from

many countries• Some DX stations don’t like this – it changes their

procedures too much

– See K3FN at http://users.net1plus.com/ryoung/index.htm – He also sells overseas airmail envelopes that

easily fit inside each other

15

How to Trade QSLs

• QSL Managers– Some DX stations don’t want the bother of

QSL’ing, so they have a person that does it for them

– Send your QSL to the manager– Same rules apply – SASE, SAE & IRC, etc.

16

How to Trade QSLs

• The (Incoming) Bureau System– Hams are cheap, so we formed clubs that

forward and distribute QSLs in bulk– Incoming Bureau for the 7th Call Area is the

Willamette Valley DX Club in Portland, OR– See

http://www.wvdxc.org/dotnetnuke/QSLBureau/tabid/59/Default.aspx

– If you work DX, you must keep envelopes on file with them

17

How to Trade QSLs

• The (Outgoing) Bureau System– Most countries have an outgoing bureau also– In the US, it is the ARRL– You send them your QSLs, arranged

alphabetically, and they forward them to the incoming bureaus around the world

– See http://www.arrl.org/qsl/qslout.html– The QSL Bureau system is very slow, but

really cheap

18

How to Trade QSLs

• Electronic QSLing• There are 2 systems available today

– ARRL’s Logbook of The World (LoTW)• See http://www.arrl.org/lotw/• Database only - extremely secure – matches

QSOs between stations• Since ARRL sponsors many, many awards, LoTW

is the electronic QSLing system of choice• Most logging programs make the upload process

relatively painless• Over 200 million QSOs entered

19

How to Trade QSLs

– eQSL• See http://www.eqsl.cc/qslcard/Presentation.cfm• Virtually no security• Allows designing and printing QSLs from the

Internet• Recently accepted for awards sponsored by CQ

Magazine, with enhanced security• Not supported by most logging programs• About 114 million QSOs entered

20

Favorite QSLs

Some are really rare locations

21

Favorite QSLs

Some are places at war

22

Favorite QSLs

Some are just far away

23

Favorite QSLs

More far away

24

Favorite QSLs

Exotic locations or Doing something cool

25

Favorite QSLs

Some are for the photos

26

Favorite QSLs

Photos from friends or Memories

The Little Print Shop

27

Questions?

Bud, N7CW

[email protected]

928-771-8267

Download this presentation at http://www.n7cw.com/Download.html