An Introduction to QSLing

1
An Introduction to QSLing

• Bud Semon N7CW
• March 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 WB9VGJs 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.
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What Goes on a QSL?

• Copy a photo from the Internet
• Use some cheap card stock and Powerpoint

Printed at home
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What Goes on a QSL?

• Use your own photo
• Some glossy card stock and Microsoft Publisher

Printed at home
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What Goes on a QSL?
My Current Favorite
My photo on one side. Information on the
other. Printed by UX5UO in the Ukraine.
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What Goes on a QSL?
Photos front and back
Printed by UX5UO in the Ukraine.
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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 its a DX station, include a Self-Addressed
  Envelope (SAE) and an International Reply Coupon
  (IRC)

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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
  thats 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

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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 dont send IRCs and the cost of QSLs
• How badly do you want that QSL?

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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
• Dont send dollars
• Its 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

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How to Trade QSLs

• Postage
• In place of IRCs, you can buy stamps from many
  countries
• Some DX stations dont 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

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How to Trade QSLs

• QSL Managers
• Some DX stations dont want the bother of
  QSLing, so they have a person that does it for
  them
• Send your QSL to the manager
• Same rules apply SASE, SAE IRC, etc.

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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/tabi
  d/59/Default.aspx
• If you work DX, you must keep envelopes on file
  with them

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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

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How to Trade QSLs

• Electronic QSLing
• There are 2 systems available today
• ARRLs 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

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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

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Favorite QSLs

• Some are really rare locations

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Favorite QSLs

• Some are places at war

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Favorite QSLs

• Some are just far away

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Favorite QSLs

• More far away

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Favorite QSLs

• Exotic locations or Doing something cool

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Favorite QSLs

• Some are for the photos

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Favorite QSLs

• Photos from friends or Memories

The Little Print Shop
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Questions?

• Bud, N7CW
• n7cw_at_cableone.net
• 928-771-8267
• Download this presentation at http//www.n7cw.com/
  Download.html