Two different things! In my role as RadCom HF columnist, I recently had an
email from a correspondent, bewailing the fact that his much coveted QSL
cards had gone astray in the mail on the way back from the award checkpoint
(not DXCC in this case, but the same argument applies). He would have MUCH
preferred to be able to submit electronically for the award so that his
cards would not have had to be risked to the vagaries of the mail service.
Don G3XTT
On 17 February 2012 14:16, Eddy Swynar <deswynar@xplornet.ca> wrote:
>
> On 2012-02-16, at 9:25 PM, Jeff wrote:
>
> > "...so we can get those coveted awards we all like."
>
> Hi Jeff et al,
>
> I certainly have nothing against LotW, or the folks who swear by it. It is
> the "coming thing" IMHO, and given time will surely render hardcopy QSLs a
> place atop the scrap heap of Ham radio history that includes such quaint
> novelties as spark transmissions, cat's whisker detectors, separate
> transmitter-receivers, etc. etc.
>
> Personally, however---despite its many obvious advantages---I want no part
> of it. I enjoy the look & feel of an honest-to-goodness QSL card in my
> hands, & even after 41 years in the game, I still thrill at the prospect of
> opening up that fresh bundle of cards that might await me in my mail box
> from the QSL bureau.
>
> Look at this way: LotW caters especially to the awards-seeking crowd,
> correct? Instant gratification! Great! But what if the ARRL, and others,
> was to suddenly announce that they'd no longer issue hard copy
> certificates---"virtual awards" only, viewable on-line...? I wonder if that
> might cool one's enthusiasm for ANY paper-chasing. We now have virtual QSL
> cards---can virtual awards be far behind...?
>
> So many objects of desire in to-day's society anymore seem to be reduced
> to fleeting collections of electrons visible on a computer screen: turn the
> power off, the objects are gone. Yet real, paper QSLs are actual things
> that can easily outlive our own stay in this place & time---I liken them to
> leaving proverbial footprints in the sands of time. Long after MY own
> "...collection of BIOLOGICAL electrons" ceases to function & disappears, my
> hard copy cards & certificates, for better or worse, of relevance or none,
> will remain, testament at least to the fact that at one time I really &
> truly was here...
>
> Somehow I just don't think the virtual world of eQSLs & LotW will work
> quite the same way...
>
> ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
>
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UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
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