On Mon, 8 Apr 2002, Ron Notarius WN3VAW wrote:
>
> I think we can accept, though, that if someone is really determined enough,
> they can fool the system -- and since people check the cards, mistakes
> happen and invalid cards are sometimes accepted (and good ones not). Be so
> as it may...
>
This always brings up a question with me. Why would someone want to fake
a QSL or a QSO on one for DXCC credit? I am an honest man and I don't
even have the slightest desire to do this. Maybe that is why I have a
hard time understanding those who would. Who are you really cheating if
you present a false card? Only yourself.
There could be a few who are just trying it to see if they can get away
with it - to "fool the system", as you said. I would guess that they care
so little about the DXCC program that they just want to see how far they
can stretch it.
I just received a QSL from a DXpedition which had QSO's on many bands
on it. I did notice that the person who filled it out by hand noted the
frequencies worked as "3.5" ... "7" ... "14" ... "18." ... "24" ... "28"
Notice the period after the "18" that wasn't on the other frequencies?
It's apparently there so no one can change it to "1.8" on the card.
> Look, the electronic QSL concept isn't neccesarily a bad one. eQSL.cc's
> implementation of it has, sadly, left a lot to be desired -- they may have
> been "first," but I sure wish they'd gotten it right instead.
>
> But what keeps getting overlooked, in the zeal of some to get their printed
> eQSL .jpg files accepted, is that what's really important isn't the eQSL
> "card" but the log data behind that card. Now come up with a way to
> securely store and access that log data, so that any organization issuing
> awards can electronically verify an award application without having to
> check over QSL cards, and you've got something that's a real breakthrough.
> And those of us who still feel the old fashioned "QSL card is the last
> courtesy of a QSO" mantra can still exchange cards either via paper or
> electronically as we so choose.
>
> 73, ron wn3vaw
I don't have anything against eQSL's. I still like the paper ones, though.
It's more fun to show them to non-hams once in a while. I've even gotten
a few people interested in ham radio by showing them DX cards.
One question about the LoTW project is what about the rare DX station who
doesn't have a computer and keeps paper logs? Is someone going to get his
logs and put them in digital format and send them to ARRL?
Just food for thought, in case there are any hungry minds this morning.
:-)
73, Zack W9SZ
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