QSLs Deter Contest Operation

[Sean E. Kutzko]

Dick, N6AA wrote:

>In my travels around the world, I've met a number of hams in somewhat rare 
>countries that have curtailed their operation because of QSL cards. The 
>number of cards received simply overwhelms people.

Getting QSL's if you are in a semi-rare to rare place is part of the 
game; an occupational hazard, if you will.


[BY example snipped]

>Seems the guys with interest in operating in contests don't have equal 
>enthusiasm for answering QSLs afterward. People complain about not getting 
>cards to him. His solution is that it is better to not have contest contacts 
>than to have unanswered QSLs. I doubt if volunteering to be a QSL manager 
>for all China will solve the problem, unless someone wants to move to 
>Beijing to minimize the interface problems.

I feel that this is a reasonable, albeit unfortunate, solution. If you 
aren't willing to answer the cards from the folks that call you, you 
shouldn't be calling "CQ Contest" in the first place.

Keep in mind that a significant number of folks that end up in the 
contesters log are not in it for the contest at all...they're chasing 
some award (DXCC, WAS, etc). They're kind enough to answer your CQ and 
give you points, helping you achieve your goal. The least you can do is 
answer that QSL card when it shows up, to help them achieve theirs.

Sean

--
Sean Kutzko						 Amateur Radio: KF9PL
Urbana, IL						 DXCC: 305 wkd/301 cfmd	

	      "You can't close the door when the wall's caved in."

>From Frank Donovan <donovanf at sgate.com>  Fri Nov 10 13:26:14 1995
From: Frank Donovan <donovanf at sgate.com> (Frank Donovan)
Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 08:26:14 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Alphas for contesting
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.951110082304.9497A-100000 at jekyll.sgate.com>

At the CONTEST forum at Dayton this year I won a discount coupon from ETO 
for $1000 off the purchase price of an Alpha 87A or $500 off the price of 
the Alpha 89 or 91B

Does anyoneneed this coupon??   I really don't...

73
Frank
W3LPL