[CQ-Contest] RE: If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP!

Wed Aug 6 08:38:06 EDT 2003

Reading the many threads on this I was compelled to reply. I would like
to thank all those that have replied to my QSL request. Although being
licensed for over 30 years it has only been the last 3 years that I have
been into the DX and contesting. I am STILL trying to get my 5BWAS
confirmed and increasing my DXCC totals. I must say that I have had
pretty good luck getting the DX cards, the stateside cards seem to take
much more effort as I have had to send several cards to different
individuals in the same state before I get it confirmed. I appreciate it
when they do return my card which ALWAYS has either GS's or SASE. So
just remember, not all of use have been around for many years and have a
pile of cards in box. We are still looking for those new bands/modes.

73

Rich  KJ6RA

-----Original Message-----
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Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 5:39 AM
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: CQ-Contest Digest, Vol 8, Issue 12

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Hazards of towers and other items
   2. Re: If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP!
   3. RE: If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP! (K9YO-Cedrick Johnson)
   4. Re: If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP! (Jim Reisert AD1C)
   5. RE: Etymotic versus Bose Headphones (Eric Scace  K3NA)
   6. Off-Time Strategy in WAE from Maryland (Mark Bailey)
   7. Re: If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP! (Charles W. Shaw)
   8. Re: If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP! (yt3t)
   9. Re:  If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP! (Jan Erik Holm)
  10. RE: If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP!
  11. RE: QSLing (Ragnar Otterstad)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 05 Aug 2003 14:24:58 -0700
From: paule at sfu.ca
To: smidtca at sprint.ca
Cc: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Re: Hazards of towers and other items
Message-ID: <200308052124.h75LOwhD007566 at rm-rstar.sfu.ca>
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Message: 1

Try

Here is the original version:

http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~dufour/HUMOR/EIT.html
http://www.darwinawards.com/legends/legends1998-08.html

Here is the ham version:

http://lists.contesting.com/_towertalk/1997-July/006860.html

cheers, Paul - VA7NT ex VE7CQK - email: paule at sfu.ca
"Those who hear not the music. . . think the dancers mad."
------------------------------

Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2003 00:59:22 +0000
From: kr7x at comcast.net
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP!
Message-ID: <200308060059.h760xOgq030630 at contesting.com>
Precedence: list
Message: 2

Jim and list:

I think as a contest operation you have an obligation to at least answer
the 
requests that are direct and via bureau.

As an operator at, and the QSL Manager for the IH9P operations since
1998, I 
have had the same experience as Jim and the crew at KC1XX.

Fortunately this year JA3USA got Yaesu to print up 25,000 cards for the
2002 
CQWW SSB operation and eveyone in the log was Q'd via the bureau for
2002 
contacts. This is not quite the full undertaking that KC1XX attempted
and I 
applaud their effort.

Most casual operators both US and DX work stations for the contact and
the card. IH9P feels it has an obilgation to QSL all who ask for a card.
It keeps them 
comming back the next year.

I qsl direct SASE's within 2 weeks of receipt. Directs without SASE are
Q'd via 
the bureau along with the bureau cards, usually every 3 months. US cards
direct 
with SASE see above; all other US cards (direct no SASE and via the
bureau, yes 
I get many every month) are dead filed. If you are in the US and need a
IH9P 
card (SSB operations only) send direct with a SASE and you will get a
card.

This is a hobby and we all have other pressing matters, but to keep the
pool of 
available contacts in contests we need to extend the effort to fill the 
requests for QSL cards.

P.S. I put the 2002 log on the ARRL LOTW

73

Hank / KR7X
IH9P Pantelleria Contest Team
Tikirriki Contest Club

As the
> AD1C perspective:
------------------------------

Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2003 19:00:10 -0500
From: "K9YO-Cedrick Johnson" <k9yo at cedrick.net>
To: "'Zack Widup'" <w9sz at prairienet.org>, <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP!
Message-ID: <000f01c35bad$b7c61df0$6d00010a at newcastlelimited.com>
In-Reply-To:
<Pine.GSO.4.10.10308050845160.10945-100000 at bluestem.prairienet.org>
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Which is why I rarely get on the radio anymore. No time to contest, no
time to QSL!

-yo

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Zack Widup
> Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 8:48 AM
> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP!
> 
> 
> On Mon, 4 Aug 2003, K9YO-Cedrick Johnson wrote:
> 
> > 
> > Most people have lives. They have work. They have a wife and kids.
> > They have to fix their houses, etc. There are PLENTY of 
> other things
> > to do BESIDES radio. If it came to the point where I
> couldn't QSL for
> > 3 months because I had too many family commitments, I'd do
> the family.
> > Radio falls to the bottom of my priority list.
> 
> Playing "devil's advocate" here, does the same rule above
> apply when it becomes contest time?
> 
> 73, Zack W9SZ
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>     The world's top contesters battle it out in Finland!
> THE OFFICIAL FILM of WRTC 2002 now on professional DVD and VHS!
>        http://home1.pacific.net.sg/~jamesb/
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/c> q-contest
> 

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 05 Aug 2003 20:53:46 -0400
From: Jim Reisert AD1C <jjreisert at alum.mit.edu>
To: <ku8e at bellsouth.net>, <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP!
Message-ID: <6.0.0.14.2.20030805204837.02269ed8 at mail.comcast.net>
In-Reply-To: <20030805163124.MISE4876.imf18aec.mail.bellsouth.net at mail.b
 ellsouth.net>
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At 12:31 PM 8/5/2003, Jeff KU8E wrote:

>I think it's pretty childish to purposely ignore someone in a contest
>just because they didn't return your QSL.

Hi Jeff,

IMO....

While it may be childish, you can't control the other station's
behavior, 
only your own.

For at least a couple of years, 9Y4VU would not work KC1XX in a DX 
contest.  We knew he was hearing us (when someone is S9 and no one else
is 
calling...).  We have no idea what WE did, but I'm sure it had nothing
to 
do with QSLing. Notice I said WE, we did not blame the operator, only 
ourselves. The situation magically righted itself. To this day, we can
only 
speculate.

The guy who sends a QSL card and gets stiffed did NOTHING wrong. The
only 
power he has is to deny that person a QSO in the future. You will not be

able to MAKE him work you, but by returning QSLs, you eliminate one of
the 
barriers.

73 - Jim AD1C

-- 
Jim Reisert AD1C, 7 Charlemont Court, North Chelmsford, MA 01863
USA +978-251-9933, <jjreisert at alum.mit.edu>, http://www.ad1c.com
PGP Fingerprint: D8E2 3D78 339F A7F1 8C13  1193 B5D1 4FB6 79D1 70DC

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2003 21:02:07 -0400
From: "Eric Scace  K3NA" <eric at k3na.org>
To: "Bill Tippett" <btippett at alum.mit.edu>, <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] Etymotic versus Bose Headphones
Message-ID: <NEBBJKPCLKFDODKNIPHKGEHFIDAA.eric at k3na.org>
In-Reply-To: <5.2.1.1.0.20030805093041.026e3900 at pop.vnet.net>
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Message: 5

   My experience with in-ear headphones is:

#1:  No significant isolation from room noise.  If you have anything
else going on in the room (fan or blower noise from amplifier
or computer, other operators in a multi-op), your brain is going to have
to work harder to overcome both room QRM and radio QRM.

   Noise processors in the headphones will help reduce fan or blower
noise but do nothing to quiet down the operator next to you.

#2:  Ear buds get very uncomfortable after a few hours of continuous
use.  The ear canal gets very irritated.

   Personally, I am reluctant to introduce additional audio processing
after the radio before the ear.

-- Eric K3NA

-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Bill Tippett
Sent: 2003 August 5 Tuesday 09:56
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Etymotic versus Bose Headphones

	Has anyone compared the Etymotic ER-4
or ER-6 to Bose QuietComfort headphones?  The
ER-4 claims 20-25 dB isolation and ER-6 15-20 dB
versus ~10 dB for the Bose (if my memory is correct).
http://www.etymotic.com/

	How about the comfort factor of using in-ear
earphones versus the Bose headphones for extended
periods of time?

	Bose QC can be had for ~$150 used on eBay
(probably because they dropped the list price to $249
when the QC2 was introduced).  I've seen the Etymotic
ER-6 for $115 new and the ER-4 for $220 new.  Seems
like the ER-6 is the better value with similar audio
response curves at frequencies <3 kHz, and only
slightly less isolation (~5 dB).

	Just curious if anyone has actually used either
Etymotic for extended periods of time and what you
think of them?

			73,  Bill  W4ZV

---------------------------------------------------------------
    The world's top contesters battle it out in Finland!
THE OFFICIAL FILM of WRTC 2002 now on professional DVD and VHS!
       http://home1.pacific.net.sg/~jamesb/
---------------------------------------------------------------

_______________________________________________
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CQ-Contest at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2003 21:10:19 -0400
From: "Mark Bailey" <kd4d at comcast.net>
To: <CQ-Contest at contesting.com>
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Off-Time Strategy in WAE from Maryland
Message-ID: <024a01c35bb7$86efa160$9601a8c0 at Mark1>
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Hello all:

I'm doing WAE CW this year from Maryland instead of the Caribbean. :-(

What do y'all think about strategy for the off times?  (WAE requires 12
hours off during the 48 hour contest.  You can take one, two or three 
breaks.  Each break must be at least an hour).  A multiplier on 80 is
"4" points, "3" on 40 and "2" on 20-15-10.

I'm considering something like 0300-0800Z, probably with a 2 hour break
10:00-12:00 on Sunday.  In the Caribbean, with high-band absorption,
I'd probably be taking breaks more like 1500-1900...

I've never done WAE CW from Maryland.  I've never done a DX
contest from the US in August either!

Any thoughts?

Thanks and 73.

Mark, KD4D

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2003 02:06:41 +0000
From: "Charles W. Shaw" <chas.shaw at verizon.net>
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP!
Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.2.20030806015545.009f3c90 at incoming.verizon.net>
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	I have been reading this thread with particular interest trying
to gain 
insight regarding the problem I have noticed most in recent years:
	W station (or DL or other large ham population type op) goes to
a slightly 
difficult (not necessarily rare) entity for a contest or 
vacation/DXpedition and before or after the test spends considerable
time 
"testing antennas" at contest rates.  Then when I try to exchange cards 
with him for a needed band/country--the card exchange is outgoing only!

	My feeling is:  No matter the reason for a station going outside
his home 
territory; if he gets on and works pile-up style 599 exchanges by the 
hundreds, HE IS OBLIGATED TO RETURN QSL when I provide the envelope and 
postage for him.
	But it certainly has not been working that way for me lately.

73, Chas. - N5UL

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 07:51:28 +0200
From: "yt3t" <yt3t at absolutok.net>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Re: If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP!
Message-ID: <000b01c35bde$c9433c80$97e45d50 at jstajcic>
References: <200308060056.h760uZgr030420 at contesting.com>
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Message: 8

http://QSLL.com was invented and created for people who set their
priorities
the way Cedrik does...
It is time and money saving, and works very well...
73
Kele YU1AO

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2003 08:11:05 +0200
From: Jan Erik Holm <sm2ekm at telia.com>
To: cq-contest <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Re:  If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP!
Message-ID: <3F309BF9.6080701 at telia.com>
In-Reply-To:
<20030805163124.MISE4876.imf18aec.mail.bellsouth.net at mail.bellsouth.net>
References:
<20030805163124.MISE4876.imf18aec.mail.bellsouth.net at mail.bellsouth.net>
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Message: 9

Agree 100%, pritty hard deal to ignore people in a contest
just becourse they don´t QSL.
Guess it´s the bureau cards that are the problem since it
seems like just about everybody do answer direct cards.
However as AD1C points out, it sure is a lot of work and
do cost some money too.
Forexample, me and a friend just sent about 80 punds of
cards to the bureau, been behind a bit you see, still
behind but only 4 or 5000 cards, however now I have to get
new cards printed and that usually means a bit of a delay.
Sure nice I almost work no contests any more, but that´s
due to other reasons.

73 Jim SM2EKM
------------------------------------------------------------

ku8e at bellsouth.net wrote:
>    I think it's pretty childish to purposely ignore someone in a
contest
>  just because they didn't return your QSL. Like K9YO pointed out ,
many
>  of us have a life outside radio and contesting and find it hard to
spend
>  alot of time answering QSL cards. Personally , I am not really
interested 
>  in QSL cards because I have worked DXCC/WAS etc... many times over
and over.
>  But if you send me a card with a SASE , I will be glad to answer it.
Otherwise,
>  you are out of luck.
> 

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 10:57:11 +0300
From: <jukka.klemola at nokia.com>
To: <kr7x at comcast.net>, <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP!
Message-ID:
<ECAA0AE7C430D345934F8DBC108D3F8D0B52A9 at saebe007.nmp.nokia.com>
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Message: 10

Hi,
I feel I do not have obligation to anything else than
bureau.

Direct QSLling takes much time.
Over 600% more than buro cards.

Normal process is:
Open envelope
Find one IRC, QSL, self addressed envelope
Find QSO details in QSL
Find the QSL for that callsign I used
Find QSO details in log
Write the QSL
Check the envelope it has all information written
Place QSL in envelope
Seal the envelope
Place the IRC in pile
Handle the QSL that came (either to collection or bin)
Handle the trash like the envelope
**the above takes approx 8-10 minutes per QSL as there
are several years old requests

Then:
Drive to post office
See the personnel faces showing "the IRC no-good-person is back.. OH NO
!"
Give the IRCs to the person that looks less unhappy 
Person counts the IRCs
The person re-counts the IRCs
I tell how many are to European Union, elsewhere in Europe and outside
Europe
The person gives stamps to the amount of IRCs and continental data
provided
I go elsewhere to place the stamps on the envelopes
I give the envelopes to the personnel
I drive back home
This takes approx 5 minutes per QSL in batches of 100 or so

Time elapsed 13 minutes per QSL or more.

What is wrong with this?
-In 13 minutes I can process 80 buro cards
-I get nothing but pain of wasting my time going
through the steps above
-post office personnel get frustrated when counting
the IRCs
-I loose motivation to direct cards and cannot
do another batch in 6 months

The steps above are the normal procedure,
which I do twice a year.

Some QSLs are unclear
Some QSLs are not claiming QSO with me
Some QSL shipments contain unusual money
 -banks take fees for handling foreign currency..!
Some SASEs do not have the country written on
Some guys send QSLs in one or two week intervals in case
they do not get the reply QSL instantly

Of course if there is a clear SASE and QSL is clear 
and if there is something, like an extra USD or IRC I feel
less bad taking the heat of going to the post office.

Directs just eat up my time.
I am not at all motivated to do directs.

Buro cards are OK.

73,
Jukka OH6LI

PS. there has been times when one USD does not buy a stamp
to DX in Finland.. 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ext kr7x at comcast.net [mailto:kr7x at comcast.net]
> Sent: 06 August, 2003 03:59
> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] If You Don't QSL, LISTEN UP!
> 
> 
> Jim and list:
...
> 
> I qsl direct SASE's within 2 weeks of receipt. Directs 
> without SASE are Q'd via 
> the bureau along with the bureau cards, usually every 3 
> months. US cards direct 
> with SASE see above; all other US cards (direct no SASE and 
> via the bureau, yes 
> I get many every month) are dead filed. If you are in the US 
> and need a IH9P 
> card (SSB operations only) send direct with a SASE and you 
> will get a card.
> 

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 10:26:54 +0200
From: "Ragnar Otterstad" <otterstad at enter.vg>
To: "Al Crespo" <f5vhj at wanadoo.fr>, <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] QSLing
Message-ID: <MBBBJCHIMOLLDEAHAJGKMEAJFEAA.otterstad at enter.vg>
In-Reply-To:
<!~!UENERkVCMDkAAQACAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgAAAAAAAAAjGzMdyWit0WPj1pnSqWzz8KA
AAAQAAAAn/dfwyEnxU2FfFRdsGJd3QEAAAAA at wanadoo.fr>
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Message: 11

> I have averaged over 15,000 QSO's a year for the last 20 years. I put
up
> with QSL requests as part of contesting.
> 73, Al, also NH7A, TO5A, TM5A, ex.WR6R ,  etc.

you have the right attitude, IMHO.'

73

Rag Otterstad    LA5HE also JW5HE OZ8RO
located in Telemark - home of skiing.

My antenna "farm" can be found on HTTP://no.photos.yahoo.com/la5he when
you
click on  Radio.

Take a look at: http://WWW.visitTelemark.com

or  http://www.visitnorway.com

------------------------------

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