[CQ-Contest] Re: LotW - Needs More Participation

[Joe Subich, K4IK]

> Perhaps I'm a bit paranoid about QSLing, but as I always send 
> a couple of  green stamps along with direct QSLs and those go 
> away with LoTW, maybe a bit of dis-incentive to go digital???? 

It may be a disincentive if one is "making a profit" on the cards. 
However, I did an analysis of the "cost of confirmation" a few 
weeks ago and it looks like this: 

Including the cost of printing a card, envelopes, postage, labels, 
etc. for a US station to a US manager I figure the cost: 

                                Low          High 
       QSL Card                $0.04        $0.25
       Labels (QSO/address)      .00          .10
       Envelopes (2)             .15          .15
       Printer consumables (?)   .00          .05         
       Postage (SASE)            .74          .74       
                                ------       -----  
                  Total:       $0.83        $1.29  
 

>From a US station to DX station/Manager: 
                                Low          High 
       QSL Card                $0.04        $0.25
       Labels (QSO/address)      .00          .10
       Envelopes (2)             .15          .15
       Printer consumables (?)   .00          .05         
       Postage (air)             .80          .80   
       IRC/G$                   1.00         2.00
                                ------       -----  
                  Total:       $1.99        $3.35  

Even if the DX station were simply replying to a card using 
the postage/SAE provided, there is still the cost of card, 
labels, etc.  I suspect most DX stations are lucky to "break 
even"  on card requests at $2 per.  

For US stations, the "round trip" cost of a bureau card is 
probably around $0.50 (based on the cost to cards, postage 
to ARRL outgoing bureau and the "per pound" charge) and I 
doubt that DX station costs are much cheaper.  

Thus, unless one is VERY rare and can command $5 per card, 
I suspect there is an incentive to "go digital" for most 
"common" DX stations. 

73, 

   ... Joe, K4IK