[CQ-Contest] Is QSL Bureau pertinent in today HAM Radio

[Timothy Coker]

I had a similar curve with my QSLing as Pete.

Due to economics I now use DX Labs Suite to filter new band / mode QSLs to
stations who I have not sent one to just as Pete does. This, I believe,
does not over burden the QSL Buro's any more than needed to clear my
conscience of QSLing.

I do enjoy logging my incoming QSLs (I am a numbers geek) and so I added
another filter to decide on if I would send a QSL. I added a filter in the
logging program that does not QSL anyone who actively uses LOTW. The line
of thinking is along the "clear conscience" sense and minimizing cost. If
they use LOTW then we will both confirm one another that way. If they do
send me a card then I will use GlobalQSL to confirm it with an ADIF upload
in response to the receipt of their QSL.

73,

Tim / N6WIN.

On Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 7:01 AM, Pete Smith N4ZR <n4zr at contesting.com>wrote:

> For what it's worth, a few words on the evolution in my thinking on
> QSLing over the years.
>
> I've been into computerized logging since the late 1980s - anyone
> remember EasyDX?  I was the first paying customer for DX4WIN, and
> shortly after that concluded that going through boxes of QSLs from the
> bureau was just too time-consuming, particularly since I had (and have)
> no interest in more awards.
>
> In an effort to solve this problem I badgered DX4WIN's Paul, KK4HD, into
> adding the ability to preemptively QSL the first contact with each
> station on each band/mode combination.  That way, I figured, I could
> just print batches of QSLs and dispatch them via the outgoing bureau.
>
> Here, economics raised their ugly head.  I reduced printing costs by
> locally producing 4-up sheets and then using DX4WIN to print directly on
> them (those stick-on labels are expensive).  That left postage costs.
> Working through the USPS online price charts, I was able to work out the
> cross-over point at which the number of my outgoing QSLs to a given
> country made it more economical to mail directly to the foreign QSL
> bureau, rather than through the ARRL's outgoing bureau.  More work for
> me, but less cost per QSL.
>
> The next step, and the last to date, came in 2009 when I discovered
> GlobalQSL.  It is somewhat more expensive than what I had been doing,
> but the saving in effort is immense, the cards are nice looking, and the
> service3 seems to be adequately fast.  I can keep my conscience clear,
> answer the few cards I get directly, and get on with the other aspects
> of this hobby I enjoy.
>
> All 124,000 of my computerized QSOs are now on LOTW, too.  I look
> forward to the day when it's all we will need.
>
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at
> www.conteststations.com
> The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at
> reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
> spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000 and
> arcluster.reversebeacon.net, port 7000
>
>
> On 3/28/2012 3:14 AM, Yannick DEVOS (XV4Y) wrote:
> > Paul N6PSE questioning was interesting.
> > The last big expeditions (ST0R, T32C) costed around 300 000 USD each...
> > For rare entities, people (perhaps not everyone) are ready to pay for
> Direct QSL.
> >
> > However many reacted the same way than you and dropping QSL Bureau could
> be seen as not respecting the deal.
> >
> > 73,
> > Yan.
> > ---
> > Yannick DEVOS - XV4Y
> > http://xv4y.radioclub.asia/
> > http://varc.radioclub.asia/
> >
> > Le 28 mars 2012 à 10:41, Bill Parry a écrit :
> >
> >> The results sure seem to be one sided...QSL bureaus are still very
> valuable.
> >> QSLing direct has gotten ridiculously expensive! I use the bureau almost
> >> every month.
> >>
> >> Bill W5VX
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
> >> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Yannick (XV4Y)
> >> Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 9:39 PM
> >> To: CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> >> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Is QSL Bureau pertinent in today HAM Radio
> >>
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> This is bit out of topic but contesters opinion is highly valuable.
> >> Following a discussion on DX-World.net about the next Intrepid-DX group
> QSL
> >> policy I started a small poll about QSL in the 21th century in general.
> >> Please share your opinion.
> >> http://www.qslwatch.com/poll-about-qsl-bureau/
> >>
> >> Thanks.
> >> 73,
> >> Yan.
> >> ---
> >> Yannick DEVOS - XV4Y
> >> http://xv4y.radioclub.asia/
> >> http://varc.radioclub.asia/
> >> http://www.qslwatch.com/
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> CQ-Contest mailing list
> >> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
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-- 
73,

Tim / N6WIN.