[UK-CONTEST] QSL policy

[Don Field]

There's a real dichotomy here. This is a contest reflector, and many of you
will be making 10k, 20k or more QSOs a year. So paper QSLs become a real
problem.

But for the majority of folk we work, the "little pistols", it's a different
world altogether. I recall, as just one example, giving a DXpedition talk at
a certain radio club back in 1998, and then going on to use that club's
station for CQWW CW. I made just over 4,000 QSOs in the weekend. One of the
club members dropped in late in the contest and was gob-smacked. He
considered himself an active DXer and occasional contester, but I had made
more QSOs in a weekend than he had in his whole amateur radio career. As it
happens, he has moved on since then - his call is GU4YOX :-)

But the fact is that for the great majority of amateurs, they are not
looking for "proof of QSO" for awards. I collected cards for years before I
had even heard of DXCC. I suspect many of us were the same, if we could
remember that far back. They were, and are, tangible (as against virtual)
mementos of the QSO. When you are only making a few hundred QSOs a year,
QSLs still feel like "quality" rather than "quantity". LoTW and eQSL just
aren't the same.

I freely admit I get a lot less excited nowadays and I do get cross when DLs
keep sending cards for the same band/mode. My solution is only to answer
cards for a new band/mode slot.

But, as I say, let's not forget that the majority aren't like us :-)

Don G3XTT

On 1 February 2010 17:05, Chris Tran GM3WOJ <zl1ct1 at gm7v.com> wrote:

> Hello all
>
> I've been unable to resist the urge to join this thread (which seems to
> re-appear on this reflector from time to time)
>
> Many years ago I realised that I would not be able to operate at all if I
> had to do my own QSLing. As a contester I make thousands of QSOs every year
> using different callsigns - the subsequent QSLing task would take up way
> too
> much time in my life. I have no interest in awards (if I work a station I
> know I've worked them and don't need a piece of paper to prove it) and I do
> not subscribe to the ludicrous idea that a QSL card is 'the final courtesy
> of a QSO' - our hobby is an RF communications hobby - in reality there is
> no
> obligation on anyone to QSL any QSO at all, is there ?
>
> Hence I use LoTW and two QSL Managers - the LoTW sign-up procedures are not
> difficult (I have 16 different callsigns/certificates) - uploads are easy
> and I have 70000 QSL matches so far - hopefully 70000 less paper cards
> printed. There are many people currently offering their services as QSL
> managers and eventually LoTW will cater for a wider range of awards.
>
> I respect anyone's wish to be a QSL collector, but please don't tell those
> who are not interested in QSLs that we are in the wrong.
>
> 73
> Chris
> GM3WOJ / ZL1CT
>
>
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