QSLing with more Success
Submitted by Administrator on Wed, 12/02/2009 - 16:33
QSLing with more Success
As you chase DX and other stations, you may not get all the QSL cards
you want for collecting and for awards. This article will help make suggestions
and hopefully you will learn some new ways or information. QSL cards are great
for learning and collecting and putting them up on your wall or in a picture
type notebook.
I have written a couple different QSL articles and learned over the years
different ways of QSLing and getting cards from DX stations you worked. I have
taken KØGEP, Greg’s April 2001 article and edited, deleted, and
added updated info so may use it as a reference.
I liked his format best for this subject. The following from help from over
the years W0AW, K0GEP, TCDXA members, radio magazines, DX publications, and
myself from learning as I go.
Your QSL Card
To start off you must send the correct information so that the other station
can find you in his/her log and also needed for verifying awards. If you
need a QSL printer, I recommend you do some research on the eHam.net/reviews
website for reviews of all the printers at www.eham.net/reviews/products/23
.
I personally is UX5UO Printer last couple times. Many on list to choose from.
QSL card must have the following items to show contact for valid confirmation:
(Print or computer labels clear and neat!)
- QSO with Station: 3YØC (Callsign of the station worked)
- Date : 10/02/01 (Day/Month/Year) Standard format used
- Time : 23:24 (Time in UTC only)
- MHz : 14.260 (Freq in MHz) 20 Meters
- RST : 599 (CW/Digital uses three digits in report) Or 59 (SSB uses two
digits) - Mode 2-Way : SSB (Mode you used for 2-way contact)
Additional information you can show on your card that helps the station
you worked:
- Your mailing address (Name, Street, PO Box if used, City, State,
and Zip code) - County (Lot of DX and other hams collect Counties, States, and Zones)
- Grid Square
- ITU Zone and CQ Zone
- Your station info: Rig, antenna, power, etc.
Your QSL Card Format
- Most QSL cards these days use a picture on one side with callsign, location,
and IOTA number (if used). The other side is all the QSO data which makes
the job easier for the QSL Manager or BURO volunteer. It is also easier for
Award Personal to check cards. Cards not read easily will be set aside to
sort later. - Standard size QSL cards are 3.5 by 5.5 inches.
- Callsign should be large plain letters that are easy to read.
- QSO DATA neat and clear in Black ink. NO PENCIL !!!
- Double and triple check your UTC time and your date (Day/Month/Year).
- No Errors allowed! If you make a mistake on your QSL card, best to throw
it away and start over. - Simple neat easy to read card and format is the best way to go.
- Mail QSL cards in envelope unless using a QSL Bureau.
- If you live on an Island with IOTA number, it MUST be on QSL card, per
RSGB rules. Many hams chase IOTAs and need the correct number for credit.
(Islands On The Air).
Outer (Larger) QSL Envelope
- Print clearly in block letters in ink when addressing outer envelope.
The Country name is on the bottom line of the address. Do not use Callsign
in mailing address! - Put your name and address in the upper left of envelope. Do not use your
callsign. DO NOT use callsigns to avoid attention of a currency/IRC exchange. - Include U.S.A. in your return address.
- Consider having a rubber stamp made with your name and address in clear
block letters. Use this for your return address on the outer envelope. - Do not use this stamp on return envelope for it could indicate the DXer
is sending money to the USA. - Apply the necessary postage. See postal rates further down. Having postal
employee use a metered print out label stamp. This keeps stamp collectors
from ripping your stamp off and throwing the rest away in trash.
Return Envelopes
- Use “nesting” airmail envelopes for DX QSLing. This avoids
folding inner envelope. Foreign postal workers look for “fat” envelopes
they know contain currency - Use regular airmail striped envelopes to ensure airmail service in foreign
countries. - Do NOT use callsigns on envelope that could attract attention to mail
theft. - Make sure you put U.S.A. on the last line of your address.
- Put your name and callsign on INSIDE of flap in case your card gets separated
from envelope. Use pencil and your QSO may still get confirmed and correctly
returned to you. - Insert QSL card and return postage into return envelope. Insert the return
envelope, flap first in, into the outer envelope. This prevents slicing off
the flap when the outer envelope is opened.
QSL Routes
While listening to the station your working, listen for awhile on what he
prefers for a QSL route. When you work the station and he has not said his
route for some time, you can ask him “what is your QSL info.“The
best source for QSL information is the DX station you worked. They will periodically
give out QSL information while working the pile ups. LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN is
a big tool for DXing.
Locate the correct address to send the QSL card. There are several QSL methods.
- Direct
Currently the more common method is QRZ.com (www.QRZ.com). Many Hams are
updating their QRZ.com info with BIOs about themselves and also state they
wishes for accepting QSLs. Another way of looking up their address is a
HamCall (CD ROM) or going to www.hamcall.net. - QSL Manager
Also known as MGR. If the station you worked uses a manager, then you would
send it to the managers address and on the QSL card you would write the stations
call the “via” then the managers callsign. An example would be
you worked 3W6DX and his manager is NØODK, then on the card you would
write “3W6DK via NØODK”. - Bureau
Also known as BUR or BURO. With this service you must be a member of the ARRL
(for USA ops).
Some other sources for QSL address and routes are
the following:
- QRZ.com - Currently the more common method of looking up info. The website
is www.qrz.com and it has look up, forums, news, and other features. You
can also buy the CD ROM which is also downloadable. - NG3K.com - One of my more favorite websites lately for it has announced
future and current DX operations, contests operations, contest calendars
and info, various callbooks for other countries, and a lot of other QSL and
DX information. - WF5E QSL Service - I have been using this service on and off for many years
now. His website and information is on www.qsl.net/wf5e With this service
you send him your QSL cards and he collects them from many ops and sends
them out in one package. His fee is now 2 QSL cards for one US dollar or
one IRC. He worries about the correct route and information and your DX card
is returned via the ARRL BURO. His website also lists some of the DX stations
that do not QSL to him, or has managers that direct QSL only. Read his website
for more information.
Eliminates the need to stock envelopes, stamps, IRCs, tracking routes and
managers. Good QSL rates return as high as 80%. Turn around time 3 to 18
months. - ARRL QSL Bureau - Listed later in this packet. Must be an ARRL member and
well worth it. - ARRL Logbook of the World - Listed later in this packet.
- GoList - www.golist.net This website is a service for looking up QSL routes,
QSL managers, and other info. - Buckmasters Ham Call - www.hamcall.net This website like QRZ.com has a
callsign look up and also sells a CD ROM. - QRZ.DX - This is a weekly newsletter buy Carl Smith, N4AA that I have been
buying for years! It is available in printed (snail mail) or preferred email.
Carl lists DX operations, present and future, and QSL routes along with DX
news. He has been doing this since 1979 and does an excellent job.
His mail subscription rates are 50 issues for $45 or $25 for 25 (weeks).
Available in Email as a PDF file to you 50 issues are $25. (I get this one)
He also publishes an excellent quarterly DX Magazine.
His E-mail is n4aa@dxpub.com
Website is www.dxpub.com - The Weekly DX and The Daily DX - I have been new to trying this out for
a year or so now. Published by Bernie McClenny, W3UR. They are two separate
items. One comes out as a weekly email and the other is a daily email. They
are publications that have DX news, DX operations, QSL routes, etc. I think
they are both excellent but if you want your news daily or weekly. Hardcore
DXers get the daily issues.
His E-mail is bernie@dailydx.com
Website is www.dailydx.com - DXNL - This is a free weekly DX Newsletter via E-Mail the lists DX operations
and QSL routes.
To subscribe or unsubscribe to the DXNL mailing list yourself at: www.darc.de/referate/dx/fedxms.htm - 425 DX News - This is a free weekly DX Newsletter via E-Mail the lists
DX operations and QSL routes. To subscribe or unsubscribe go to website www.425dxn.org
and subscribe under the “Mailing List.” They also have a similar
calendar list that is sent out for DX operations via email. - 425 DXN Magazine - This is a free monthly magazine on DX news, pictures,
QSL route, and other info.
This is also listed on the www.425dxn.org website. The website also has QSL
look up. - DX Summit - www.dxsummit.fi - This website is a DX Spot website which I
sometimes use the “search” page to look up past postings on the cluster (telnet)
for any callsign. If you go to the above website, then go the “Search” then
enter the callsign, check either DX or any for all callsign area, pull down
tab for 1000 spots and hit “Search” It will list any cluster
spots of that callsign if ever listed and any info after. It may or may not
be accurate but it is another tool for looking up DX information.
Magazines
Some of the magazines that have DX and QSL information PLUS more.
- ARRL - WWW.ARRL.ORG
- CQ Magazine - www.cq-amateur-radio.com
- The DX Magazine - www.dxpub.com
- RSGB - www.rsgb.org
U.S. Postal Rates - WWW.USPS.GOV
You can go to www.usps.com/prices/first-class-mail-international-prices.htm
for the latest prices for mailing. Generally the 2009 rate for sending a QSL
card envelope is first class USA will be $0.44, Canada is $0.75, Mexico is
$0.79, and all other countries will be $0.98.
Do not use USA postal stamps on return envelope. Do not use fancy commemorative
stamps. Use most common stamps or metered print out stamp from post office
to avert possible postal theft by stamp collectors.
Return Postage
There are three methods to provide the DX station with airmail return funds
for your card.
- IRC
- Green Stamps
- Foreign Stamps
- International Reply Coupons - IRC
IRC
IRC coupons are sent in your envelope for the DX station to use at their
post office to pay for the postage of the return envelope and card back to
you. IRCs can be purchased at most U.S. Post Offices for $2.10 currently. One
IRC is a minimum postage for an unregistered AIRMAIL letter to a foreign country
in the UPU (Universal Postage Union) 189 members. Make sure the postal clerk
stamps the LEFT side of the IRC Coupon with the postmark. IRCs stamped on the
right or not at all are valueless and cannot be used. IRCs expire after some
time and you need to use them or update them at the Post Office before the
expire. Some countries do not accept IRCs. Most U.S. Postal workers are not
well informed about IRCs. Some countries may require more then one IRC. When
purchasing IRC’s, make sure you are getting the 2009 IRC and not
the 2006 IRC. The 2006 IRC expires 12/31/2009. The 2009 IRC will be good until
12/31/2013.
Green Stamps
Green Stamps (One Green stamp = one U.S. Dollar) For many years, using Green
Stamps have been used for paying return postage, even in Canada and Mexico.
It is getting more expensive to do this direct for sometimes it takes two or
three to fully pay the postage back. If you do not send enough, the DX station
operator or manager may not return a card to you or return it via the QSL Bureau.
Green Stamps are recognized in most countries and are easier then IRCs and
in more demand. Use CRISP newer bills with no marks for some foreign banks
do not accept “worn” U.S. currency.
You can go to www.n6dhz.com/irc-chart.html website for comparing IIRC to Green
Stamp to use. I will tell you now I do not know how up to date the information
on that chart is. I have very good QSL return rate using Green Stamps. With
large expensive DX operations, consider donating more Green Stamps for helping
them go to rare countries and helping you get “a new one.”
Foreign Stamps
Foreign Postage Stamps and DX Supplies. Foreign stamps of DX country that
you send to the DXer or manager for return postage to you are harder to spot
the “Green Stamps” in postage
envelopes.
You can buy stamps, mailing envelopes, rubber stamps, and other supplies from
the two below. I have used William Plum several times and have no problems.
I buy pack of 50 each of Euro Airmail Return (4.5 x 6.25) envelopes and Euro
Airmail Mailer (4.75 x 6.5) envelopes from him. He has different rates and
quantities.
William J. Plum, 12 Glenn Road, Flemington, NJ 08822-3322
Phone : 908-788-1020 - E-mail : plumdx@msn.com FAX : 908-782-2612
Foreign postage stamps, mailing envelopes, QSLs, and other related items.
James E. Mackey, P.O. Box 270569, West Hartford, CT. 06127-0569
Foreign postage stamps, mailing envelopes, rubber stamps, and other related
items.
Some additional notes…..
When sending to a DX station for a QSL card direct. Please remember that
it costs money for the DX to print the QSL cards and they may not make a lot
of money in a year. Consider they may need extra funds for QSL card, postage,
and envelopes. So when sending Green Stamps, in some countries it may require
two or three green stamps just to cover postage now a days for postal rates
are going up.
One Dollar (Green Stamp) is equal to about $0.6756 in Euro (November rate).
It takes 1.70 Euros for an oversea letter. So if you put $3 to a QSL card,
the 30 cents will be left to cover the cost of envelope and QSL card. DX Hams
do not want to make a living on collect Green Stamps but they don’t want
to lose money in their hobby. Plus the dollar is losing value to the EURO in
this economy.
For non-vacation DX operations and large DX operations, consider donating more
with your QSL card. They take time to ship, airplane, hotels, use helicopters
and other equipment to go to rare Islands or countries. Sometimes the foreign
ham license alone to operate there is expensive.
More DXers like to work DX with USA managers for cheaper and safer mail. For
the DXer, they like to collect at least one card from every country and state
for an album. After that, they may use the BURO or other means.
Below is information on sending cards “via the Buro.” It may
take long time to get card back but it cost very little. Return rates vary
from 40% to 60% and my take months or years before a QSL card is sent back
to you. Consider being an ARRL member for this service, monthly magazine and
other services. 225 Countries are served by the Outgoing QSL Service. 73 are
not served, and 14 restrict service to members of their country’s national
radio society. If you’re not in a rush to get QSL cards, the Outgoing
Bureau is a good way to go. The below is from the ARRL.ORG website under “Services” under
the “QSL
Service.” I will copy and paste here for some of the info. Go to the
website for further info and updates.
ARRL QSL Bureau also known as “the Buro”
Incoming QSL (QSL cards returning to you from DX)
Within the US, the ARRL DX QSL Bureau System is made up of numerous call-area
bureaus that act as central clearing houses for QSL cards arriving from foreign
countries. Volunteers staff these "incoming" bureaus. The service
is free. Most countries have "outgoing" QSL bureaus that operate
in much the same manner as the ARRL Outgoing QSL Service. The members sends
his cards to his outgoing bureau where they are packaged and shipped to the
appropriate countries. A majority of the DX QSLs are shipped directly to the
individual incoming bureaus where volunteers sort the incoming QSLs by the
first letter of the call sign-suffix. One individual may be assigned the responsibility
of handling from one or more letters of the alphabet. All incoming QSL Bureaus
have email addresses. Some Bureaus have active web pages.
Send a 5 x 7-1/2 or 6 x 9 inch self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) or money
credit where applicable to the bureau serving your call-sign district. Neatly
print your call-sign in the upper left corner of the envelope. Place your mailing
address on the front of the envelope. A suggested way to send envelopes is
to affix a first class stamp and clip extra postage to the envelope. Then,
if you receive more than 1 ounce of cards, they can be sent in a single package.
*** Some incoming bureaus sell envelopes or postage credits in addition to
the normal SASE handling. They provide the proper envelope and postage upon
the prepayment of a certain fee. The exact arrangements can be obtained by
sending your inquiry with a SASE to your area bureau. (The Zero Bureau uses
this method.)
Minnesota uses the WØ QSL Bureau.
WØ QSL Bureau
PO Box 907
Florissant, MO 63032
Comments or questions on this Bureau's operation may be directed to ac0n@arrl.net.
See the WØ home page. (www.zeroburo.org)
OUTGOING QSL (QSL Cards sending out by you to DX Stations.)
Note: The ARRL QSL Service cannot be used to exchange QSL cards within the
48 contiguous states.
One of the greatest bargains of League membership is being able to use the
ARRL Outgoing QSL Service to conveniently send your DX QSL cards overseas to
foreign QSL Bureaus. Your ticket for using this service is proof of ARRL Membership
and following the fee schedule below. For those of you who are not quite so
DX active you can send 10 cards or less for just $1.50. You can't even get
a deal like that at your local warehouse supermarket! And the potential savings
over the substantial cost of individual QSLing is equal to many times the price
of your annual dues. Your cards are sorted by the Outgoing QSL Service staff,
and are usually shipped within one month of receipt. The Service handles approximately
one million cards each year!
QSL cards are shipped to QSL Bureaus throughout the world, which are typically
maintained by the national Amateur Radio Society of each country. While no
cards are sent to individuals or individual QSL managers, keep in mind that
what you might lose in speed is more than made up in the convenience and savings
of not having to address and mail each QSL card separately. (In the case of
DXpeditions and/or active DX stations that use US QSL managers, a better approach
is to QSL directly to the QSL manager. The various DX newsletters, the GOLIST
QSL manager directory, and other publications, are good sources of up
to date QSL manager information.)
As postage costs become increasingly prohibitive, don't go broke before you're
even halfway towards making DXCC. There's a better and cheaper way "QSL
VIA BURO" through the ARRL Outgoing QSL Service!
How To Use The ARRL Outgoing QSL Service
Presort your DX QSL’s alphabetically by parent call-sign prefix (AP,
CE, DL, ES, EZ, F, G, JA, LY, PY, UN, YL, 5N, 9Y and so on). Canadian and Australian
cards should be sorted by numerical callsign (VE1, VE2, VE3 & VK1, VK2,
VK3 etc). NOTE: Some countries have a parent prefix and use additional prefixes,
i.e. G (parent prefix) = M, 2E, 2I, 2M, 2W,.... When sorting countries that
have multiple prefixes, keep that country's prefixes grouped with the parent
prefix in your alphabetical stack. Addresses are not required. DO NOT separate
the country prefixes by use of paper clips, rubber bands, slips of paper or
envelopes. Enclose proof of current ARRL Membership. This can be in the form
of a photocopy of the white address label from your current copy of QST. You
can also write on a slip of paper the information from the label, and use that
as proof of Membership. A copy of your current Membership card is also acceptable.
Members (including foreign, QSL Managers, or managers for DXpeditions) should
enclose payment of $5.00 for the first half-pound of cards or portion thereof
approximately 75 cards weigh half-pound. $10.00 for one pound, the fee rate
then increases at the rate of $5.00 for each additional half-pound (i.e. a
package containing one and one-half pounds of cards should include the fee
of $15.00 and so on). A package of only Ten (10) cards or fewer costs only
$1.50. Eleven (11) to Twenty (20) cards are $2.50. Twenty-One (21) to Thirty
(30) cards are $3.75. Please pay by check (or money order) and write your callsign
on the check. Send "green stamps" (cash) at your own risk. DO NOT
send postage stamps or IRCs. Please make checks payable to: “The ARRL
Outgoing QSL Service”.
DXCC credit CANNOT be used towards the QSL Service fee.
Include only the cards, proof of Membership, and fee in the package. Wrap the
package securely and address it to the ARRL Outgoing QSL Service, 225 Main
Street, Newington CT 06111-1494.
Family members may also use the service by enclosing their QSLs with those
of the primary member. Include the appropriate fee with each individual's cards
and indicate "family membership" on the primary member's proof of
membership.
Blind members who do not receive QST need only include the appropriate fee
along with a note indicating the cards are from a blind member.
ARRL affiliated club stations may use the service when submitting club QSLs
by indicating the club name. Club secretaries should check affiliation papers
to ensure that affiliation is current. In addition to sending club station
QSLs through this service, affiliated clubs may also "pool" their
members' individual QSL cards to effect an even greater savings. Each club
member using this service must also be a League member. Cards should be sorted "en
masse" by prefix, and proof of Membership enclosed for each ARRL member.
Recommended QSL Card Dimensions
The efficient operation of the worldwide system of QSL Bureau requires that
cards be easy to handle and sort. Cards of unusual dimensions, either much
larger or much smaller than normal, slow the work of the Bureaus, most of which
is done by unpaid volunteers. A review of the cards received by the ARRL Outgoing
QSL Service indicates that most fall in the following range: Height = 2x3/4
to 4x1/4 in. (70 to 110 mm), Width = 4x3/4 to 6x1/4 in. (120 to 160 mm). Cards
in this range can be easily sorted, stacked and packaged. Cards outside this
range create problems; in particular, the larger cards often cannot be handled
without folding or otherwise damaging them. In the interest of efficient operation
of the worldwide QSL Bureau system, it is recommended that cards entering the
system be limited to the range of dimensions given. [Note: IARU Region 2 has
suggested the following dimensions as optimum: Height 3 1/2 in. (90 mm), Width
5 1/2 in. (140 mm).]
Countries Not Served By The Outgoing QSL Service
Approximately 225 DXCC countries are served by the ARRL Outgoing QSL Service,
as detailed in the ARRL DXCC List. This includes nearly every active country.
As noted previously, cards are forwarded from the ARRL Outgoing Service to
a counterpart Bureau in each of these countries. In some cases, there is
no Incoming Bureau in a particular country and cards therefore cannot be
forwarded. However, QSL cards can be forwarded to a QSL manager, e.g., ZB2FX
via (G3RFX). The ARRL Outgoing Service cannot forward cards to the following
countries:
A3 Tonga
A5 Bhutan
A6 United Arab Emirates
C2 Nauru
C5 Gambia
C6 Bahamas
CN Morocco
D2 Angola
D4 Cape Verde
E3 Eritrea
E5 North & South Cook Is.
HH Haiti
HV Vatican
J5 Guinea-Bissau
J8 St. Vincent
KG4 Guantanamo Bay
KH0 Mariana Is.
KH1 Baker & Howland Is.
KH4 Midway Island
KH5 Palmyra & Jarvis Is.
KH7K Kure Island
KH9 Wake island
KP1 Navassa Island
KP5 Desecheo Island
P2 Papua New Guinea
P5 North Korea
PZ Suriname
S0 Western Sahara
S7 Seychelles
S9 Sao Tome & Principe
ST Sudan
SU Egypt
T2 Tuvalu
T3 Kiribati
T5 Somalia
T8 Palau
TJ Cameroon
TL Central African Rep
TN Congo
TT Chad
TY Benin
V3 Belize
V4 St. Kitts & Nevis
V6 Micronesia
VP2E Anguilla
VP2M Montserrat
XU Cambodia
XW Laos
XZ Myanmar
YA Afghanistan
Z2 Zimbabwe
ZD9 Tristan da Cunha
3B Agalega, Mauritius, Rodrigues
3C0 Pagalu Island
3C Equatorial Guinea
3DA Swaziland
3W Vietnam
3X Guinea
4J Azerbaijan
4W Timor- Leste
5A Libya
5R Madagascar
5T Mauritania
5U Niger
5V Togo
7O Yemen
7P Lesotho
7Q Malawi
8Q Maldives
9L Sierra Leone
9N Nepal
9U Burundi
9X Rwanda
Countries that currently restrict the forwarding of QSL cards to anyone other
than members of that country’s national radio society include the following:
Denmark France Germany Hungary Italy Japan Monaco Norway Poland Portugal Russia
South Africa Sweden Zambia
Additional Information:
We no longer hold cards for countries with no Incoming Bureau. Only cards indicating
a QSL Manager for a station in these particular countries will be forwarded.
When sending cards to Foreign QSL Managers, make sure to sort these cards using
the Manager's callsign, rather than the station's callsign.
SWL cards can be forwarded through the QSL Service.
The Outgoing QSL Service CANNOT forward stamps, IRCs or "green stamps" (cash)
to the foreign QSL bureaus.
Please direct any questions or comments to the ARRL Outgoing QSL Service, 225
Main Street, Newington CT, 06111-1494. Inquires via email may be sent to buro@arrl.org
June 2009
LoTW - The ARRL Logbook of the World
With rising costs and the possible problems with mail theft, the ARRL in
2003 introduced the LoTW to make it easier to credit your QSO to QSL credits
for awards. You use computer logbook like, LOGGER32 and others, to upload your
logs into the website and the other stations do the same. If the QSO information
matches, you can use that credit towards awards and pay less for awards. Problem
with LoTW is no QSL card to collect if you want the cards. Contesters use this
system a lot and after the contest, you can rack up a lot of credits (countries
and states). As more people join LoTW, the QSL rates will get better. For full
details are available at WWW.ARRL.ORG/lotw/
ARRL AWARD Information can be found at: http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/
Simplified Logbook of The World (LOTW) instructions.
Total working time under an hour.
By Rick Karlquist N6RK
First 12 steps you only do once.
Steps 1-6, <15 minutes
1. Create directory My Documents/lotw.
2. Go to
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/trustedqsl/tqsl-111.exe?download
and download Trusted QSL program to My Documents/lotw directory.
3. Start/Run/My Documents/lotw/tqsl-111.exe to install program. Delete
tqsl-111.exe.
4. Start/Programs/TQSLcert. Menu: File/New Certificate Request. Wizard
starts
5. Fill in your call, DXCC entity, QSO begin date, leave end date blank,
name and
address as shown on FCC license and email address. Leave password blank.
QSO
begin date is when you got on the air from your current QTH. (You can do
other QTH's later).
6. Save .tq5 file to lotw directory and email as an attachment to
lotw-logs@arrl.org.
7. Wait a few days for postcard from ARRL (USA stations only).
Step 8, < 5 minutes
8. Go to https://pk1.arrl.org/lotw/password and enter your call and number
on postcard.
Note "https" not "http" (USA stations only)
9. Wait for email from ARRL.
Steps 10-12, < 15 minutes
10. Open email from ARRL and save attached .tq6 file in lotw directory.
Go to https://pk1.arrl.org/lotwuser/default and type in the password
included in
the text of the email. Click on "Your Account" then "Change
Password"
and change the password to something you can remember. Delete the ARRL
email,
delete <your call>.tq5, and throw away the postcard.
11. Start/Programs/TQSLcert. Menu: File/Load Certificate File. Check
TQSL. Open
My Documents/lotw/<your call>.tq6. Exit program.
12. Start/Programs/TQSL. Menu: Station/Add Location. Wizard starts. Fill
in info
on your current QTH. (You can do other QTH's later).
----------------------------------------------
Each time you want to submit logs to LOTW (< 10 minutes, mostly waiting
time):
A. Export ADIF or Cabrillo file from logging program to My
Documents/lotw/<filename>.adi
B. Start/Programs/TQSL/File/SignExistingADIFOrCabrilloFile.
Open My Documents/lotw/<filename>.adi. Save to My
Documents/lotw/<filename>.tq8
C. Email <filename>.tq8 to lotw-logs@arrl.org.
Wait about 4 hours for email from ARRL saying your log was received.
Then go to https://pk1.arrl.org/lotwuser/default and click on
"Your QSO's" to see how many QSLs you got.
Additional notes…..
- When sending your QSL card out, hand write a little note on your card
that says something like… “Nice to work you”, “Thanks
for the new one”, or “Thanks for the QSO” will put a person
feeling on your card. - Problems getting a QSL card back from a country you need? For a long time
I needed a couple easy countries like Portugal CT and Chile CE. I was not
sure if mail theft or why my cards were not getting through. So I had QSOs
with every CT and CE station I heard, even in contests. I sent cards out
via Buro and WF5E until now they are starting to come in the incoming Buro. - Work DX with USA Managers.
I hope all this information I provided will help as a tool in ham radio QSLing.
Mike Paskeuric
(Hightower Mike)
NØODK (3W6DK)
73
