COLLECTING QSL CARDS
What is a QSL card?
A QSL card is a written confirmation of either a two-way radio communication between two amateur radio stations, a one way reception report of a signal from a n AM radio station, FM readio station, a shortwave broadcasting station, or a television station by a third party listener.
Amateur radio operators exchange QSL cards to confirm two-way radio contact between stations.
Amateur radio operators exchange QSL cards to confirm two-way radio contact between stations.
History of QSL cards.
During the early days of radio broadcasting, the ability for a radio set to receive distant signals was a source of pride for many consumers and hobbyists. Listeners would mail "reception reports" to radio broadcasting stations in hopes of getting a written letter to officially verify they had heard a distant station. As the volume of reception reports increased, stations took to sending post cards containing a brief form that acknowledged reception. Collecting these cards became popular with radio listeners in the 1920s and 1930s, and reception reports were often used by early broadcasters to gauge the effectiveness of their transmissions.
|
|
QSL Bureaus.
Many of the National bodies representing amateur radio operators, e.g. WIA, ARRL, RSGB, offer a QSL Bureau system for their members.
In Australia, incoming QSL cards for VK amateurs are received at the National Incoming QSL Bureau. They are then distributed to the relevant Australian State and Territory Bureau, where they are then sorted and distributed to the recipient of the QSL card.
Incoming QSL cards are distributed to the State and Territory Bureaus at least every 3 months.
Incoming QSL cards are distributed to the State and Territory Bureaus at least every 3 months.
Preferred Prefix.
When sending QSL cards to the QSL Bureau, cards must be sorted and grouped together.
QSL cards need to be addressed correctly by designating the preferred prefix of the destination Bureau. Only the preferred prefix of the destination Bureau must be printed in the top right hand corner on the front or back of the card.
Below you can view a copy of the Preferred Prefix listing.....
QSL cards need to be addressed correctly by designating the preferred prefix of the destination Bureau. Only the preferred prefix of the destination Bureau must be printed in the top right hand corner on the front or back of the card.
Below you can view a copy of the Preferred Prefix listing.....
| wia_qsl_card_buro_preferred_prefix.pdf |
If you say you QSL, then please QSL.
I have sent NUMEROUS QSL card requests to VK amateurs over the years, who say they QSL Direct on their QRZ.com page, and I have never received a reply.
Please, if you say that you QSL, then please do the courtesy of returning a QSL card.
If you don't QSL, then please modify your QRZ.com page to indicate that you do not QSL.
Please, if you say that you QSL, then please do the courtesy of returning a QSL card.
If you don't QSL, then please modify your QRZ.com page to indicate that you do not QSL.
'How to succed at QSLing without really trying' by Ron WN3VAW.
| howtosucceedatqsling.pdf |
Logbook of the World (LOTW).
| lotw_presentation.ppt |
References.
1. Amateur Radio Victoria, 2020, <https://www.amateurradio.com.au/qslcards>, viewed 11th March 2020.
2. Wikipedia, 2020, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QSL_card>, viewed 11th March 2020.
3. Wireless Institute of Australia, 2023, <>www.wia.org.au/members/qsl/about/, viewed 20th May 2023.
