WOULD YOU LIKE A QSL WITH THAT QSO? OR HOW TO COLLECT A STACK OF MEMORIES

QSL? means "do you confirm receipt of my transmission?" while QSL means "I confirm receipt of your transmission”.

On the air, he told me to QSL via the BURO WHAT NOW??? I worked a DX Station (DJ6OI) & I WANT a card!

 QSL Bureau (sometimes abbreviated Buro) facilitates the exchange of QSL cards.  Often run by a national amateur radio association What is a BURO?

 EXAMPLE: ARRL Incoming QSL Bureau handles cards coming FROM DX stations to US Amateurs Bureau Types: INCOMING

 EXAMPLE: ARRL Outgoing QSL Bureau handles cards going FROM US Amateurs to DX Stations  Note: you must be an ARRL member to use the Outgoing QSL Bureau Bureau Types: OUTGOING

BACK TO OUR EXAMPLE

 DJ6OI  Check QRZ or other online database BACK TO OUR EXAMPLE

FILL OUT THE CARD

 CORRECT CALL  CORRECT DATE use 19 OCT 2Ø13 or 19 X 2Ø13 NOT 10/19/13 Time in UTC

 DX station’s call in center of back  Optional- your call in upper left hand corner Complete card back

 Work a lot more DX  Complete more cards as above

Presort your DX QSLs alphabetically by parent call sign prefix (AP, CE, DL, ES, EZ, F, G, JA, LY, PY, UN, YL, 5N, 9Y and so on). Some countries have a parent prefix and use additional prefixes, i.e. G (parent prefix) = M, 2E, 2I, 2M, 2W, etc. When sorting countries that have multiple prefixes, keep that country's prefixes grouped with the parent prefix in your alphabetical stack.

Do not separate the country prefixes by use of paper clips, rubber bands, slips of paper or envelopes.

What does it cost?

$2 for 10 or fewer cards in one envelope, $3 for cards in one envelope, or For packages with larger numbers of cards: 80 cents per ounce, for packages with 21 or more cards.

What Next?

1.Sorted cards What Next?

1.Sorted cards 2.Check (or $) What Next?

1.Sorted cards 2.Check (or $) 3.Proof of ARRL Membership What Next?

Proof of ARRL Membership

1.Sorted cards 2.Check (or $) 3.Proof of ARRL Membership 4.Mail to: ARRL Outgoing QSL Service 225 Main Street Newington, CT What Next?

For ALL the details, see:

How do I get a card in return?

 ARRL Incoming QSL Service  Service is FREE, however you are responsible for postage  ARRL Membership is NOT required  Staffed by volunteers  Details at: How do I get a card in return?

 Note: The incoming bureau that serves you is based on YOUR CALLSIGN First Call Area Service

 Note: The incoming bureau that serves you is based on YOUR CALLSIGN  If the NUMBER in your callsign is a ‘1’ then your incoming bureau is the W1 QSL Bureau YCCC PO Box 73 Marlborough, MA W1 QSL Bureau  First Call Area Service

W1 QSL Bureau For details, see: First Call Area Service

My call is W5KF, so I use the W5 Incoming QSL Bureau

Looks like I’d better get some more envelopes to the bureau! Uh OH!

A Few Other Routes Quickly…..

What if I work someone who does NOT QSL via the Bureau?

Or THIS Guy???

Direct with SAE & return postage

 SAE – Self Addressed Envelope  Cost of return postage: 1.$$$ (also known as Green Stamps) should probably check to see how much 2.IRC (International Reply Coupon) no longer sold by USPS 3.Actual foreign postage stamps What does he want?

William J. Plum 12 Glenn Road Flemington, NJ Request a price sheet Description: DX Stamps, envelopes, and other accessories for the DXer. Foreign Postage

OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE:

RETURN POSTAGE (I.E. FOREIGN STAMPS) GO ON THE ENVELOPE THAT IS ADDRESSED TO YOU! OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE:

IT IS OFTEN BEST TO REFRAIN FROM INCLUDING ANY INDICATION OF AMATEUR RADIO ON EITHER ENVELOPE WHEN MAILING A DX STATION OF POSSIBLE INTEREST:

QSL Manager in USA

1.DIRECT IN USA 2.BUREAU – well, some other time but not this guy Possibilities

Foreign QSL Manager

 DIRECT?  FOREIGN POSTAGE?  BUREAU?  OQRS-Online QSL Requests -BEST TO CHECK WITH QSL MGR 1 ST Possibilities

1.LOTW 2.eQSL 3.QRZ Logbook 4.Other Bureaus OTHER QSL OPTIONS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THIS PRESENTATION