Well 2025 has started off well. I must have received about 20 emails about “how I can help your website” or “did you receive the quote”. Just to say if you are one of these scammers that are reading this the email address is blocked and goes into my spam list. I know it is a bot that is sending them but do please just stop. I am happy with my website and how I run it. 

My friend Charles (M0OXO) has recently added this to his webpage (www.m0oxo.com) and I thought I would share it with you. As a passionate collector of QSL cards I feel that there is not enough being done by the IARU societies around the world, and new entrants into the hobby, to keep these pieces of art alive. 

How does the whole QSL Card system work?

Of course I am a little biased on this subject as I am a QSL manager for a number of Stations and therfore I am pretty passionate about the whole ‘traditional’ QSL Card system.

Part of the fun of amateur radio is collecting cards, called QSL cards, from other amateurs that you’ve msde contact with on the radio. Some people like to collect stamps form various parts of the world but hams collect QSLs. If you are also a stamp collector you will find that often a card comes from a distant country with an interesting stamp on the envelope.

Another reason for collecting QSL cards is to participate in the many certificate programs available to amateurs. Whether it’s getting your DXCC, IOTA or WAS Awards, getting cards to confirm contacts with 100 or more DX countries etc, in most instances will need the cards to support your claim for the award.

Choosing a QSL Card

This is where many amateurs around the world fail. Most exotic DX stations have QSL managers, like myself, that will have special cards printed for them which usually include a photo and information about their location along with the needed information to confirm the contact. You can design your own and have a local printer produce them for you or you can order cards from one of many services you will find advertised in Radcom, On-line services and other Ham Radio magazines.

Check out my supplier of cards; Gennady UX5UO. cheap, easy, good quality and an easy payment option by Paypal, Cheque, Bank transfer etc to a UK representative (No sending money abroad)!

Give some thought to the content of the card and the quantity you will need. Usually larger quantities are much less expensive on a per card basis.

Contents of a QSL Card

There is some information that needs to be on all QSL cards to be valid for the various awards, and also to confirm the contact. This includes both call signs (yours and the station worked), the frequency or band, the mode, date and time, and a signal report. This is highlighted in point 3 below;

1) Callsign; Your Callsign needs to be on both sides of the card. It needs to be big enough to be easily seen by the person who you are sending it to. You may also consider (on the rear), adding several other of your Callsigns in which case you would to have the ‘tick-box’ option on there (see image below).

2) Your name with Postal and Email addresses (if applicable).

3) QSO information area. This should be large enough for you to write all the data needed to confirm the QSO. Date, Time (UTC), Band, Mode, RST etc etc are all required. You also have the option here of making this area dual-purpose. It can be used for hand writing cards but if the area is made the same size as a label for example, then you will have the option to overlay this area with a QSO Label (see image left).

4) Also, you may also add the details of your CQ and ITU zones, the county you are in, your grid location (primarily if you operate above 50 MHz) but most of these things MUST be added as they may required to enable a station to confirm his details for any applicable Awards he may be chasing such as DXCC. If you are on an Island then please check IOTA rules as they have specific requirments to enable your card to be valid for IOTA claims. For example IOTA group reference and Island name must be on the card to validate for IOTA.

Sending or requesting a QSL Card

To send a QSL to an amateur you have contacted (QSO) you usually have several choices.

QSL direct via the Post Office (Post Mail), via your QSL Bureau or by the now popular OQRS (On-line QSL Request System)*. Using the Bureau is by far the most cost effective route but you might not want to wait several Years for the QSL confirmation so QSL Direct to the station is then the required option.

* OQRS offers you an Online QSL Request Form to request your QSL card. Your QSL cards are automatically mailed to you or automatically sent through the QSL bureau which cuts down the time for example the Bureau by half. Instead of waiting 2 yrs plus for the card, this service allows you to receive it within Days (Direct) or less than 12 months (Bureau). Have a look here at my OQRS system and you will have a clearer idea of what it entails.

http://www.m0oxo.com/oqrs/

For example, for a minimum payment of 2 Euros I will send your QSL cards directly to you. Why bother with mailing direct? The M0OXO OQRS is easy and reasonable. I have arranged so that you can make your payment to the M0OXO QSL Mailing Service via PayPal or free if using the OQRS Bureau option.

* DIRECT To QSL direct you will fill out your QSL card and mail it the the person you contacted.

**IMPORTANT – If you are sending a card to a DX contact it is generally good practice to include a self addressed envelope and return postage. Do not use the postage of your country as it will not be valid for use in the DX country. Instead include either $2 US dollar bills (known by hams as a ‘green stamps’) or an International Reply Coupon (IRC) which you can usually purchase at the post office **(Availability of IRC’s is changing, UK and USA Stations no longer sell IRC’s and many will not exchange them either)**

It’s always a good idea to check the DX station’s QRZ.com page for specific QSL information / instructions, an exmple can be seen here;

https://www.qrz.com/db/M0OXO

If QSLing a DX-pedition you should first read the DX-pedition’s QSL policy on their website and/or QRZ.Com listing.  Some will request $2.00, some will request $3.00 and others may request $5.00. Personally, I accept IRC’s, USD and EURO’s but because I use a Royal Mail account, I cannot use Stamps or Coins. Sending insufficient amounts of money, Stamps or Coins may result in your card being sent via the Buro

*BUREAU Using a QSL bureau is by far the least expensive way to collect QSL cards. Using a QSL bureau is by far the least expensive way to collect QSL cards. Most countries where amateur radio is permitted are members of the IARU (International Amateur Radio Union) and will have a bureau, where cards are collected from hams within the country and then forwarded in bulk to the destination country. Using bulk mail to send your cards to the bureau and for them to forward the cards to other countries cost much less for postage than mailing individual cards. The RSGB Bureau in the UK (Norcomm) offer the services for both outgoing and incoming QSL cards. Check the RSGB Website for the requirements and eligibility of using their service.

On-Line Qsling (LOTW & EQSL)

More recently the ability to send/receive QSL confirmations has now become available via the Internet. To do this you only need to go to eQSL.cc at  http://www.eqsl.cc/qslcard/ and register for this free service. Using your web browser you will be able to design your own QSL card, send cards to contacts you have made and receive cards. The service also provides features for organizing cards received and creating summaries of them. Currently eQSLs are acceptable for CQ Awards.

LOTW (Logbook Of The World) is also very popular. This system IS valid for DXCC & WAS Award claims so it is widely used. It is understood that at sometime in the future IOTA MAY also be available by this system. If you need advice on LOTW then please email me.

QSL Managers
Active DX stations often use a QSL manager especially when mail to the DX country is difficult at best and non-existent at worst. You will be aware of the QSL manager when looking up the address of the DX call on Qrz.com or by lists published in some of the amateur literature. You must know whether the station of who’s QSL card you need uses a manager. it is imperative that this information is added to your outgoing card.

Check out my QSL Manager page at http://www.m0oxo.com/qsl-manager.html for an overview or more information on the topic.

I hope this page was of interest to you and maybe it answered at least some of your enquires. If you have any comments both good or bad, please feel free to ask by using the information on this link (contact M0OXO).

As the year 2024 end draws ever closer, we like to wish all our friends around the world season’s greetings in their home language, and we do apologize if we miss yours off the list. Let’s hope that 2025 brings us all good luck, health, and prosperity.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddn Newydd

Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo

Joyeux Noel et Bonne Annèe

Feliz Navidad y Feliz Año Nuevo

Vasel Koleda

Froehliche Weihnachten undein gluckliches Nues Jahr

Kala Christougenna Kieftihismenos O Kenowios Chronos

Boldoy Karácsonyt

Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia

Cestitamo Bozia

Boas Fiestas e um feliz Ano Novo

Nollaig Shona Dhuit

Any of my radio friends out there would like a nice design of a badge or banner creating, then have look at the Facebook page of Marcel – PD3MR – who has made some beautiful designs of call sign badges and banners. My QSL card image is one of his, from a photograph of the Red Arrows taken by myself. He also designed the HARES badge in an earlier post, so he is pretty good in my opinion. Do contact him and see what he can do for you, and mention my name and call when you do enquire. 

(Photo taken from ITV News)

The trend for naming storms has continued this past weekend with a storm hitting the UK causing power outages, damage to homes and trees, and radio amateurs antennas or supports. It is once again coastal areas that have taken the brunt of the hit. I am just hoping that my friends down in West Wales are all safe as the worst damage I am seeing and hearing about, my friend Rob (MW0RLJ) has suffered damage to his antenna with 2 spreaders on his Hexbeam breaking, some damage to his barn roof, and lost tiles on the house roof – at least he is safe. The BBC are reporting on sad news of at least one death from the storm. 

Locally I am hearing f friends antenna supports breaking in Redditch, a shed roof felt being blown off – the shed is his shack – and the smallholding where I go out portable has also suffered damage, her henhouse has gone over scaring the chickens I bet.

Here at home I have lost a couple of tiles on my roof, and luckily no other damage as far as I can tell. At least my antenna is still up. And who’s idea was it to name a storm after a comedian? Darragh O’Brien it is not funny now all this damage.

Time for an update on myself and why no posts in November. To be honest I have just not been myself and been hiding away in home putting on the “I’m OK” face when I have had to leave the house. Luckily I do have a few really good friends that have kept me from falling fully and not doing a self destruct mentally. I think I am back on track even though it is approaching Christmas and not my favourite time of year, but we will get through it.

I also started a diet in September to try once again to get my weight down and my health back, mainly so I wasn’t always feeling lethargic and out of breath when walking. This is working and over 2 stone gone, and I do have more energy. My consultant is encouraging and an old school friend so that helps.

One of my radio clubs, the local one I attend almost every meeting Hinckley ARES, has elected me as secretary at their AGM at the start of November and this has kept me busy trying to arrange some talks and visits for the next year. We have a nice looking calendar through to April now, and I am still looking at some visits for members in the warmer months. Below is the calendar and all are welcome to come along if visiting the area, you will be made welcome and offered a cuppa and a biscuit.

Today this was posted by the team going out to Namibia. Hopefully they will be on the air this weekend for some fun chasing them. Good luck and safe trip my friends.

V55LA Namibia
Dear All,
Our team has been working tirelessly to prepare for this exciting adventure, and we’re pleased to share that the flight tickets are confirmed, our QTH in Namibia is secured, and some of us are updating our vaccinations to ensure a safe journey.
We’re also proud to unveil our brand-new V55LA logo, beautifully designed by our longtime friend, Miguel EA5ZD. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to finalize our preparations.
DXpedition Dates
​
Departure: 30th October 2024
Return: 11th November 2024
During this period, the V55LA team will be active on all HF bands (CW, SSB, Digi), with a particular focus on the low bands. Our team consists of experienced operators skilled in “human modes”, so you can expect to hear plenty of activity on both CW and SSB throughout the expedition where it is needed for most of you.
Our goal is to make contact with as many operators as possible so Digi will be run too of course, and we’ll be doing our utmost to make this a memorable and enjoyable DXpedition for everyone.
Meet the Team
Rune – LA7THA (Leader)
Gjermund – LB5GI
Erwann – LB1QI
Svein – LA3BO
Morten – LB8DC
Chris – LA8OM
Philipp – OE7PGI
Svein Jarle – LA9KKA
Torvald – LB1FI
(Additional operators to be confirmed soon!)
Stay Connected
Our dedicated V55LA webpage is live! We’ll be regularly updating it with new information as the DXpedition date approaches. Visit us here:
https://www.ardxpeditions.com/dxpeditions/v55la
QSL Information
We are delighted to have Charles Wilmott (M0OXO) as our QSL Manager. QSL policy will be detailed soon.
Support Us
If you’d like to support our efforts, donations are warmly welcomed! Please send contributions to our PayPal address:
donations@ardxpeditions.com
We can’t wait to embark on this journey and look forward to making contact with as many of you as possible!
Warm Regards,
The V55LA Team (2024)