[50mhz] Newbie Questions and observations

[Bill VanAlstyne]

Garie Halstead wrote:
> RJ Mattson wrote:

>  > What is the best way these days to get a qsl? I haven't pursued
>  > qsl's since my novice days in 1962.
>
> It's pretty much common practice these days to send a SASE with your
> QSL card.  I'm not saying you won't get a card otherwise but I think
> I can safely say the turnaround time will certainly be much quicker.
> If you want the card badly, send a SASE.  I do it as a courtesy.

Gary speaks the truth.  :-)  As a "retread" myself (just returned to ham radio
operating after an absence of over 20 years), I can say that things are
definitely different than they were in the 1970s, let alone the 1960s when I too
was a nervice -- I mean, novice.  <g>  Back then, QSLing 100% using that 5-cent
postcard method was practically universal. Nowadays, people are much less
inclined to respond to a postcard QSL. As a ham with an "old-timer" QSL ethos, I
always QSL 100% in response to any card received, whether as a postcard, in an
envelope, or in an envelope with a SASE. (I would say about 50% of the
unsolicited cards I receive include a SASE.) However, this is far from
universal.

Overall, my return QSL rate is around 90% -- but I've had to work for that
figure. First, I always send a card in an envelope with a SASE. Second, for
non-responders, I use e-mail to enquire (after about two months). This usually
produces about a 50% positive result, and has also resulted in some very
rewarding "e-mail QSOs." Third, I developed (in Adobe Illustrator) a
customizable "reverse" QSL that I can print up and send (along with my own QSL
and SASE) to a ham who doesn't have any QSLs. All he has to do is sign it and
return it in the SASE provided.

What about that last 10% that just never QSLs no matter what? I always check
during "new grid" QSOs (excepting contests) to make sure that they will in fact
QSL. Interestingly, then, the majority of these 10% guys have actually:  a)
confirmed that their address is good on QRZ.com, and  b) assured me that they
would QSL upon receipt of mine. So what happens? You got me. Chalk it up to
human nature. :-) But I make it a game to see how many different avenues of
approach I can dream up to get a confirmation out of a "difficult" ham. Of
course, I never resort to effrontery or rudeness. That wouldn't produce any
positive results, anyway.

BTW -- out of all the contacts I made in the June 2003 VHF QSO Party that I sent
QSLs to (about 40), I have received a return QSL from ALL BUT ONE -- and I'm
actively still working on that one. So most contesters are apparently also
excellent QSLers.

Welcome to 6M, and I hope you get as much fun out of this incredible band as all
of us do!

73,
Bill / W5WVO