[Dx-qsl] Contest QSLs

[N7DC@cs.com]

I will try this again.  Had it all written and the phone company helped by 
dumping my computer line.  
If you are going to be a contester, you must also be a QSLr. Or what is going 
to happen is that you will eventually be on a blacklist and people like me, 
who are no longer avid contesters, will quit calling.  I roam the bands to 
look for new countries/bands/modes and call if I find one.  If you are not a 
QSLr, there is no reason for me to do that.
   I have sat on both side of the big ponds (and some little ones) and worked 
contests, and about half the callers quite apparently (from qso numbers etc) 
are not realling contesting.  They are looking for new cards.  Without their 
counters, my scores would have been a lot lower. 
   One of the problems with contesters who go on mini dxpeditions has been 
the almost impossibility to figure out who some of them are, and where to 
send a card.  All of them should have enough publicity out there so people 
dont ask on the air (lots of luck on that one), and they should have a 
manager with a bureau and not depend on "direct only".  Lots of the guys go 
out to "contest" stations, operate, and then seemingly dissappear.  Not fair, 
and I dont call these stations- Once Burned- I learned.  It takes very little 
time" on the air" to mention your qsl info, along with other info now and 
then.  Dont forget to give your call EVERY QSO.  Its bad manners to make a 
contester wait 50 QSOs to only find out he worked you 15 minutes ago on a 
different part of the band.  Also dont be afraid to use the other guys call 
more than once- Like both at the beginning when you respond to him, and at 
the end when yhou give him a rgr for the QSO info.  How many times have all 
of us been burned by a dx or contest station, who we THOUGHT, called us , but 
it was some OTHER  "DC" and not my DC he called.  Irritating to say the 
least, especially when you get your card back as "not worked"  Also it cuts 
down your Qso/Country and multiplier count if your not in the other guys 
logbook when the sponsor runs them thru their data base computer.  
   All it takes is a little common sense, and a light touch by experienced 
ops, to get the new guys off on the right track.  They will follow your 
example: GOOD OR BAD. So as one of my favorite Christmas songs sez " Be Good 
For Goodness Sake"
Danny


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