[Dx-qsl] Short Wave Listener Cards

Sun Jun 30 12:38:15 2002

Tom,

As a fellow former SWL (& I guess I really can't say "former" since I do
still enjoy listening to SW Broadcasters when I'm not operating), I
understand your dilemna.  But I think the answer is simple.

If they have heard a legit QSO, give them the benefit of the doubt and
respond as appropriate.  Treat both the direct & buro SWL QSL cards just as
you would direct & buro cards from a fellow amateur.

If they did not hear a legit QSO (and it's not neccesarily a packet spot,
they may have misheard someone's call) again, respond as appropriate.

I get a small assortment of SWL cards every year.  While they do not rate
high on my priority list, I do eventually respond to them.

We need to remember that there are still some situations where an individual
has to show activity as an SWL before being licensed as an amateur.  So long
as that is the case, we only hurt the world amateur community by not
responding to these cards, as we then delay or deny these people their
amateur tickets, and that may come back to haunt us one day.

I also know that there are some former SWL's who won't respond to an SWL QSL
unless it's a fairly detailed report, similar to what we used to send to the
broadcasters.  Since many of our DXpedition and contest QSO's can be short
(ie signal report, contest exchange if any, and possibly location), this
strikes me as an absurdly high standard to maintain -- but a good excuse if
someone doesn't want to be bothered answering the cards.  Don't fall into
that trap.

73, ron wn3vaw

"And they give you cash,
which is just as good as money!"
Yogi Berra, AFLAC Commercial, 2002

----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Wylie <[email protected]>
To: DX QSL <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2002 11:31 AM
Subject: [Dx-qsl] Short Wave Listener Cards

Just looking for some thoughts and views on SWL Cards.

As well as dealing with my own cards (several thousand per year) I also
managed several DX stations and therefore I get a fair number of SWL Cards.
I am one of the "old school" operators who WAS a short wave listener for
many years before obtaining my licence in 1975. I still spen a great deal of
time just listening - thats why god gave us ONE mouth and TWO ears.   I also
used to enjoy receiving cards from all around the world.

Having just completed a marathon session of QSL cards, I really have to
question the worth of some of today's SWL reports.
I dont think its of any particular value to be told by (E.G.) a german short
wave listener that he heard me 5/9 when I worked 15 German stations at the
same time - who also gave me a 5/9 report.

It is nice to get the odd report from a distant SWL station who heard me
working somebody in a completely different part of the world.

There were a few occasions in this buro bundle that I received cards from
SWL's for contacts that I did not make.   Now this is strange!   I am
beginning to wonder and suspect, that they saw me spotting DX stations on
the cluster and assumed I worked them - and took a chance in sending me a
card.   I can't prove that, but dont have any other way of explaining it.

The guys doing this are doing other SWL stations a great dis-service - as I
am now seriously beginning to doubt if there is any value in receiving SWL
cards - what-so-ever.   Before i decide whether to continue to reply to SWL
cards I seek the views of the DX community.

A good SWL report for me, would be a report on an unusual QSO or a report
from a part of the world where I would not expect there to be propagation -
or some other fact which makes the QSO and report stand out.

Maybe I'm just becoming pernickety in my old age.

I would also welcome the views of serious SWL stations and a good reason why
I should continue to reply to SWLs.

73 de
Tom 9H3RT/GM4FDM/V26VG/VP8SDx etc etc
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