[Dx-qsl] When to use a QSL service or ARRL outgoing Bureau?

[Peter W2IRT]

At 09:43 AM 05/16/2006, Clint Sprague wrote:

>Now I'm wondering when you may preferr to use the
>ARRL outgoing bureau or a QSL service like WF5E's?
>What have your reponse rates been using either or both
>of these?

Never used a 3-rd party outgoing service, and I can't personally see 
why you would want to, to be honest. As to the ARRL bureau, I send 
that way for a variety of reasons:

1) I have the entity confirmed on a particular band and mode already, 
but it's an interesting place that I would like confirmed anyway, and 
don't mind waiting for. Example, if I work Hong Kong or China on 20m 
-- rare enough that I'd like a card for each station I work, but I 
don't actually Need it for an award.

2) Backup to sending direct to any rare all-time-new-one that wasn't 
part of a DXpedition (i.e. a resident of a rare country), in case my 
direct request disappears somehow.

3) 40, 80 and 160 DX contact to less-common entities (that is, where 
I don't need a direct card for an award). I'll send to countries here 
that I wouldn't ordinarily send for 10-30m. Think places like 
Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, etc.

4) Any new 2-character grid square for an entity that I otherwise 
have confirmed (far eastern Siberia, for example).

5) If I'm running Europe or JA and a station asks for a buro card during the Q.

6) If a station I need a card from has on QRZ.com or mentions on the 
air that he/she only uses the buro.




Cheers,

Peter,
W2IRT