[DX] Email from ARRL President about eQSL's / DXCC

[Charles Johnston]

Hello Steven and list members...
  It is, to say the least, a very interesting and even tantalizing
topic.  It is interesting to note that I sure did not receive either
literally or by logical inference that under no conditions whatsoever
would eQSL cards - not - be accepted.  I think everyone would like to
see a clear statement from ARRL and a public posting on the ARRL web
site if they ever hope to limit the scope of this flap...

   Frankly in my email to the ARRL president, who by the way initiated
the email contact with me, I asked him to clearly explain in detail the
eQSL situation as regards the specific issue of acceptance.   Then he
forwarded me the email Bill Moore had sent to him and others at ARRL.
However at the bottom were a couple lines from Jim to me.....here they
are...

---------
So, there you have it. In a nut shell, unless all the hoops are jumped,
we still do not accept electronic cards. Quite frankly, I don't
understand all the hoop-la. People spend thousands of dollars on a
station and groan about 36 cent stamps.

JH
---------

Two things come to mind here.....
1. he obviously has "left the door open" for acceptance of eQSL's with
the phrase
   "unless all hoops are jumped"

2. his remark about 36 cent stamps was interesting.  I have never been
able to mail any direct DX cards for 36 cents.  It has always been 68
cents postage - plus - $1 or $2 per envelope and also the cost of the
envelope - and - my qsl card cost.  IMHO that adds up to quite a bit
more than 36 cents.

   This begs the question is the ARRL really in touch with what the DXer
is up against trying to get confirmations for these awards? It sure as
hell is a lot more than a simple 36 cent stamp....


73  /  DX

Charles T Johnston
Prescott, Arizona - U.S.A.
charles@ab7sl.com

AB7SL -  Ham Radio Pages
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