Hi all,

As you have certainly noticed, more and more QSL managers request direct QSL through different ways : IRC / GS / OQRS. The question is to know how do you spend your GS ?

Ham radio is becoming business-oriented, involving sometimes huge things to go on some very difficult DX areas, like small Pacific islands, Antarctica/sub-antarctican Dx's, etc. Renting boats/helicopters, freighting the equipment etc. A few famous expeidtions could be named therer : 3Y0, K5D, BS7H, TX5C on Clipperton, etc....
I do understand that some small contributions do help in setting up such expeditions, and agree on playing the rules. But only when I think it's worth it.
Now, everybody may have its own choice criteria to decide whether or not he'll send a direct QSL. But I've noticed after some years of activities on the air that I send less and less direct QSL's, despite the opposite phenomenom of QSL managers. This costs a lot if you send a direct QSL for each band/mode new DX....!!!!!!!!!!!

My own criteria are as following
- All time new One --> Direct QSL (This happens very rarely to me, now approaching the 300 DXCC worked...latest one being ZK2V)
- New one on some bands
        - Well, here, it depends...Main distinction criterion being "expedition" or "resident" in this QTH

If he is a resident, then I wait to get him on a few bands (minimum 3) before sending him the QSL. That was the case for example with TL0A (5 bands) or UK9AA (80/40/17m) for example. This can take some time, but it is a more economical approach !

If this is an special expedition, I apply to do the same technic and focus on the bands I'm missing it. After, I choose to send direct QSL or not based on some additional criterai
      - Is it a difficult DXCC for us? (meaning very rarely heard on the air, but already confirmed on some bands) --> direct QSL (E44M on 80/40/20/17/15m)

Other criteria of choices are:
- Is it a new zone on that band ? If yes, direct QSL (Latest one being RZ9OO (zone 18) on 10m.
- Is it my last band to complete this DXCC on all bands --> direct QSL (example: TK9X on 80m)
- Is it a very rare IOTA (such as NA189 recently, Most Wanted IOTA in North America) --> direct QSL.
- Is it a difficult one on that particular band (mostly 80/40m and 12/10m)? --> direct QSL. (For example, KH2JU on 40m, or VQ9RD on 80m)

For all the rest, I use Buro. For example, I QSo'd with 3DA0EL yesterday evening on 40m. I already have it confirmed there (just need it on 80m !)..So I'll send a QSL request via buro, even if it is rarely heard on 40m.

All in all, I do spend about 20 US$ a month (average over the last year) for direct QLS'ing. that's not too much, and I coudl use Buro for all of them. But what would be the return rate of those buro QSL? And how long should I wait before receiving their answer, if I receive them?
I calculated over the years 2003-2004-2005 years about 60% of positive return rate through buro.
Direct QLS'ing return rate is of course higher, but sometimes, I need to send some emails to remind the manager (or the resident) that I'm still expecting his answer.

Needless to say that some of them don't answer, and I'll make a black list of QSL'ers very soon. Top of them will be T77NM (80m QSO, my last band).
I sent him 2 emails before receiving a first answer, saying that he had "postal" problems and that some QSL were lost. So he asked me to re-send direct letter and he would reply me immediately. That was 4 months ago, and I'm still waiting any answer (QSL for example) to the emails I sent him after sending my 2nd letter.

That's life !

Ronan, F8AFC

Hi all,

Just QSO with Pedro from Gorgona island, IOTA SA017 on 20m. Weak signal, but no callers and good ears. The magic receipt, HI. That was my chance, and I got him on the first call !!!!!

Thanks for the new IOTA Pedro (really have to make a status on my IOTA score now...)

Ronan, F8AFC

Hi all,

Nice day today...I was missing Lebanon on 12/10m, and waiting QSL for 17/15m QSO with OD5NH.. (as many of us !)
I heard OD5KU Eiie in QSO with ON7CD, asking him to try a few bands, and I could hear him on all those bands. So I jumped into the air at the end of their QSO, asking the same thing to Elie...He was 5/9 on 20/17/15m, 5/8 on 12m and 5/7 on 10m !!!!!
I now have OD5 contacted on all bands !!!!

A bit later, he heard very weakly VY0/KD6WW from NA185. Weak signal, QSB, but I decided to try this new IOTA as I have some luck with VY0A/VX8B/VC8B from this area (roughly).
I did it, with a 5/5 report which was definitely the max signal he was coming in...But this is a new IOTA, from Zone 2 (which is rare !)

Thanks to both of you Elie and Bruce, for the QSO !

Ronan, F8AFC

Hi,
I aslo received VE1CJB QSL for our QSO's on 40/20/10m (from IOTA NA010). New IOTA, and new one confirmed on 10m !!!
Thanks !
Ronan, F8AFC

Hi all,

For those who are waiting my QSL via buro, I just want to inform that I sent today to the REF (The French buro) around 500 QSL for the QSO made in the last 3 months (roughly). This is the period at which I do sned QSL through the buro.

In this package, I sent many QSL's to Europeans, mainly because I need most of them
- to close some countries on all bands
- to get some new IOTA's (this is why I sent the package after the IOTA contest )

The few "DX" concerned are mainly for some IOTA (thanks RSGB IOTA tets) and/or some US states.

I also put some answers to QSL request via buro that I received in the last few months.

73
Ronan, F8AFC