What I've done for about 7 years is to pre-emptively QSL from my own logs,
using a sorting routine that only generates QSLs for the first QSO with a
station on a given band/mode combination. Then when QSLs come in from the
bureau I just cull through them for the ones I need, and figure that I have
already covered the rest. DX4WIN does the sorting of outgoing QSLs,
described above, very easily. Both cost and time (in particular) are much
better than going through each card, and I find that year by year I am
producing QSLs for a smaller percentage of total QSOs made. I still QSL
direct for all cards received directly, though not always right away.
That being said, I would love to see LOTW become universally accepted - I
have 96,000 QSOs on it now, so a lot of people could get my QSL for DXCC or
WAS a lot more easily than paper QSLing. But back when LOTW started, I
asked the question whether I should rely exclusively on LOTW, and the
consensus was that it was way too soon to stop paper QSLing.
73, Pete N4ZR
At 05:23 AM 8/9/2007, Shelby Summerville wrote:
>Andrei Stchislenok wrote: "LoTW is a good thing."
>
>As I sit here, actually dreading to start processing another of my,
>quarterly, 4 pounds of cards, from the bureau, I wonder: "if LoTW is such a
>"good thing", why I continue to get 20+ pounds of cards annually"? I don't
>consider myself an "overly active" contester, and I also wonder how the
>"overly active" stations deal with this issue, if they experience it?
>The vast majority, 95%, of these cards are unsolicited, and from RTTY
>contesters! I have absolutely no problem with answering any/all "first
>request", regardless of band/mode. I do have a problem with receiving many
>duplicate band/mode requests! Just how many times can any specific DX
>station want KY confirmed on 20 meters? I suspect that many DX stations
>"dump their entire contest logs into their outgoing bureau"? Sorting the
>duplicate band/mode request from the "first request" cards, is a time
>consuming process, and has literally taken the enjoyment away from operating
>DX contests, for me! It has also made me seriously consider withdrawing from
>the inbound ARRL QSL bureau, and accepting only direct, or email requests. I
>would much rather receive several email requests, after any contest, and
>return that request, via the bureau, than continue to receive 20+ pounds,
>annually!
>
>Bottom line: If you're a DX station, and need my card....do us both a favor,
>and send me an email request!!
>
>73, Shelby - K4WW
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