For what it's worth, a few words on the evolution in my thinking on
QSLing over the years.
I've been into computerized logging since the late 1980s - anyone
remember EasyDX? I was the first paying customer for DX4WIN, and
shortly after that concluded that going through boxes of QSLs from the
bureau was just too time-consuming, particularly since I had (and have)
no interest in more awards.
In an effort to solve this problem I badgered DX4WIN's Paul, KK4HD, into
adding the ability to preemptively QSL the first contact with each
station on each band/mode combination. That way, I figured, I could
just print batches of QSLs and dispatch them via the outgoing bureau.
Here, economics raised their ugly head. I reduced printing costs by
locally producing 4-up sheets and then using DX4WIN to print directly on
them (those stick-on labels are expensive). That left postage costs.
Working through the USPS online price charts, I was able to work out the
cross-over point at which the number of my outgoing QSLs to a given
country made it more economical to mail directly to the foreign QSL
bureau, rather than through the ARRL's outgoing bureau. More work for
me, but less cost per QSL.
The next step, and the last to date, came in 2009 when I discovered
GlobalQSL. It is somewhat more expensive than what I had been doing,
but the saving in effort is immense, the cards are nice looking, and the
service3 seems to be adequately fast. I can keep my conscience clear,
answer the few cards I get directly, and get on with the other aspects
of this hobby I enjoy.
All 124,000 of my computerized QSOs are now on LOTW, too. I look
forward to the day when it's all we will need.
73, Pete N4ZR
The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at
reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000 and
arcluster.reversebeacon.net, port 7000
On 3/28/2012 3:14 AM, Yannick DEVOS (XV4Y) wrote:
> Paul N6PSE questioning was interesting.
> The last big expeditions (ST0R, T32C) costed around 300 000 USD each...
> For rare entities, people (perhaps not everyone) are ready to pay for Direct
> QSL.
>
> However many reacted the same way than you and dropping QSL Bureau could be
> seen as not respecting the deal.
>
> 73,
> Yan.
> ---
> Yannick DEVOS - XV4Y
> http://xv4y.radioclub.asia/
> http://varc.radioclub.asia/
>
> Le 28 mars 2012 à 10:41, Bill Parry a écrit :
>
>> The results sure seem to be one sided...QSL bureaus are still very valuable.
>> QSLing direct has gotten ridiculously expensive! I use the bureau almost
>> every month.
>>
>> Bill W5VX
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
>> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Yannick (XV4Y)
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 9:39 PM
>> To: CQ-Contest@contesting.com
>> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Is QSL Bureau pertinent in today HAM Radio
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> This is bit out of topic but contesters opinion is highly valuable.
>> Following a discussion on DX-World.net about the next Intrepid-DX group QSL
>> policy I started a small poll about QSL in the 21th century in general.
>> Please share your opinion.
>> http://www.qslwatch.com/poll-about-qsl-bureau/
>>
>> Thanks.
>> 73,
>> Yan.
>> ---
>> Yannick DEVOS - XV4Y
>> http://xv4y.radioclub.asia/
>> http://varc.radioclub.asia/
>> http://www.qslwatch.com/
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> CQ-Contest mailing list
>> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>>
> _______________________________________________
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> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
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>
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