[HCDX]: Why QSL? (was: Re: addresses)

["Bjarne Mjelde" <bjarne.mjelde@xxxxxxxx>]

I would like to further on Henrik Klemetz' general comments on QSL'ing.

Why do we QSL a station?  Because we "need" written proof that the station was heard.  And of course because it's nice to have an original letter from the station, in addition to pennants, stickers and other memorabilia submitted.  If the station replies at all.

And that seems to be the problem.  Reply rates have declined over the years; as a result of this we DX-ers have responded to that challenge by sending more reports, more follow-ups, sweetening the pill by enclosing more return postage, brochures, pictures, you name it. The most persistent ones "win".  Does this affect the reply rate in a positive way?  I don't think so.

I think the main problem why a station refuses to reply is less personell, less time - and not least; they do no longer identify themselves with us.  Gone are the days when a station's CE was most certainly a HAM, and knew what we wanted.  I think station personell of today tend to ask themselves "ok so he heard us, why does he want us to verify it when he has a recording already?"

I have more or less stopped sending reception reports, since I don't find it very rewarding anymore.  Instead I keep audio files of the stations I hear and - if the station is a really rare one - I might send a report.  After all, we're in this "game" to hear the stations, not to receive letters from them.  So why don't we count loggings instead of QSL's?

Or why not turn things around, as the US DX-er Henrik referred to; make a colourful diploma and send to the station confirming that they were heard at your location?  Perhaps that could have some meaning for the station instead of the endless stream of (semi) form letters requesting a reply from them.

I have a feeling that if we stopped - or at least drastically reduced - sending reception reports to these stations (I'm talking about local stations, not international broadcasters), they might in fact be more motivated to reply to the few reports that actually came.  I have a nasty feeling that they think we're wasting their time.  Should we?

Regards,
---From the world's northernmost DX-er---
                   71°N, 29°E
Bjarne Mjelde
P.O.Box 58
N-9980 Berlevåg, Norway
Receivers:  AR7030+, KWZ-30

----- Opprinnelig melding ----- 
Fra: Henrik Klemetz <dhv599n@xxxxxxxxx>
Til: <hard-core-dx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sendt: 22. april 2000 07:06
Emne: SV: [HCDX]: Re: addresses


> 
> Dear Ruud,
> Well, well, R Bucaramanga no longer exists. The
> station was purchased years ago by Caracol, so I 
> wonder who would now be able to verify such an old report. 
> 
> As for La V del Cinaruco, the OM that used to
> verify, Mario Frick, passed away several years ago.
> 
> Señorita Blanca, at the Caracol hq, might give out
> some memorabilia, but from latest reports the postal
> service has gone to the dogs now after Adpostal took
> over on April 1, 1999. Caracol is part of the Bavaria
> financial group, just as Avianca airlines which used
> to run the (historically rather efficient) air mail postal
> service.  
> 
> So QSLing Colombians is now turning into a real
> challenge unless you decide to phone them or
> e-mail them or send in your reports via DHL
> (or similar), or, of course, unless you pay them a visit...
> 
> Many stations have nice things in store for visitors, things 
> that they would not send out in the mail. 
> 
> This brings to mind that things are now back where
> they once started when radio was young.
> In addition to a standard reception report, one US DXer 
> now sends out a big diploma and a paper pennant (printed 
> as a business card)  to new stations in recognition of  
> their signal reaching his QTH.
> 
> So, instead of asking them to QSL, he does part of
> the job himself...  And this was how all started,
> wasn´t it?  One ham (or an SWL) swapping QSL cards 
> with other hams, SWL´s and broadcasters. 
> 
> The idea was of course to have a printed record of a contact
> which, in some cases, could have been faked. Just think of a 
> CW contact, for example.  
> 
> Nowadays we may keep sound clips as tokens of our
> catches. Unfortunately, much of the printed memorabilia stuff
> will not reach us. But let´s instead enjoy the streaming RealAudio
> of those stations. And why not print out some colourful logos
> from the web?
> 
> Both Caracol (and competitor network RCN) have 
> really worthwhile sites (including translation facilities) at
> http://www.caracol.com.co
> and
> http://www.rcn.com.co
> 
> 73,
> Henrik
> PS. I recently received a sticker from KDVS, in Davis, CA,
> for an e-mail report related to their streaming audio.  I am
> now hoping to be one of the lucky winners of a Kerbango
> "Internet receiver" to be awarded among those who signed
> up with their online service...


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