Re: [HCDX]: QSLing

["joe talbot" <n52w113@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

 Hello Patrick and HCDX group:

 Before I getting going on the topic of QSLing. Yes, I rememember some long 
gone stations! I am not the same calibre of most MW DXers here on HCDX not 
even a MW Dxer perse, but I remember a few, especially from here in Alberta, 
CKXL(Calgary), CFGP(Grande Prairie), CHQT(Edmonton) and of course CKRD(Red 
Deer-700 then 850,now gone to FM), I have these 4 QSLed. Always, very nice 
to dig out the QSLs and have a look. I have had the pleasure of seeing some 
of Micky Delmage's and Nigel Pimblett's MW QSL's, sorry I missed the MW part 
of the hobby. Nigel has a QSL from a MW pirate in the Pacific Northwest, 
that I found very interesting, I really like Pirate stations, a MW would be 
assume! Many, a station sadly gone from MW and SW!
 Yes, I understand what you and what others in the group have said lately 
about QSLing! It sure has changed, I am not a real MW DXer. But, it appears 
from what I see, is that MW QSLing verses SW QSLing, SW QSLing has suffered 
more! Not to say MW QSL has not suffered, MW Dxer's would know that better 
than I would.
 In retrospect, I am so sorry that, I had that "there is no tomorrow 
attitude", when sending reception reports and receiving QSL's. I was greedy 
and selfish. I can remember 2-3 QSLs a day every day of the week! Rarely, 
considering to send a thank you back to the station for their reply, 
especially to the small local stations. The stations, I knew  went out of 
their way, just to QSL my report!
 Here in North America, most of us don't understand the difficulties in 
Africa, Asia, etc, just to send a letter or make a phone call. It is not 
like here, in Africa and Asia it was a BIG deal for me to receive/send mail 
and call home!
  I remember the comments by a fellow HCDXer who had visited Radio 
Zanzibar, the poor fellow receiving the mail not being able to understand 
English, facing a mountain of reception reports and we keep sending more. 
And he doing his best to reply!
  Many of the stations are out in the "bush", they rely on overland 
transportation. I've seen 6 foot holes where roads once where, motorcycles 
could'nt even pass. Yes, these stations go out of their way to send us a 
QSL!
 Not passing judgement please, myself included, we have caused this problem 
of low QSL replies. Of course there are staff cuts, money problems, etc. I 
know this is going to hurt but, I'll say it regardless, personally, I think 
that the stations that are not replying, are just sick and tired of the 
demands and the expectation, that they owe us a QSL, rubbish, they owe us 
nothing! If I/we think because we send a report, enclose return postage and 
maybe a few  souvenirs, they owe us a reply, that is nonsense!!!  For the 
most part stations do not ask for reception reports, rather recption reports 
are welcomed, out of courtesy!
 After a few months or years of receiving reception reports, why would the 
station, really care if they were getting heard anywhere outside there 
target area! The novelty and thrill of them being heard far away and abroad 
is long gone! They reply out of RESPECT and KINDNESS, to us, a respect and 
kindness we may have forgotten to offer when we sit down to write that 
report! A QSL should not be a guarantee, not something they owe us, but a 
kind reminder that someone at that station took the time to honor our 
request. A request important to to us in the hobby! I can't image how 
difficult it might be to read the same style and font of reception report 
day after day! Would I reply to my own report?
 The "heyday" of the 70's and 80's may be gone, I think we can turn it 
around somewhat by remembering that, they owe us nothing and try to put 
ourselves in their situation. Again, would I reply to my own report? One 
longtime Dxer I know, Edward Kusalik sends out a thank you after receiving 
his QSLs. Longtime Dxer and Cumbre DX QSL Editor George Maroti, suggested to 
me that instead of sending souvenirs with the report, send them as a thank 
you for a QSL received. I have been doing this lately, I can't say anything 
has changed yet, but, the proper and orderly thing to do.
 Thank you for considering my and other HCDXers comments on QSLing. 73's.

                              Joe Talbot  n52w113@xxxxxxxxxxx








> From: mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx (Patrick Martin)
> Reply-To: hard-core-dx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> To: amfmtvdx@xxxxxxx, irca@xxxxxxxxxxx, am@xxxxxxxxxxx,   
> hard-core-dx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [HCDX]: QSLing
> Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 14:28:55 -0700 (PDT)
>
> Hi All:
>
> There have beeb several discussions of late on QSLing, both pro and con.
> As many of you know, I have been QSLing for a long time. I remember as a
> kid, the number of QSLs was the excitement. Now at 51, and over 2600 and
> counting, something else has come out of the hobby. History!
>    I was going through my Alberta MW QSLs today, after discussing
> CKRD-700, CKTA-1570 and others going to FM.  I find a lot of QSLs from
> many stations that are not on MW anymore, also some that have just
> changed call letters.
>
> How many remember these?
>
> (1)  CKRD-Red Deer on 850 kHz
> (2)   CFGP-1050-Grande Prairie
> (3)    CHQT on 1110 kHz
> (4)    CHQR on 810 kHz
> (5)    When CKTA-1570 was CFEZ
> (6)    Remember CKXL, CFXX, CISS  all call letters of the Calgary
> station
> (7)   How about CKST-1070
> (8)    Or CKMG-1200
>
> Those are some of the QSLs I have gotten throughout the years from
> Alberta alone. Yes, a lot of Canadian radio history there that probably
> many of the above stations don't even know about.
>
> Anyone else out there have any "history" QSLs ?
>
> 73s,
> Patrick
>
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