On Logging and QSLs

A Loss

Old School hams like me were taught a long time ago, “A QSL is the final courtesy of a QSO.”  It seems that courtesy has been lost on many newer operators, much like other Old School niceties like taking your hat off at the dinner table, saying please and thank you, or holding the door open for someone are far less common among some generations.  I see it as a problem, and I would like to bring to everyone’s attention. 

Who Cares?

Why is it a problem?  You may not care about “wallpaper”, but many operators work hard to collect awards like DXCC, Worked All States, Worked All Zones, etc.  All of these awards require confirmations of some sort, and contacts with Alaska play a central role in the most common awards programs, since it is both a state and DXCC country. Some people don’t collect awards, but a QSL can still be a source of deep pride, the culmination of planning, investment, skill, and perseverance.  Alaska can be difficult to work, and when you make a contact with someone seeking a card or electronic equivalent and fail to QSL, you have wasted their time and hard-won efforts.  Those sparks of excitement and the feeling of joy at the other end of the radio after finally making contact with Alaska are all for naught.  I say shame on you.

The practice of QSLing is integrally tied to keeping an accurate record of your contacts.  I believe since the FCC no longer requires keeping logbooks, a lot of people have just forgotten about the practice.  I’ve noticed with some guest ops at KL2R and participating in group operations with hams normally self-confined to repeaters and whatnot, many simply do not appreciate the need for accuracy.  So what if the callsign is “busted” (incorrect), time is off by hours, and neither frequency nor mode are recorded? Well, these are all details required on a QSL, and if any are wrong or missing, the confirmation is invalid!

Logging Options

Recordkeeping doesn’t have to be hard.  I believe there are few excuses for sticking to paper logs anymore.  If you are mobile or backpacking, of course hard copy would be most convenient.  However, most hams have a computer available in their shack.  Many free and inexpensive logging programs are available.  Ham Radio Deluxe and DXLab Suite include many useful tools for any operator using Windows, and RUMLog is popular on Macs.  Win-Test, Writelog, and N1MM are excellent contesting programs, and the latter two also good for general-purpose logging.  This software can readily interface to your radio to record time, date, frequency, and mode, but you don’t necessarily have to operate them that way.  You can enter the data manually, too.

There are just a few simple rules.  You need to record date and time in UTC, note at least the band (but preferably the frequency), mode, signal reports sent and received.  A full exchange of signal reports and acknowledgements are required for a complete two-way contact.   Although there is some debate in the community regarding default “59” or “599” signal reports, I am not here to sway you one way or another.  In a contest, almost all signal reports are just that.  The essential exchange of information (serial number, zone, state, name, etc.)  is the hard part.  Signal reports are irrelevant.  However, some people advocate for more accurate reporting.  I can see their point, too.  RST aside, when you’re handling 100, 200, or even 300 QSOs an hour in a pileup – yes, it is entirely possible – you will thank the computer gods for making your life downright fun! 

Nothing Like Paper

You don't have to have a bunch of fancy cards printed up.  A postcard or even an index card with the contact details on it confirmed will serve nicely.  For actual QSL card printing, I use Gennady UX5UO (http://www.ux5uoqsl.com/).  For less than 50 bucks you can have 1000 very fine quality cards on your doorstep.  If you submit your own design, Gennady will work with you to optimize it.  Whichever printer you use – or even design your own for home printing in small quantities – a good card design says something personal about you.  It can educate the recipient about the card’s origins and/or something special about the confirming ham.  It’s reasonable to expect QSL requests to be accompanied by a couple of bucks (or at least SASE), or International Reply Coupons, if they prefer a direct response. 

Once you have your electronic recordkeeping set up, you might need to train yourself on the use of some on-line systems like eQSL and ARRL’s Logbook of the World (LoTW).  Note that only LoTW and physical QSL cards count for ARRL awards such as Worked All States and DX Century Club.  Both eQSL and LoTW electronic confirmations can count toward CQ WPX (prefixes) and WAZ (Worked All Zones).  The software mentioned previously certainly permits pain-free upload to eQSL and LoTW. 

If you prefer to QSL via the bureau and do not want to keep a lot of cards on hand, GlobalQSL may be the solution for you.  They have special a Windows software QSL design package to help you design a card, including some stock images.  You can then purchase 100 printing "credits" for $13.50.  After designing your card, your ADIF logfile upload gets QSLs going to the printer and forwarded to the bureau.  It’s very affordable and a tremendous convenience.  You simply order what you need to be submitted through the receiving ham’s QSL bureau, and delivery to the far end is usually much faster than going through the ARRL outgoing QSL bureau.

Some packages like DXLab Suite will automatically upload your contacts to ClubLog, a free service run by Micharl G7VJR and some very talented assistants.  It's a great way to keep your electronic log online, track certain awards progress, and even makes QSL requests easy to handle.  ClubLog accepts an ADIF-formatted file to keep track of your contacts and basic DXCC statistics.  They even check your log for errors and provide detailed reports for your correction.  Again, ClubLog is a free service, and you can arrange for online QSL requests (OQRS).  This is perfect if you like the ease of QSLing to others but don’t demand a card in return, like we do at KL2R.  If you have a Paypal account, OQRS lets people submit payment for cards to be sent directly, typically $2.00. You can visit the KL2R OQRS page at http://www.akradio.net/search.htm .

Operators can also request QSLs via the bureau through OQRS, usually free.  That’s where GlobalQSL can really come in handy.  You need simply to upload an ADIF file and agree to print the QSLs on the design of your choice.  It’s a bargain and saves many hassles , especially with electronic logbooks.  A few clicks of the mouse, and you have a complete record of your QSO and QSL status.

To come full circle then, QSLing can be as simple or as complex as you like to have it, but there are darned few (good) excuses for not doing it.  Besides, you never know when the award bug will hit you.  Having at least electronic verifications will make it easy to go back and resurrect your history by using eQSL and LoTW when the urge strikes for more wallpaper in the shack.

Not For Everyone

I’m not saying I think everyone should QSL.  It’s entirely your choice.  After all, I understand budget or time constraints might be factors.  But if you’re one of those who won’t, then you should let people know about it.  Update your profile on qrz.com and say so.  If you do QSL but require an SASE or “green stamps” (dollars) to offset costs, then say so!  If you only QSL electronically, like through eQSL or Logbook of the World, then say so!  Other operators shouldn’t have to waste their IRCs, dollars bills, and stamps on someone who won’t reply by mail.