Saturday, May 22, 2010

QSL Card

My qsl card

One of the oldest traditions in short-wave listening and Amateur Radio is that of the QSL card. 'QSL' is one of the variants of the Q-code used by radio operators world-wide to facilitate brevity in transmission, it means "I acknowledge receipt" and it wasn't long before 'QSL' signified the acknowledgment itself.

Acknowledgment of receipt of a message was done with a QSL card - a postcard-sized document that verified the time, date, frequency, emission, location, signal strength and call signs of the participants in an exchange of radio signals.

Radio amateurs exchange QSLs regularly; a long held maxim in amateur circles is that the final courtesy of a QSO (contact) is a QSL. These cards have now become collectables and a prove of having made contact with distant stations.

QSL cards are the size of the standard postcard featuring an attractive graphic or photo with station call sign. Information about a contact is written on one side.
The QSL is then mailed directly to the other station. One of my favorite activities, exchanging QSL cards allows you to claim credit for contacts in order to receive awards, but most hams just do it for fun. You can find many varieties of QSLs, but three very basic rules can help make the exchange as quick and error-free as possible. Figure below illustrates the following:
  • Have your call sign and QSO information on one side so that the receiver doesnt have to look over it.
  • Print your call and all contact information in a clear and easy to read.
  • Beyond your mailing address, make sure the physical location of the station is shown, including county and four digit grid locator square.


Follow these suggestion for sure accuracy.
  • Double check the date and time of your contact. Date and time are frequant sources of error. Start by making sure your own clock is set properly..
  • Use an UTC format or World Time for every QSL except those for local contact...
  • Use an unambiguous format for date. Is 4/5/10 April 5th or May 4th? The date is crystal clear if you show the month with a Roman numeral, as in 4 May 2010.
  • Use heavy black or blue ink pen that wont fade over the time like colored inks. Never use pencil.
After you fill out yours QSLs, then what? Depending on where the cards are going, you have several options that trade postage expense againts turn around time. By following the appropriate rules for each method, you can get a high return rate for your cards.
  1. QSL Direct - The quickest option for sending QSLs is to send the cards direct, meaning directly to other hams at their address. This method ensure your card gets to the recipient faster than any other method. Include the return postage and maybe even SASE ( self address stamp envelope). This method costs more for you, but makes things as easy as possible for the other ham to get a return card on its way.
  2. Via Manager - to avoid poor postal systems and cut postage expenses, many DX stations and nearly all DX-expeditions use a QSL Manager. the manager is typically in a country with good postal service and return rate is nearly 100 percent. QSL via manager is just like QSL direct. If u dont include return postage and an envelope to a manager for a DX station, you will likely get your card back via QSL bureau, which takes a while. manager can be located by a QSL manager Web site such as www.qslinfo.de or www.eham.net
If u send your QSL overseas, be sure to do the following:

  • Use the correct global air mail letter post rate.
  • Ensure air mail service with an Air Mail sticker ( free at the post office), an air mail envelope, or an Air Mail/Par Avion ink stamp on the envelope.
  • Include return postage.
IRC from europe

An International Reply Coupon or IRC is redeemable for the one unit of unregistered air mail postage. u can purchase IRCs at the post office or redeem one from overseas. If the clerk is not familiar with the IRCs, go to the main post office.

You will hear send 1 or 2 greenstamps for return postage. A greenstamp is a $1 bill. Take care that currency is not visible through the envelope. in some countries, non-domestic currency is illegal, so check before sending it through the mail.

3. Bureaus and qsl services - All thats postage can mount up pretty quickly.
a much cheaper but slower is QSL bureau system. you should use this method
when the DX station says, " QSL via bureau" or on CW "QSL via BURO".
the QSL bureau system operates as a sort of hm radio post office, which
allows hams to exchange QSLs at the fraction of the cost of the direct mail.

Bundle up all of your DX QSLs and send them to the outgoing QSL Bureau.
there the QSLs are sorted and sent in bulk to the Incoming QSL Bureaus araound
the world. The cards are then sorted and distributed to the individual stations.
The receipients then reciprocate and send reply cards in the other direction.
go to www.marts.org.my or http://mares.org.my for more details. To get yours
cards, you must keep postage and envelopes in stock at the Incoming Bureau.
then, when you least expect it, a fat package of cards comes in the mail. What fun!!!


The Malaysia QSL Bureau Manager can be contacted at:

MARTS QSL Bureau
PO Box 10777
50724 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

or

MARES QSL Bureau
4A, Jalan Tinggi 6/12
Seksyen 6,
46000 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Malaysia

QSL Bureau Manager: 9W2TKK Irwan Yusof Tang Abdullah

4. eQSL - eQSL, www.eqsl.net/qslcard/ was the first electronic QSL
system and is extremely easy to use. its site has a tutorial slideshow
that explains just how the eQSL works and how to use it.

9m2zak eQSL

The ARRLs LOTW ( www.arrl.org/lotw/ ) is a little more complicated to use. you are required to provide proof of licence and your identity in order to receive a digital signature certificate. The digital signature authenticates your contact information. LOTW does not generate or handle physical QSL cards, its only provides verification of QSOs for award purposes.


LOTW


Have fun and good dx,

de 9m2zak

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

9M2ZAK : My new QTH

north


front


East side


view from south


My instant station, here the list of the contact from this 5 minute setup station.









DL2AD Fed.  Rep. of Germany 2010-05-10 16:4420mSSB57 59

LB7Q Norway 2010-05-10 16:4120mSSB59 59

N7JEC United States of America 2010-05-10 16:4020mSSB59 59

DD4BY Fed.  Rep. of Germany 2010-05-10 16:3720mSSB57 59

SP3BHI Poland 2010-05-10 16:3520mSSB59 59

RA3MQ European  Russia 2010-05-10 16:3220mSSB59 59

VE8GER Canada 2010-05-10 16:3120mSSB55 57

AB0JV United States of America 2010-05-10 16:2820mSSB59 59

WB6ZHZ United States of America 2010-05-10 16:2620mSSB59 59

K0JFI United States of America 2010-05-10 16:2520mSSB55 59

KD7YDK United States of America 2010-05-10 16:2420mSSB55 59

KE7JNT United States of America 2010-05-10 16:2320mSSB57 59

DL6MN Fed.  Rep. of Germany 2010-05-10 16:2220mSSB59 59

VE7CV Canada 2010-05-10 16:2120mSSB58 59

VA6UK Canada 2010-05-10 16:2020mSSB55 59

KE7RRP United States of America 2010-05-10 16:1820mSSB55 57

OH9TK Finland 2010-05-10 16:1720mSSB59 59

KF7EKB United States of America 2010-05-10 16:1620mSSB55 59

W5TSP United States of America 2010-05-10 16:1420mSSB56 59

N7APN United States of America 2010-05-10 16:1420mSSB59 59

UY5QJ Ukraine 2010-05-10 16:1220mSSB59 59

OH1FOU Finland 2010-05-10 16:1120mSSB55 59

EA9LS Ceuta & Melilla 2010-05-10 16:1020mSSB55 59

AF6PK United States of America 2010-05-10 16:0920mSSB55 57

KE0UF United States of America 2010-05-10 16:0720mSSB59 59

RA6LO European  Russia 2010-05-10 16:0620mSSB59 59

UA9MGC Asiatic  Russia 2010-05-10 16:0520mSSB59 59

OH2MIN Finland 2010-05-10 16:0420mSSB59 59

W7VSM United States of America 2010-05-10 16:0320mSSB59 59

UR3LUN Ukraine 2010-05-10 16:0120mSSB59 59

N0EV United States of America 2010-05-10 16:0020mSSB59 59

WD0BMS United States of America 2010-05-10 16:0020mSSB59 59

VE7YY Canada 2010-05-10 16:0020mSSB59 59

OK2ARD Czech  Republic 2010-05-10 15:5820mSSB57 59

VE7XV Canada 2010-05-10 15:5720mSSB57 59

K6JYG United States of America 2010-05-10 15:5620mSSB57 59

UR2LX Ukraine 2010-05-10 15:5520mSSB59 59

N6BM United States of America 2010-05-10 15:5420mSSB59 59

SB0M Sweden 2010-05-10 15:5320mSSB57 58

W6BWG United States of America 2010-05-10 15:5120mSSB58 59

DH1PS Fed.  Rep. of Germany 2010-05-10 15:5020mSSB57 59

RZ3MM European  Russia 2010-05-10 15:4920mSSB59 59

W7VAS United States of America 2010-05-10 15:4720mSSB59 59

W6GZG United States of America 2010-05-10 15:4520mSSB59 59

N7XDX United States of America 2010-05-10 15:4320mSSB59 59

K6DBW United States of America 2010-05-10 15:4220mSSB59 59

M3UFB England 2010-05-10 15:3920mSSB58 59

YL2CF Latvia 2010-05-10 15:3920mSSB57 57

DJ1BV Fed.  Rep. of Germany 2010-05-10 15:3620mSSB57 59

DL2HRH Fed.  Rep. of Germany 2010-05-10 15:3620mSSB58 59

WB6QPG United States of America 2010-05-10 15:3220mSSB59 59

V85TX Brunei  Darussalam 2010-05-10 15:3020mSSB59 59

K7OOS United States of America 2010-05-10 15:2920mSSB59 59

W9JA United States of America 2010-05-10 15:2820mSSB57 59

NC7V United States of America 2010-05-10 15:2620mSSB57 59

K6JGM United States of America 2010-05-10 15:2520mSSB56 58

IZ3ENH Italy 2010-05-10 15:2420mSSB59 59

RN3REY European  Russia 2010-05-10 15:2320mSSB59 59

JG5UWK Japan 2010-05-10 15:2220mSSB57 59

UT5PI Ukraine 2010-05-10 15:2220mSSB59 59

DH3FEN Fed.  Rep. of Germany 2010-05-10 15:2120mSSB59 59

N6ORB United States of America 2010-05-10 15:2020mSSB57 58

NF9V United States of America 2010-05-10 15:1820mSSB55 57

ON3FZT Belgium 2010-05-10 15:1720mSSB59 59

W6DYH United States of America 2010-05-10 15:1520mSSB59 59

DJ6YL Fed.  Rep. of Germany 2010-05-10 15:1320mSSB59 59

RX3BP European  Russia 2010-05-10 15:1220mSSB57 59

OO2O Belgium 2010-05-10 15:1120mSSB59 59

RA6XMF European  Russia 2010-05-10 15:1020mSSB59 59

UA4CC European  Russia 2010-05-10 15:1020mSSB59 59

K6YRA United States of America 2010-05-10 15:0820mSSB59 59

N6XIG United States of America 2010-05-10 15:0720mSSB59 59

DB6ZU Fed.  Rep. of Germany 2010-05-10 15:0520mSSB57 59

DL6LW Fed.  Rep. of Germany 2010-05-10 15:0220mSSB58 59

SP2GWH Poland 2010-05-10 15:0120mSSB59 59

UA1AKJ European  Russia 2010-05-10 14:5920mSSB59 59

W1STT United States of America 2010-05-10 14:5820mSSB57 57

MW0ZZK Wales 2010-05-10 14:5720mSSB59 59

W6GMP United States of America 2010-05-10 14:5520mSSB57 59

W8TE United States of America 2010-05-10 14:5220mSSB57 59

F4GBU France 2010-05-10 14:5120mSSB55 59

SM2S Sweden 2010-05-10 14:4920mSSB57 59

UA9QA Asiatic  Russia 2010-05-10 14:4820mSSB57 59

OK2PJO Czech  Republic 2010-05-10 14:4620mSSB57 59

SF8AL Sweden 2010-05-10 14:4620mSSB59 59

KC9KBB United States of America 2010-05-10 14:4520mSSB58 56

K7VVF United States of America 2010-05-10 14:4320mSSB59 59

GW3RKD Wales 2010-05-10 14:4220mSSB55 59

K9WKW United States of America 2010-05-10 14:4120mSSB59 59

S51TJ Slovenia 2010-05-10 14:4020mSSB59 59

OE4MDA Austria 2010-05-10 14:3920mSSB59 59

DJ9UI Fed.  Rep. of Germany 2010-05-10 14:3820mSSB58 59

KL7XD Alaska 2010-05-10 14:3720mSSB59 59

DL1AZZ Fed.  Rep. of Germany 2010-05-10 14:3720mSSB59 59

RW9CG Asiatic  Russia 2010-05-10 14:3620mSSB59 59

RA1CY European  Russia 2010-05-10 14:3520mSSB58 59

SM3XKW Sweden 2010-05-10 14:3420mSSB59 59

IK2DIA Italy 2010-05-10 14:3420mSSB59 59

UA1ABW European  Russia 2010-05-10 14:3220mSSB59 59

IZ3LEV Italy 2010-05-10 14:3220mSSB59 59

DG1KOH Fed.  Rep. of Germany 2010-05-10 14:3020mSSB58 59

UT2IF Ukraine 2010-05-10 14:2920mSSB59 59

RV9JN Asiatic  Russia 2010-05-10 14:2720mSSB59 59

SM6GZ Sweden 2010-05-10 14:2720mSSB59 59

UT7IL Ukraine 2010-05-10 14:2520mSSB59 59

LA0HK Norway 2010-05-10 14:2420mSSB59 59

WA5UA United States of America 2010-05-10 14:2320mSSB55 59

UW2XW Ukraine 2010-05-10 14:2020mSSB59 59




9m6bob pile - up on 20m

Warning from apt-key: Key is stored in legacy trusted.gpg keyring (/etc/apt/trusted.gpg)

  This worked for me... Code:  Select all sudo cp /etc/apt/trusted.gpg /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d