CHAPTER 9

DAY	MONTH	YEAR	UTC	MHz	MODE	RST
25	March	2000	2057	28.480	SSB	59

DXCC SSB, CW           WAZ 10M SSB            WAS CW, QRP, 6-BAND
Rod Dinkins                              Ten-Ten No. 18029                   Kenwood TS-870
4982 Marin Drive                      Grid Square DM13IF                 Cushcraft R-7000
Oceanside, CA, U.S.A              CQ Zone 03, ITU 06                 Ameritron AL-80B
San Diego County                     San Diego DX Club                   Kenwood TS-60
Zip Code: 92056-4973                San Diego PARC Club              QRP 6 Watts, QRO 1kW
E-Mail: ac6v@amsat.org                                                           Website; www.ac6v.com
PSE QSL _X__                                         73 Rod Dinkins                          TNX QSL____

6. By E-Mail (some managers will accept your E-Mail and if in the log – will send a card via the bureau), not too common but is being done.

If the QSL route is via a manager, you have two options – QSL via the manager’s address or dump a card into the bureau and hope for the best. Not all QSL managers will return a QSL if it arrived via the bureau. If the QSL Manager is in your country, it’s a matter of simple domestic mail. For example a lot of USA operators contest from the Caribbean, but QSL from a stateside address.

Beginning DXers are oft tempted to QSL direct for the common countries (e.g., most of Europe, Japan, Central and South America). To save money over the long run (332 direct QSL’S could cost you over $600), use the via-the-bureau method – eventually you will confirm them but it takes time. Just work several stations from a given country, one or more will eventually come through. If in doubt ask a DX Elmer what is common and what is rare. See Appendices A12 and A13. Note that some countries do not have DX bureaus.

More than one DXer will advise that if you need a particular card, sending direct is best way using nested printed envelopes with foreign return postage enclosed. Expensive but gets results. QSL services like WF5E is a close second and a lot cheaper and simplifies things considerably. The bureau is fine for run of the mill cards, those considered to be common DX.

The fastest response is usually by sending an SAE and postage directly to the DX station. The preferred method of addressing in order is: typed addresses, computer-printed address labels, and hand printing in all capital letters. To minimize looking like QSL mail, use a pre-printed business envelope and make your return address appear business-like. Do not use script writing. Try to avoid thickness in the envelope.

Maybe use your degrees as part of the return address MD, MS, AA, may command respect and of course never include callsigns – yours or the DX callsign. Mail theft is a fact of life in some countries, so it is best to not use your callsign on any overseas correspondence.

On the other hand, envelopes that are well sealed, opaque, or thick might attract more attention than a routine-looking method. Who knows? You might have to try both methods. More than one DXer has sent QSL cards over and over again before success. Addressing for some countries might be confusing. For example, from the RAC callbook:

This can be placed on a standard computer label (max 4 lines). Just be sure to put in the commas as they appear from the RAC address.