I was just sending out some DX QSL
cards and did some quick calculations on percent return for my effort. Now these
are my numbers and my opinion and certainly may not reflect the ham
community in general.
The terms I use are:
PRICE = what it costs me to get a card
USAGE = my uninformed guess at how many
DX hams use this method
TIME = how long it takes me to get a
confirmation
CONVENIENCE = how easy it is for me to use this
method
% QSO's CONFIRMED = how many of my total
DX QSO's have been confirmed by this method
By the way, I QSL 100% all DX
QSO's. All by the Bureau and also LOTW. Direct only for those I deem important
for some reason and I include SASE, postage and contribution when
appropriate.
The numbers are:
LOTW - price= cheapest, usage = not many, time =
fastest method, convenience = OK but could be better, % QSO's confirmed <
10%
BUREAU - price = reasonable, usage = most, time =
years, convenience = easiest to use, % QSO's confirmed ~ 33%
DIRECT - price = very expensive (but if you need
the card?), usage = most DX will respond to a direct request, time = weeks
to months but never years, convenience = a lot of work, % QSO's confirmed = I
get return on 99% of cards I send out direct
Maybe this is not worth the
bandwidth I used but as N2ERN says I am just wasting a few electrons
not some trees.
I know that a lot of DX stations do not like LOTW
for some reasons but it sure can makes my life easier.
73, John - K2AZ
|
- [DX-CHAT] [dx-chat] QSL METHODS John Maikisch
- RE: [DX-CHAT] QSL METHODS Ron Notarius W3WN
- [DX-CHAT] QSL METHODS Charles Harpole
- Re: [DX-CHAT] QSL METHODS Peter Dougherty
- RE: [DX-CHAT] QSL METHODS Ron Notarius W3WN
- RE: [DX-CHAT] QSL METHODS Peter Dougherty
- RE: [DX-CHAT] [dx-chat] QSL METHODS Charles Harpole