I'm with you, Charles. Even though I'm a techie geek, LOTW and eQSL are just two more applications to complicate my already complicated life. I like the look and feel of real cardboard QSL cards, old radios if I have storage space for them (just picked up a RT-524 based VRC-12, 1960s vintage Army mobile VHF FM which happens to have 6m capability - the seller needed rent money and offered it to me at a price I couldn't refuse), turning the VFO for DX, and running my own one-man mini-DXpeditions to VO2 land.
Still, IRCs are a lot easier to obtain and exchange for postage than foreign postage stamps. And woe to the op who sends QSL requests without IRC, GS, or especially a SA envelope; he's gonna wait a long time for a response via the Buro. I hate hand addressing envelopes. I'd rather have a root canal. Or go shopping or do laundry. 73 de Fred K2FRD, VO2FS At 2:45 AM +0000 29/11/06, Charles Harpole wrote: >I found out from answering VU4AN/VU3CHE card requests that the easiest and >fastest reply went to the one USA guy who had Thailand postage on his >self-addressed envelop. Also, to the several Japanese who used their version >of international reply ENVELOP. > >Those were just so nice and easy to drop into the post box on the corner here >in Bangkok on my way out to work. > >Of course, all the other direct cards were taken care of, but I was surprised >at myself at the joyful temptation to take care of the one with the Thai stamp >so easily. I am sure this would not affect the big DXpeditions with lots of >QSL helpers, but my wife and I were chugging away ourselves. > >BTW, maybe if u are really hot to get a card, a local postage affixed is much >more effective than (1) sending multiple cards for the same contact or (2) >emailing the DX asking for a special search and reply. > >I love old-fashioned things.... CW, tube radios, listening for DX, paper QSLs >that arrive with beautiful stamps, rag chewing, tiny DXpeditions running 50 >watts to a dipole, and the other things that retain the mystery of ham radio. > >Good DX to all...... 73 > >Charles Harpole >[EMAIL PROTECTED] -- 73 de Fred Stevens K2FRD, VO2FS http://homepage.mac.com/k2frd/K2FRD.html Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
