=========================== > > Verifing reception is part of a state broadcaster's responsibility -- it > > is part of domenstrating that the state is still properly functioning. ===========================
1. VOA is clearly a state broadcaster, beyond question. 2. The BBCWS, RN and even SRI are public broadcasters domestically -- but state broadcasters (internatioally) by charter. > This can't be serious. It's like being in a time warp. I remember even > genial George Wood getting angry when someone made that point at an EDXC > Conference many years ago. I thought such attitudes had been well and truly > removed from the hobby. First of all, we are not state broadcasters. We are > public broadcasters. 3. There are "office automation" medthods to speed up QSL RSVPs, here are some: A. PDF email QSLs B. Bulk (but cheap) out of country remailing services C. Online QSL forms, to encourage A D. Outsourcing to interns, etc... > Secondly, international broadcasters are not on the air > for the gratification of people who are only interested in their technical > operations. QSL cards were, in the past, sent out as a way of saying thanks > because the broadcasters relied on reception reports to determine how well > their transmissions were being received. Those days are long gone. Most > broadcasters can check reception themselves via remotely operated receivers, > or monitor each other's broadcasts on a professional level. The world has > moved on, but some DXers' attitudes apparently haven't :-( 4. Ioncap, VOAarea and Ionarea are not perfect programs by any means; QSL cards are still needed as part of the Telecomm Engr endevor that SW broadcasting is and will continue to be into the near future... > Many international broadcasters continue to send out QSL cards as a public > relations exercise. That's all it is - not a duty or a responsibility. Radio > Netherlands is still threatened with further massive budget cuts. Do you > imagine that QSL cards are high on the list of priorities? I have personal > friends who have lost their jobs. Can I tell them, "never mind, at least we > can still afford to send out postcards to DXers in Vladivostok" ? 5. As international broadcasters 'delete' programs with technical content, segments of the audience leave. I have not listened to RN since Media Network vanished off the air... ---[Start Commercial]--------------------- World Radio TV Handbook 2004 is coming out! Preorder yours now! Only $20.97 through us. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0823059685/hardcoredxcom ---[End Commercial]----------------------- ________________________________________ Hard-Core-DX mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://dallas.hard-core-dx.com/mailman/listinfo/hard-core-dx http://www.hard-core-dx.com/ _______________________________________________ THE INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE IS FREE. It may be copied, distributed and/or modified under the conditions set down in the Design Science License published by Michael Stutz at http://dsl.org/copyleft/dsl.txt
