Re: [IRCA] Poor Excuses kill this hobby

[James Niven <niven43@xxxxxxxxx>]

Yes Russ, here we go again - this topic alway seems to raise its head every now and then.
   
  At one point time, I would chase that QSL, with up to 2-3 follow ups but sometime with no reply. What ever radio station that would reply, I treasure this as they are few and far between. Even if the card/letter had no details I would do as Joe Miller mentioned this morning, hand write in pencil the details, I know after all this is not the prefered method, but this is my collection. We all run by different standards within the hobby, me I gave up chasing QSL's quite a few years back and record the station ID as verification; to me this is my aknowledgement I heard the station.
   
  As far as Dx tests go, I would stay up and try to hear the station and I would thank the staff for them going out of their way to conduct the test, stations don't have to do this!! For me, this may be the only way of hearing some stations due to the volume of stations and noise on some frequencies.
   
  I would say to those, stop the b#(%$^$ and being so critical of Radio Stations and just try to enjoy the hobby and be grateful that you did hear the station or you received a reply of some type.
   
  Thanks
  

Russ Edmunds <wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
  
--- Konnie Rychalsky wrote:

> 
> Jim,
> 
> With all due respect, you are a ham radio operator, and the reference
> at the bottom of your recent post ( QRZ.com ) does an excellent job
> at "defining" what a QSL is, unless you have redefined it. I in no
> way suggested that you insist upon the testing-station that you
> educate them, but come on now.... you "ARE" a ham radio operator....
> and wouldn't it help to a) when you ask a station to run a test, ask
> them if they have a QSL available, b) if not, offer one, and c) it
> would be nice to let us know????? Ham radio operators know what QSLs
> are, and no news to you I'm sure. Aren't you of all people suppossed
> to encourage the hobby of radio? Doesn't Ham radio include QSLs???
> 
>


Well, here we go again!

I have to once again question the notion that nothing is anything
without a QSL. We appear to have two hobbies here - DX'ing and QSL'ing
where once there was one.

Even when postage rates were reasonable and QSL rates were high, there
were always stations which didn't respond after follow-ups. I don't
think I ever sent a station more than 3 follow-ups, and that was only
once - for reception of KFQD-AK in Syracuse NY in 1966.

I think many of us reached a point back then when we would not keep
sending fruitless follow-ups, potentially annoying station personnel
and wasting our time and money. 

Today, the costs of QSL'ing are higher and the returns are poor. Many
on these lists consider their recording as their QSL because of that. I
am one of those unless a DX TEST clearly indicate QSL's will be
provided, and even that isn't a certainty, considering the recent past
record - WISN-1130/WOKY-920, WRCG-1420 to name a few. People move on
and the chain is broken.

So, to answer Konnie's question, there are a lot of us who would listen
( whether live or by remote automated unattended recording ) for tests
and be happen with them absent a QSL. I am always happy to add a new
station to my log.

Others may disagree, as Konnie already has, and I know some other do,
and that's fine, but I don't believe it is right for those who believe
that the QSL is the only object of this hobby to impose that belief on
the rest of us who don't share it.



Russ Edmunds
Blue Bell, PA ( 360' ASL )
[15 mi NNW of Philadelphia]
40:08:45N; 75:16:04W, Grid FN20id

FM: Yamaha T-80 & Onkyo T-450RDS w/ APS9B @15'
AM: Hammarlund HQ-150 & 4' FET air core loop


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James Niven
Cedar Creek, Texas

Receivers: Icom R71A, Sangean ATS-909, Drake SPR-4
Antennas: 1 EWE 16x100x16 at 90 deg, 1 EWE 16x75x16 at 110deg (portable), 175 foot longwire at 330deg and 40" box loop.

ACARS Reception: Uniden UBC120XLT Scanner
Antenna: J-Pole for 144mhz mounted on 16 foot pole outdoors.
       
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