9w2esm - FAQ about QSL card

What is QSL card?
QSL is one of the Q codes used in radio communication and radio broadcasting. In this case, QSL means either "do you confirm receipt of my transmission?" or "I confirm receipt of your transmission". A QSL card is a written confirmation.

What is green stamp or GS?
Green stamps were actually U.S. Dollar money to help avenger QSL card in terms of shipping and so forth. 2 GS means 2 USD required.

What is SASE or SAE?
SASE or SAE is a Self Address Envelope stamped (without stamp), usually used with GS and QSL cards.

How to know the recipient address?
In this era of IT technology, almost most ham using internet facilities to see the address of the station that they call. One of the most popular web sites is qrz.com. There is also a ham that put their address on their web site and there is also informed directly when on the air. In addition, the services of buro or bureau can also be used.

What is QSL buro or bureau?
Sending QSL cards directly to a distant station is most often fastest, the confirmation of large numbers of international contacts may prove expensive. An alternative offered by many national and regional amateur radio societies is a bureau system. QSL's from individual stations are sent to an outgoing bureau locally; that bureau bundles all outgoing cards for each country and sends each bundle as a single package - reducing international postage costs. At destination, a national or regional incoming bureau holds received cards so that they may be claimed by the operator of the intended station.

What is QSL manager?
QSL manager is the person who manages the receiving and delivery services for the QSL cards for hams that require its services to all log entry, whether new or old. QSL manager is usually used for the DXpedition activity.

What is IRC?
An international reply coupon (IRC) is a coupon that can be exchanged for one or more postage stamps representing the minimum postage for an unregistered priority airmail letter of up to twenty grams sent to another Universal Postal Union (UPU) member country. IRCs are accepted by all UPU member countries.

What is QSL card format?
QSL card contains details about one or more contacts, the station and its operator. At a minimum, this includes the call sign of both stations participating in the contact, the time and date when it occurred (usually in UTC), the radio frequency or Band used, the mode of transmission used, and a signal report. The ARRL recommends a size of 3½ by 5½ inches (89 mm by 140 mm). QSL cards frequently includes an expression of individual creativity from a photo of the operator at his station to original artwork, images of the operator's home town or surrounding countryside, etc.

What is eQSL?
eQSL, or electronic QSL, is an online system where amateurs can leave confirmation of their contacts for other participants without the necessity of mailing a hard copy, thus saving the expense associated with mailing, especially overseas. Be advised that eQSL can generally not be used for awards, and many hams to not accept or wish to participate in this system. Example the site is www.eqsl.cc/qslcard/Index.cfm. eQSL does in fact have a verification process called Authenticated Guaranteed (AG) and has its own eAwards program. Electronic QSL card also can be done by exchange the QSL card through the email and etc.

What is LOTW?
LOTW, or Logbook of the World, is a system operated by the ARRL where users from around the world can submit records of their contacts. When both participants in a QSO submit matching QSO records to LoTW, the result is a QSL that can be used for ARRL award credit. This is because LOTW is tightly controlled to verify submissions. All QSO records are digitally signed using a certificate obtained from ARRL. Obtaining such a certificate requires verification of the licensee's identity either through mail verification (US) or inspection by ARRL of required documentation (non-US).

What Can I Do With All These QSLs?
Now that you have a collection of QSLs, there are many things that you can do. It is human nature to catalog anything of quantity into a database. It is also human nature to compete. Welcome to the world of awards! There are many awards. One of the most popular is the ARRL's DX Century Club, also known as DXCC (collect QSLs from 100 different countries).

*All FAQs is my point of view - please refer to your elmers or your own amateur radio society club