Help for DX QSLING from CARS and WA4BUE
Did you know many of your Outgoing DX QSL Cards can be handled by CARS?
Currently I (Richard wa4bue) am the CARS QSL guy.
So you get on the air and you work some DX stations and decide that you want to exchange QSL Cards.
1. Send to your ARRL Incoming QSL Bureau 4 or 5 Self Addressed Stamped Envelopes (SASE) 5X7 or 6X9. So the Bureau can send you the DX QSL Cards they receive for you. You can find your ARRL QSL Bureau on the ARRL WEB site.
2. Look up the DX station you contacted on QRZ.COM or some other DX data base. Note: Often the DX station will tell you who to send your QSL Card to
3. Determine if that station has a QSL Manager. – If there is a QSL Manager in the U.S., you can send your QSL card to that manager with a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope (your SASE), – If there is a overseas QSL Manager you will have to send your card in an envelope (Currently $.94 postage to foreign countries) and $2 – $5 to receive a QSL Card. If it is a rare country, your probably want to send your QSL direct. For non-rare countries, you can try sending your QSL via the ARRL outgoing QSL bureau. It’s much cheaper, but it can take two or three years to get a card back.
4. To use the outgoing bureau, check on the DX ARRL list of countries and see if there is a DX QSL Bureau for that country. If there is no QSL Bureau for that Country you will have to send your card direct to a DX QSL Manager, if there is one, or direct to the station you worked.
5. Often you will work a DX Club Station or Special Event Station, in these cases the data base may tell you to send the card to another amateur call. In this case when you fill out your QSL card on the back write the call that the card should be sent to according to the data base.
6. If the card is to be sent to the call you worked write that call on the back of the QSL card.
7. Cards to Alaska, Hawaii, and US Territories should be sent direct with SASE envelope.
8. All outgoing QSL Cards should be delivered in Numeric / Alphabetical order to WA4BUE so they can be sent to the ARRL Out Going QSL Bureau.9.
9. Do not write your call sign or the call sign of the DX station on the outside of your envelope if your send a QSL to a DX manager or to the DX station. In many foreign countries, the mail carriers know that envelopes with call signs on them have cash inside. They are easily stolen, and you will never get a QSL.
10. Place your SASE in the envelope with the flap down so that it doesn’t get cut off when the recipient opens your envelope.
11. Wrap a piece of paper around your QSL, SASE, and cash. That way, it looks like a letter and there is less chance of getting ripped off.
12. Check QRZ.COM or one of the other DX databases for QSLing. Follow the instructions to the letter. Some DX stations only want International Reply Coupons (IRCs) because of the theft problems. Some DX stations want more than $2 or $3 to send a QSL back. Unfortunately, some DX stations using QSLing as a revenue generator. In a few countries, $2 won’t cover the postage to send a QSL back.
There are other pay QSL services you may choose to use.
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