How Does the BC Incoming QSL Bureau Work?

Check to see if we have cards for you:

Click Here

Its Really Pretty Simple!

Using a QSL bureau is by far the least expensive way to collect QSL cards. Most major Amateur Radio countries have a bureau where cards are collected from hams within the country and then forwarded in bulk to the destination country. Using bulk mail to send your cards to the bureau and for them to forward the cards to other countries cost much less for postage than mailing individual cards. Both RAC in Canada and ARRL in the U.S. offer QSL cards outgoing services for amateurs who are members. Incoming cards can generally be received whether or not you are a member but membership alone is worth the cost of the bureau's service. The  RAC - BC Incoming QSL Bureau only accepts incoming cards for distribution to area Amateurs.

QSL'ing Direct

To QSL direct you fill out your QSL card and mail it the the person you contacted. So, if you had a QSO with VE3RAC and you would like his QSL card, you need to find his address. This can be done by searching an online callbook such as Buckmaster or QRZ!, or you can use a CD-ROM callbook from these organizations or others.

Fill out your card, address it, using an envelope to protect it, affix a stamp and drop it in the mailbox. Usually in a few weeks you can expect a card in return.

If you are sending a card to a DX contact it is generally good practice to include a self addressed envelope and return postage. Do not use the postage of your country as it will not be valid for use in the DX country. Instead include either a U.S. dollar bill (known by hams as a green stamp) or an International Reply Coupon (IRC) which you can purchase at the post office. We Canadians cannot use a loonie to pay for return postage as it is heavy and therefore subject to theft. Some countries require more than the equivalent of a dollar for postage. One example is Germany where you should send two dollars or two IRCs. Remember that DX amateurs, especially those in rare countries, get a lot of requests for QSL cards and so it is only fair to them that you provide the cost of postage.
QSL Managers

Active stations often use a QSL manager when mailing to a foreign country. With some less developed DX countries this is difficult. Using Managers in Canada and the US  makes postage less expensive. You can often obtain the QSL manager when looking up the address of the  call or on the Internet.

You send a card to a QSL manager in the same way as above. A return envelope and postage is a must.

Contents of a QSL Card

Some of the content that should be on each card is:

• your call sign
• your name and address
• a place to write:

       - the call of the station you contacted
       - the date (use DD/MM/YY to comply with most countries). 
         Be sure the date used is the UTC date (see note below).

• time in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)
• frequency or band
• mode (SSB, CW, FT8, RTTY, etc.)
• RST
• a request to QSL or thanks for a QSL received.

Some optional items you might include are:

• your station (maybe even a picture)
• your CQ and ITU zones
• the county you are in
• your grid location (primarily if you operate above 50MHz)

If you plan to send a lot of QSLs you might find that using a computerized logging program such as N1MM (free) or others can help you keep track of your contacts and also print labels for your QSL cards.

Contact Information 

BC QSL Bureau Manager

Ken Clarke, VE7BC

E-mail ve7bc27@gmail.com

Telephone: (604) 816-5775

Bureau Mailing Address

VE7-VA7 Incoming QSL Bureau

Ken Clarke VE7BC

P.O. Box 1109

100 Mile House, BC

V0K 2E0

~

Verification For Awards

Check to see if we have cards for you:

Click Here

The Process For Claiming ARRL Awards

QSL Card Verification For Awards

For those who are seeking ARRL awards, such as DXCC, there is a requirement to have QSL cards verified. The verification can be done by ARRL HQ or a local card-checker. I have recently been appointed as a DXCC Card Checker and I am now set-up to handle card verification.


Several years ago ARRL introduced an on-line application https://p1k.arrl.org/onlinedxcc/ to simplify the process. Using the Online DXCC Application, the user can select the cards that he or she would like to have checked by a card checker and, at his or her convenience, type that data into a form (which can be saved and retrieved at any time until submitted) and make an application for DXCC. When the application is finished, the participant will be able to print the list of cards and take or mail the list and the cards (in the same order that they are entered into the form) to a card checker who will check the cards, note any changes and send the form to ARRL HQ. (NOTE: Amateur radio operators outside of the US do not need to be an ARRL member to participate in the DXCC programme.)

In addition, the card checker can review the necessary documentation for joining the Logbook of the World (LoTW) programme.  This involves an in-person review of your operating certificate and another government piece of identification.
If you would like your cards checked for the DXCC program please contact me by email prior to sending your cards and application.

You can contact me at rick.williams@ve7tk.com

Many thanks.

73, Rick
VE7TK

http://www.ve7tk.com


~

What Is A QSL Card?

Check to see if we have cards for you:

Click Here

Confirming Our QSO...

A QSL card is a written confirmation of a two-way radio communication between two amateur radio stations or a one-way reception of a signal from an AM radio, FM radio, or television station. QSL cards can also confirm the reception of a two-way radio communication by a third party. A typical QSL card is the same size and made from the same material as a typical postcard, and many are sent directly by mail or via a QSL Bureau.

The RAC - BC Incoming QSL Bureau is a repository of cards received from stations, awaiting distribution to a recipient living in British Columbia, Canada. Please note that this bureau does not receive and distribute outgoing QSL cards, that remains the responsibility of the individual station. 

QSL cards derived their name from the Q code "QSL", which means "I acknowledge receipt." Most are collected by amateur radio operators,shortwave listeners, TV-FM DXers, and other radio hobbyists. A limited market exists for older QSL cards, especially those from rare locations or famous stations, as collector's items.

Amateur radio operators exchange QSL cards to confirm two-way communications between stations. A QSL card sent from one amateur radio operator to another contains details about the contact and the station.At a minimum, this includes the call sign of both stations participating in the communications, the time and date of the contact (usually specified in UTC or 'Zulu'), the radio frequency used, the mode of transmission used, and a signal report. The accepted standard for a QSL card is 89 mm by 140 mm (3½ by 5½ inches). Most QSL cards contain an image, often something associated with the station or the operator. Please check the featured card page for a gallery of noteworthy or unusual QSL cards received through this bureau.

~