Tag Archives: QSL Cards

Wavescan contest: “rare, unusual, unique QSLs”

WavescanContest

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Tom Ally, who shares a link to Wavescan‘s 2014 Annual DX Contest where you are invited to share your rare, unique and unusual verifications.

(Source: AWR Wavescan)

Shortwave listeners, international radio monitors and DXers around the world are invited to search their collection of QSL cards and letters for rare, unusual and unique verifications. You are invited to make up a list (up to 5 in number) of your QSLs in this collective category, and to write a short paragraph about each. Partial entries for this year’s contest are considered to be valid.

Prize: At the conclusion of the contest, we at Wavescan are planning to write up and publish a detailed compilation of interesting information on a world wide basis about the rare, unusual and unique QSLs that come to light in this way. This will be the first occasion in the history of international radio broadcasting for the compilation of such a QSL list, and you all are invited to submit entries.

Submission period: Through September 2014.

Click here for full details…

Ken’s favorite QSL card

W7LR-KenCarrRegarding memorable QSL cards, SWLing Post reader, Ken Carr comments:

“I received my favorite QSL card many years ago as a result of a random contact. I was just starting out in ham radio when I logged a QSO [contact] with a ham from Montana. I was thrilled because I knew how sparsely populated the state was. I once lived there for 8 weeks while studying at the biological station on Flathead Lake.

The very friendly and helpful ham from Montana was Bob Leo, W7LR. I promptly sent him a card and soon thereafter received one from Bob. Years later I was reading an article in QST. It was about a massive Dxpedition of 1947 sponsored in part by Hallicrafters. Hams from all over the country competed for the two coveted positions on what was called the Gatti Expedition. One of the hams chosen was Bob Leo!”

A photo of the card superimposed on the QST article along with more details are found on my Flickr site: http://bit.ly/1sxnL06

Thanks so much for sharing this memory, Ken!

Readers: you can follow Ken on his blog, KE1RI – A New England Ham.

QSL cards: STF Radio International sets a benchmark

STF-Radio-International-Front-QSL-001

[STF Radio QSL card front (above) back (below). Original scans by Steve Yothment]

STF-Radio-International-Back-QSL-001

SWLing Post reader, Steve Yothment (WD0HGB), writes:

“I received an “audio QSL” card from STF Radio International a few days ago. Have you heard about it? [The QSL] actually has grooves on the card that you can play on a phonograph. I had a friend play the audio on his phonograph and he converted the audio to MP3 format. Then, I decoded the digital info in the file.”

Click here to download or listen below:

DigitalDecode-STFRadio

Steve decoded the digital data from the audio QSL card and documented the contents on a PDF document.  Click here to download.

Steve: this is brilliant!  Thank you not only for sharing the QSL card images, but for the audio and your excellent documentation of the digital decode!

Readers: What’s the most interesting QSL card you’ve ever received?

Radio Paisano QSL

Last week, I listened to and recorded the pirate radio station, Radio Paisano. Three days ago, I received this message along with a QSL card:

Radio Paisano is a novelty shortwave pirate station that celebrates Columbus Day, and features the music of Lou Monte and the comedy of Pat Cooper. This was the eighth year that we were on the air.

Attached is your e-QSL.

Grazie,
Luigi

2013PaisanoQSL-Witherspoon112Many thanks for the note and QSL card, Luigi!

I look forward to catching Radio Paisano next year.

Steven remembers his QSL collection

The Nomadness (Photo: Steven Roberts)

The Nomadness (Photo: Steven Roberts)

 recently sent me a message with photos of a QSL card collection he once had. You see, several years ago he started the process of living on his boat, The Nomadness, full-time. It required that he pare down his belongings to only the essentials; he made the decision to sell his QSL card collection.

Steve confesses:

“Kind of sorry I sold them now, but I have to let things go before I sail off, die, or otherwise render my tonnage irrelevant!”

Steve said that most of the card collections below are from around 1966-67; others from about 1980. Click on the images to see larger versions:

europe-qsl

Europe

north-qsl

North America

south-qsl

South America

bcb-qsl

Broadcast Band

christian-qsl

Christian Broadcasters

eu-asia-qsl

EU/Asia

africa-qsl

Africa

You can follow Steven’s adventures with The Nomadness on his blog: http://nomadness.com/blog

Daniel shares recent QSLs

Daniel (W3DI) writes:

I have been enjoying some shortwave broadcasts recently and received some nice QSL cards. Wanted to share the cards and some station information.

 Deutsche Welle - copied broadcast on 15,275 KHz - Jan 20 , 2013 at 1930 UTC

Deutsche Welle – copied broadcast on 15,275 KHz – Jan 20 , 2013 at 1930 UTC

China Radio International - copied broadcast on 9,580 & 6,020 KHz - Dec 29 & 31 , 2012   at 0130 UTC

China Radio International – copied broadcast on 9,580 & 6,020 KHz – Dec 29 & 31 , 2012 at 0130 UTC

IMG_0002

VOA -  Africa service - They sent not only a QSL but a beautiful 2013 calendar.

VOA – Africa service –
They sent not only a QSL but a beautiful 2013 calendar.

Daniel addeded:

Shortwave listening was my first step to becoming an amateur [radio operator]. First receiver was a Lafayette HE – 10 with a Q mulitplier I built. Now using a WinRadio 313 – things have really changed.

Shortwave listening was also my first step to becoming a ham radio operator. The Lafayette HE-10 is a beautiful little 9 tube radio. I love the split dials on the front–much like the venerable Hallicrafters S-38.

The Lafayette HE - 10 (Photo: RigPix.com)

The Lafayette HE – 10 (Photo: RigPix.com)

Halli-S-38

The Hallicrafters S-38 (Photo: The S-38 Guy)

 

Show your favorite QSL cards in our new gallery

SWLing Post reader, Mike Taniwha, recently shared some of his QSL cards with us. With his permission, I’m posting them for other readers to view.

In fact, Mike has inspired me to start a new QSL Gallery category. Please feel free to send images of some of your most memorable QSLs, and I will share them with our readers.

Enjoy!

Radio Japan, 1983 (click to enlarge)

Radio Netherlands, 1980 (click to enlarge)

HCJB, 1987 (click to enlarge)

Radio Moscow, 1987 (click to enlarge)