Tag Archives: QSL

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?

QSL: International Radio for Disaster Relief (IRDR)

SWLing Post reader, Michael Guerin, writes:

“Just received [this QSL card] from HFCC in Czech Republic. Heard Radio Australia’s test program with fair copy. Sent report by mail the next day to both HFCC and RA.”

IRDR-QSL-Michael-Front

IRDR-QSL-Michael-Back

Many thanks for sharing this card, Michael! I’m impressed the HFCC issued them so quickly.

Did you miss the IRDR test broadcast?  Stay tuned–I’m hopeful they’ll repeat this test in the future.

The Juno Earth Flyby QSL card

Happiness is receiving the Juno Earth Flyby QSL card in the mail:

JunoQSLFront-Med

JunoQSLBack-Med

Many thanks to the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory for making the Juno Flyby such a fun experiment. To read more about the flyby, check out our post from last year.

Were any readers able to “work” the Juno spacecraft?

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.