[Dx-qsl] eQSL Changes

Thu Apr 4 12:25:01 2002

At 11:45 -0500 04/04/2002, [email protected] wrote:
>>I am a bit confused about how this is going to work.
>I have downloaded logs to eQSL in the past, but I certainly do not 
>want just anyone to be able to draw up one of my cards, unless they 
>also give me one of theirs.

That's exactly what has been accomplished with the change, so that 
you will not be able to display a received card unless it matches 
information you have uploaded.
>As long as any card I print here, will not be accepted for DXCC, I 
>still want a physical card from certain parties and dont want them 
>ignoring my cards, because they have already downloaded one from 
>eQSL.

This is a concern; as a matter of routine I upload all my logs to 
eQSL, but right now it's in addition to my normal QSL exchanges. It 
hasn't yet replaced the mailing of the physical cards, and I hope 
that those who have received my eQSLs and sent me one in return don't 
decline to send a paper card also, if I send them one (with the 
appropriate return postage, etc.).
>I also do not want to have to pay for printed cards from eQSL, as I 
>print my own cards here and pay for them, before mailing or sending 
>via buro.

You don't have to pay for anything from eQSL, if you don't want to 
use the eQSL for DXCC.
This is one sticking point that I don't know how it has been 
addressed, because I haven't received any eQSL mailed cards since the 
changes went into effect.
 From the ARRL news release:
"... Finally, we consider it an ethics violation if cards can only 
be claimed through payment of a fee, and thus we will not accept 
cards for DXCC credit for which a fixed charge is made..."
I don't yet know how Dave is dealing with this issue. I think it's 
obvious that he can't send out physical cards for free, but the 
1ドル-per-card charge that he has would seem to violate the "fixed 
charge" part of that sentence.
> If 100% of the world suddenly went to eQSL, that would be a 
>diffeent matter, but that is not likely to happen for years, if ever.

That's very true. I think the electronic QSL is only going to be used 
by a small percentage of the ham community for a long time to come.
> If the next big dxpedition goes out, and then downloads everythng 
>to eQSL, I would be that at least 90% of their contacts would still 
>be confirmed by a real live card, by people who want the same type 
>back.

But if you can get that card from an electronic service acting as the 
QSL manager for the DXpedition, what difference is there between that 
and the DXpedition that sends its logs to its individual QSL manager 
electronically and he then has QSL cards printed and sends them out 
to the deserving?
>It would be nice to have the contacts listed at the ARRL data base, 
>so I dont have to send the real card there, but I still want a real 
>card in hand.

It seems to me that eQSL has the capability to, and is, addressing that issue.
73,