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August 2019 Tech Night – QSLing and Awards[/caption]The video and presentation from our August Tech Night – QSLing and Awards is available on our Tech Night page to Members and Internet Subscribers. Don’t forget to log in to n1fd.org to see the materials. Check it out!
I got my first QSL card from an SWL [short-wave listener] through the W1 QSL buro!
Many hams start out listening to the radio for professional or amateur stations before they try 2-way communications (I did) and in some countries documenting your receiving ability is a required step before getting a license to transmit. Some people pursue SWL by itself for fun or the challenge — all the same reasons we do amateur radio — and there are SWL contests. Therefore, if someone hears your QSO with a third station, and sends you an SWL QSO card, it is nice to send them a confirmation card back.
[I know someone who builds very narrow, specialized filters so he can SWL DX weak, unmanned Non-Directional Beacons at airports in VERY remote places, but since they are unmanned, they don’t ever reply to his QSL cards. 😉 ]
First, check your log to make sure you did have a contact on that band, at that time, with the third station that is probably on the SWL card. Then fill out your card as you normally would, with the SWL’s call sign where you would normally put the call of the station you worked. Elsewhere on your card, write “worked” and the call of the third station. Leave RS(T) blank because you didn’t hear the SWL station, cross out “2-way”, and otherwise fill out the card normally with the date & time (UTC), band or frequency, and mode.
If they sent the card through the buro system, you should be able to send your card back the same way. Or maybe you can send it directly back via the post office if the SWL card says that’s okay. Note that you won’t find them listed in QRZ.COM (unless they are also have a ham license and include that call sign on their card.)
Does anyone else have something to add to, or correct in, the above?
Has anyone else gotten interesting cards from SWLs?
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