DXpeditions need funding before the team depart to pay for expensive shipping of equipment and for the charter of a vessel to get to the island. Quite often these expensive costs need to be paid at least by means of a deposit up to 12 months before the DXpedition. The best way that we can raise these funds is by using the teams Donation page on their website. This not only helps the teams funds but also if you are in the log your QSL and LoTW will be sent for you automatically.
To help you understand some changes on OQRS you may find this helpful.
The Pre DXpedition DonationOnce you fill in the form on the donation page, the data on that form is automated onto an Excel file. Once the DXpedition sends me the first log update. I upload the Excel file to OQRS, this file is then populated to the relevant QSL address fields and your QSL is queued, while your LoTW QSL is automatically uploaded to LoTW. This is repeated for every log update that i receive. ALL your QSOs are covered by the donation.
It is the DXpeditions IT team that must prepare the Excel spreadsheet correctly. I will provide the Excel spreadsheet to the team with all the needed fields laid out correctly. High end DXpeditions may attract 1,500 personal donations and this has to be automated by the team. As you can imagine doing this manually would not be possible.
“Express LoTW” In recent times some DX’ers have said that they do not want a QSL, but want to request an early LoTW and not have to request a QSL card. So for this reason Express LoTW replaces the QSL request. You are not forced to pay for the LoTW upload and neither is it an extra QSL charge.
DO not use Express LoTW if you want a QSL card. You will NOT get one.
Express LoTW will upload all QSOs in the log so far…. It will NOT upload any Qs you make tomorrow.
“OQRS Direct + LoTW” If you want the QSL and LoTW this is the option you should use.
“OQRS Direct” – NON DXpedition logs are normally uploaded to LoTW when the log updates arrive, either by me or the log owner.
“Busted/Missing Call Requests” VERY IMPORTANT Please do not send ANY busted or missing call emails – Use the “NOT IN LOG” Button on OQRS. All inquiries are handled on the system. NO EMAILS.
Finally, ALWAYS without fail, CHECK the QSL Policy of the DXpedition that you are wanting a QSL confirmation. 1 or 2 dollars will not be enough and your letter will NOT be replied to.
Please also remember, Bespoke OQRS is self-funded so it is not always possible to do upgrades that you may think are relevant and/or worthwhile. A lot of thought is given to upgrades and in particular the cost implications that surround them.
With another 2,500 Incoming Bureau cards received yesterday, I am finding it very hard to understand why so many people find it so difficult to follow QSL information?