Category - Blog

Bespoke OQRS v4.61 update

25 August 2018
OQRS NIL

The new version of the Bespoke OQRS is now on line and there are quite a lot of changes. Many are cosmetic, adding a bit of colour and others are more practical. I will post a longer description later but two of the main changes;

1) OQRS now allows ”live logging” by Dxpeditions providing they have a stable Internet connection and are using N1MM.

2) After a log search you will see that we will no longer accept email and social media requests for Missing Call requests. This is a practical change and indeed a safer way to ensure all busted calls are traceable and more important, that none are missed by being sent on many different social media platforms.
Social Media requests need to be discouraged.

By using the Log Check Request Form for missing Q’s this also helps me identify any serious log issues that i need to report to the DX team.

Thanks, hope you enjoy the new version which you will catch on both M0URX and M0OXO OQRS sites…..

 

HB0/ON4ANN September

24 August 2018
ON6NB 2

Members of the NB-DX Team from Belgium will be QRV as HB0/ON4ANN
From September 22-28. Team members include ON4ANN, ON4CCV, ON5PDV, ON2BDJ, ON4CKM and ON6MI.

 

The operators may also do some WWFF activity as HB0/ON4CCV/P and HB0/ON4CKM/P.
QSL via M0URX OQRS

TX5T Australs August 2018

17 August 2018
K800 QSL-TX5T

Following on from their 2017 operation the CanAm DX Group is pleased to announce that they have added an additional team member, K4UEE, Bob Allphin, to their upcoming trip to Austral Islands. The licence for their call sign TX5T has arrived

The team will arrive on Raivavae Island IOTA Ref:OC-114 on August 13 and staying through August 22.

Plans are to have three stations on 40-6 meters on CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8.

The Australs are number 71 on the Most Wanted List on Club Log. The team may try 80/160 but given summertime conditions in the Northern Hemisphere.

Please visit the web site for more information:

There will be a new QSL card printed after the DXpedition. The QSL shown above is from the 2017 operation.
QSL Via M0URX OQRS: 

The Final log has been uploaded to OQRS and LoTW. A further 400 FT8 QSOs have been recovered and are now on OQRS and uploaded to LoTW.

5B80FOC QSL Preview

16 June 2018
K800 QSL-5B80FOC

QSL card for 5B80FOC has been designed marking the 80th Anniversary of the First Class CW Operators Club.
5B80FOC was operated by G3RWF Nick & 5B4AGN Bob. OQRS open
The QSL card is now at the printers and will be ready to post at the end of June.
K800 QSL-5B90FOC-BACK


Bureau mail gets to Venezuela Hams

10 June 2018
YV4BCD

It has been very difficult to get mail in and out of Venezuela over the last year due to the politcal and financial climate in the country. Several attempts to get our bureau packages to the YV QSL Bureau failed with mail being returned as “Route suspended” however thanks to the help of the YV Bureau team we were able to route the mail via USA and this was picked up by the YV team.

 
The photo from YV4BCD, Juan shows that the cards from M0OXO Charles and myself, M0URX Tim finally got through to the Venezuela hams. Thank you to all who helped!

Could this be the death of the Bureau QSL?

30 May 2018
Good grief

Something is happening that I believe could be the death of the Bureau QSL card. For security reasons all parcels sent around the world will soon have to have “Pre-Advice Data”

What this means is that I need to send in advance, electronically, personal data of the recipient and the contents of the parcel to customs.
I will need the IARU Bureau email address, name of the person I am sending to, telephone number, as well as the usual customs declaration.

This electronic data will need a “Commodity code” for the items inside the parcel. QSL cards are as near as we can get it “postcards” which is commodity code 49090000.
This is where we have a problem, this is telling customs that the postcards in the box are a commodity and are likely to be charged VAT standard rate to other European Union Countries (Isn’t the EU supposed to be there to help EU citizens?) The only good news is that outside EU is 0% tax.

But I see nothing that can tell the recipients customs or douane that these postcards are a gift of “no value”
This will be starting in January 2019 and in some countries like Brazil it has already started. I am trying to get my head around this, looks really complicated and as far as I can see IARU Bureaus are not ready for it. I have asked my mail carrier for advice, so if I find out more on this I will report back soon.

3rd June – As of this time i am working with my account manager to ensure that our bureau dispatches will meet the new “Pre-advice data” requirements, however this does depend on cooperation from the IARU Bureaus to ensure that we have the data we need. 

HK3C New QSL

25 May 2018
K800 QSL-HK3C-2

A new QSL for John, HK3C is now in the printroom and will soon be ready to post.
As always OQRS is open for your requests.
K800 QSL-HK3C-2-BACK

80th anniversary of the First Class CW Operators’ Club

15 May 2018

A log search and QSL request facility is available with M0URX here that will be updated on a regular basis. Logging inquiries should be directed through the OQRS log search.
QSL requests should be made on the OQRS. You do not need to send any Bureau cards so please just use OQRS. Thank you

To celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the formation of the First Class CW Operators’ Club, the special callsign 5B80FOC will be aired by a Bob 5B4AGN & Nick G3RWF during the month of May 2018.

A special QSL card will be available and the logs will be uploaded to the ARRL’s Log Book of the World (LoTW) and Club Log on a regular basis.
Contacts with this station will count 10 points towards the FOC75 and FOC80 Awards.

Founded in 1938, and with its roots, history and management in the UK, the First Class CW Operators’ Club (FOC) promotes good CW (Morse code) operating, activity, friendship and socialising via its worldwide membership of approximately 500. Members are active on all HF bands and the character of the club is best expressed in its motto:

“A man should keep his friendship in constant repair” – Samuel Johnson (1755).

FOC MEMBERS AIM TO….

  • Foster and encourage a high standard of CW operating ability and behaviour on the amateur bands.
  • Observe the licence conditions and principles of band planning.
  • Be considerate to other amateurs at all times.
  • Protect the future of the hobby through being active, encouraging newcomers and supporting a national society.

For more information including how to become a member, please visit the Club’s own site.

HK3C log uploaded to OQRS

9 May 2018
hk3c

HK3C, John in Bogotá, Columbia has been in touch and asked me to take over QSL management of his call sign, HK3C, I will also be looking after his older calls signs of HK3AK and HK3OZ.

The logs have been uploaded to OQRS and are live.

A new QSL card will be designed shortly so QSL requests will be confirmed as soon as we have a new stock of cards.