Category - Blog

Bespoke QSL Management Cloud Platform 1st March 2017
With computers well entrenched in DXing and amateur radio in general the underappreciated QSL managers that work in the background are the recipients of thousands of e-mails (mostly all inquiring – sometimes complaining – about one or more missing QSOs), an untold number of snail mail pieces containing even more snail mail pieces, currency, IRCs, postage stamps and one or more QSL cards, even some with QSL cards for multiple DX stations or DX operators. This avalanche of paper is time consuming and labor intensive, sometimes requiring teams of volunteers to process. Add to this the hundreds of DX logs (in various formats), millions of DX contacts, donor lists, and consolidated DX club log submissions, all of which require accurate accounting and more importantly preservation.

QSL managers use different methods to recover their operating costs which include items such as toner, labels, envelopes, and sometimes pizza lunches for the volunteer teams. Some managers personally absorb the cost while others pass the cost to the DX-pedition.

In late 2014 Pista HA5AO and Gene K5GS began discussing an OQRS / QSL management platform specifically for the QSL managers that handle our projects. While Michael Wells G7VJR ClubLog is an outstanding application which made significant positive contributions to the hobby and introduced many new concepts in confirming contacts, we were looking for something that addressed the backend QSL management processes. The complexities of handling tens of thousands of QSL cards, e-mails, Not in Log / busted calls requests, returned postal mail pieces and a host of other tasks which were done manually for so many years needed to change.

We began by collecting requirements and creating detailed process flowcharts. Pista coded the application and we soon had a skeleton platform that offered some flexibility as well as functionality. The usual and familiar DX Log Search and OQRS functions were delivered in Phase 1.

After a number of enhancements and tests we switched it on for the 2015 TX3X DX-pedition. Of course, no amount of testing will uncover every bug. We learned what users expect and how they use OQRS software. Realizing we needed input from people with more experience than either of us in handing large volumes of confirmation requests we contacted Tim Beaumont M0URX (who previously handled cards for us) and his QSL Manager partner Charles Wilmott M0OXO. After e-mails and Skype conference calls we had a comprehensive list of process steps, additional requirements and a written agreement on how to proceed. As the new requirements were sorted, prioritized and coded each was tested by the team.

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A mailing of all 238 letters will be posted on Friday 3rd March, mostly ZC4A & ZC4ZM QSL cards plus others.

Our OQRS is open for all call signs that I am manager for please use OQRS for all your QSL requests. 

Please also remember that we do not need your incoming bureau cards, so PLEASE only use OQRS if you want to use the Bureau route.

The CanAm DX Group will be operating as TX5T, for its upcoming trip to the Austral Islands, Raivavae Island IOTA Ref OC-114 February 20 – March 3, 2017.

Operators VA7DX Neil, VE7KW Keith, W5MJ Madison & W5RF Robert plan to use KIO Hex beams and Spiderpole verticals for 160-6 Meters on CW, SSB and digital modes.  The team will be using Elecraft K3s and amplifiers to be able to work antipodal into Western Europe, where FO/A is rare. 

They will be updating their website at www.Australs2017.com
QSL Via M0URX OQRS preferred.

Please do not send us any bureau cards as they are not required. OQRS is fast and free! Thank you

Busted / Missing calls should be directed to the OQRS link above where you will find the “Busted / Missing Call” form, just enter your data and I will check the log. Please do not email me. USE OQRS for your inquiries. Thank you. Corrected log entries will automatically be uploaded to LoTW on the next upload.

The QSL designs for ZC4A and ZC4ZM are now both in the print room. Thanks to Max ON5UR for the designs.
OQRS is open HERE Please remember do not send us any bureau cards. USE OQRS! Thank you.

Darwin Amateur Radio Club Northern Territory

VI8BOD Active 0330Z 18th February 2017 to 1630Z 28th March 2017, NT, Australia

Darwin Amateur Radio Club Inc.  Press Release No 1

(PLEASE NOTE – At any time the log on OQRS may not be complete as logs will be incoming from several operators.)

The Event  The 19th February 2017 is the 75th anniversary of the Japanese bombing of Darwin. The first attack was carried out utilising the Aircraft carrier force which struck Pearl Harbour on the 7th December 1941. A second following aerial attack was carried out by land base bombers from the Dutch East Indies 2 hours later in the same day.

More aircraft attacked Darwin, a greater tonnage of bombs was dropped (but no torpedoes) and more ships, (of lesser aggregate tonnage) were destroyed and loss of life was in the order of 10% of that suffered in Pearl Harbour

The city was virtually destroyed, and defence installations were heavily damaged.

As with Pearl Harbour, advance warning of the attack was given (by the mission on Bathurst Island), but was not acted upon, hence the city was totally unprepared and not aware of the attack until bombs started to hit the town.

There were 46 ships in Darwin Harbour at the time of the first Air Raid. Of these 21 were sunk and a further 2 were sunk off Bathurst Island, one of which was not found until 2008

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Well, this is what happens when you do not check QSL information! Here is a pile of QSL cards for 9M6XRO, but because the sender did not put “QSL Via M0URX” then of course they have gone to Malaysia Amateur Radio Transmitting Society. the cards are with John, 9M6XRO amd we will now have the expense of re routing the cards to the United Kingdom.

CHECK the QSL info BEFORE you dump a QSL into the bureau.
QRZ.com profile quite clearly states “please do not send your card via Bureau USE OQRS.”

Most of the QSL cards should have been requested on OQRS avoiding this problem.

9M6XRO, John Plenderleith, was recently operating from the Mount Kinablu National Park, Dream World Resort. Here is John’s report along with some photos.

“The sign at the gate says “Relax Amidst the Clouds”, well at times we were ABOVE the clouds and for long periods we were actually in them.

Visibility often changed from unlimited to totally misty in a matter of minutes. Temperatures were very cool all day and more so at night.

The town down the hill is Kundasang which is the location of Mount Kinabalu National Park, a start point for climbing Mt Kinabalu.

Kundasang is on the route we passed a few years back when driving from KK to Tawau for the Sebatik Island trips. Due to the elevation that area produces all the veg and most of the fruit for Sabah as well as for export. We loaded up on the way back and also bought a load of barbecued wild boar meat which they bbq and sell by the roadside. 

As you can see in one photo Mount Kinabalu (about 14,000 ft high) was almost plumb North of us so most of the stuff I worked apart from JA was LP. As you can see, there was a great take-off to the South.”
John reports making several hundred QSOs from this location mainly on LF and some Qs to North America Long Path, as usual all QSOs have been uploaded to LoTW and OQRS is open.