Category - Blog

As postage costs rise year on year, we are at that threshold where $2 barely covers costs outside Europe for a QSL, let alone covering other QSL expenses. So how can IOTA and DXCC DXpeditions be self sufficient? handle their own QSL management and cover all the costs like printing, labels, postage and bureau expenses?

Many QSL managers have chosen to increase QSL costs to $3, $4 or even $5. That is NOT our choice! There are two options that I would like to put to you, full QSL management and Independent QSL management. Both of these options include using Royal Mail’s Online Business Account for posting your QSL cards. Some years ago I negotiated an International Mailing Contract with Royal Mail that was designed especially for posting QSL cards from DXpeditions with UK based QSL managers.
Remember, using stamps is the most expensive way to post QSL cards. With this contract we have a licence for a Postage Paid Impression for the envelope while the QSL manager accesses the account through the www.royalmail.com website.

Full QSL Management.
Both myself Tim Beaumont, M0URX and Charles Wilmott, M0OXO have facilities to handle all IOTA and DXCC QSL management to provide full QSL services, free QSL printing, postage costs, free outgoing Bureau. OQRS and FREE LoTW handling.
Our QSL costs are: Direct QSL: $2 – OQRS: €2 and Bureau: Free.
You can find out more by going to either of our websites www.M0URX.com or www.M0OXO.com

Independent QSL Management.
If you want to handle your QSL’ing yourself but need to lower postage costs then we can give you access to the mailing account so that you can handle your own cards.
You also have access to our Outgoing QSL Bureau at £1 per 100g. We post Bureau cards to ALL World IARU QSL Bureaus DIRECT every 3 or 4 months, using Prioirty Air Mail & M-Bag products.
If you are planning a DXpedition and want more information please contact Tim Beaumont, M0URX on +44 7976 292980

For the larger DXpeditions where you are posting more than 1.5kg to a country destination then we currently have access to the most competitive International postage rates in the business.
Whether you are planning a one man DXpediiton to the Channel Islands or a major Top 10 Most Wanted, we have the two options above for you to consider.

Both Glen (G0SBN) & Bob (M0KLO) spent Saturday afternoon doing a dry run of putting up the 8m mast with the newly acquired Hexbeam from Ant (MW0JZE). It was more than a bit windy so it was a quick up and down in the paddock to check on guy lengths. The second Hex is going up on a 12m Clark mast so hopefully that will be a bit more straight forward.

We used the Hex in 2012 for GB5DX and it was a good performer which encouraged Glen to make the plunge. The latest Hex from Ant is a lot lighter and has evolved a great deal and we are looking forward to giving it a good run out.

This week will see the testing of the 40m, 80m verticals and also the beverage RX antenna. We hope to be QRV on 160m which will most likely be an inverted ‘L’. The following week is a dry run of the shack and networking on Wintest which should leave us enough time to minimise ‘murphy!’

The three stations are going to be Kenwood 590s with bandpass filters fitted and running 400w from two of them and barefoot on the third. There will also be a Kenwood TS480SAT which will be configured for data mode operations.

Lots of lessons are being learnt during preparation and we can see why many operations opt for a waterside location and verticals. Its no easy feat wheeling around a Clark mast but hopefully it will be worth the effort!

We’ve recruited two extra recruits – Max and Jed who are Bob’s Border Collies. They came with us on GB5DX in 2012 and people seemed more interested in knowing what they were doing than about the station so they’re back on the team.

Cheers, Bob, M0KLO

GS0NWM will be the call sign of the Tynemouth Amateur Radio Club’s IOTA activation of Isle of Arran, EU-123, from March 26th – April 2nd 2014.
The team will enter the CQ WPX Contest (29th & 30th March) as GM5NMulti Op.

January 26, 2014

Mellish Reef DX-pedition is scheduled for March 28, 2014 to April 9, 2014.

Status:
We are on schedule and will soon be on autopilot. Team members booked their travel to Mackay, Australia, local contacts in Mackay are established, as well as suppliers to assist with logistics. Generators were ordered and will ship later in February from Sydney, Australia. One of the biggest logisticalchallenges will be purchasing 1,400 liters of petrol. The skipper of Evohe, Steve Kafka, agreed to handle the sourcing and take delivery of the petrol removing from the team this task.

Antennas from SteppIR, coax / accessories from DX-Engineering and folding hex beams from foldingantennas.com will be air shipped to Australia in early February from the USA. Another shipment from Hungary is also scheduled for February, some equipment will be hand carried. Joining the antennalineup is a 4 Square provided by Norbert DJ7JC.

Update to the QSL Policy:
We are happy to announce that any individual donating $50(USD) or more to VK9MT will automatically receive their QSL for all QSOs, free of charge. These donors will not need to request QSL cards or take any action to redeem the QSL. Our QSL manager, Tim Beaumont M0URX, will post the cards to all $50+ donors as soon as the cards are ready, thank you Tim for this wonderful service.

Global Pilot Team:
The pilot team will manage all DX community communication between the island team and DXers. Prior to sailing we’ll update the web site with process details and e-mail addresses. While on the island we will not be checking personal e-mail accounts. Please direct operational suggestions to the pilot designated for your region.

Fund Raising:
Like all DX-peditions to rare and semi-rare DXCC entities, donations are welcomed through vk9mt.complease use the Donate Button on the web site to insure your name is automatically added to the donor list,or by check / money order in US dollars to:

Mellish Reef 2014 DX-pedition
Gene Spinelli, Treasurer
PO Box 189
Divide, CO
USA 80814

For our friends outside the USA please use PayPal or e-mail for wire transfer instructions:[email protected]

We appreciate the generosity of the foundations, clubs and individuals who have already made a donation or a commitment. At the completion of the DX-pedition a financial summary will be sent to all club / foundation donors.

For additional information please e-mail: [email protected]

And, of course, good luck to the FT5ZM team that is now QRV.

73, Team Mellish 2014

I have a VERY important message for you today. For those of you requesting Bureau cards this MUST be done now ONLY by requesting using my OQRS service which will remain completely FREE.

There is a problem developing caused by those who ignore my OQRS system and send cards Via RSGB incoming Bureau. Incoming cards cost the RSGB and myself money.

It is simple. If you want a FREE Bureau service you must use my OQRS. If you continue to keep sending incoming Bureau cards that have not been requested then it will come to a time when we must start charging for Bureau cards. Times are changing and you must pay attention. Thank you.

A new year is a good time to remind you that if you are QSL’ing Direct you need to enclose US$2 and a Self Addressed Envelope for the QSL to be returned to you.

Simple! $2 and a SAE.

No IRC’s, No Stamps & No Coins….. Just $2.

I think this reminder is important, because today I received 3 letters without $2. One contained an old IRC, and two others with no dollars at all.

Thank you.