Category - Blog

10,000’th OQRS Request
I introduced the Online QSL Request System (OQRS) in September 2008 and since then 10,000 OQRS emails have been processed. Thank you for using this system which does save huge amounts of Bureau resources in both money and time. However, still far too few Radio Amateurs are bothering to check QSL information on QRZ.com, resulting in many thousands of Bureau cards being sent through the Bureau that should have used the OQRS.

The whole idea of using an OQRS is that for many DXpeditions and some DX calls, the DX operator does not need to collect the QSL cards, he is an “activator” and for these contacts a simple OQRS is all that is needed to get your Bureau QSL fast and efficiently.

Responsible Bureau Use?
We have to be more responsible against wasting money. It costs huge sums of money to ship tens of thousands of Bureau cards around the World. Many people think that the Bureau QSL is free! It is not free. In the case of QSL cards that are sent out from here, all costs are paid for by the generous donations paid by Direct QSL users that support the Bureau system for everyone to use. Also of course the time of dedicated volunteer Bureau staff around the World. Sadly I have to admit, that a lot of money here is spent retrieving Bureau QSL cards INCORRECTLY routed through the Bureau system by the sender.

RSGB Bureau puts restrictions on cards!
I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the RSGB QSL Bureau over the last few months I have been informed that the RSGB will not accept high quality QSL cards, too heavy. Will not allow contest call signs to be sent Via M0URX. These HAVE to be sent to the contest Sub manager instead. QSL Cards “Via” it has been announced are not welcome.

Support
I will always support and honour Bureau QSL requests, but I would ask you to think BEFORE you send another shipment of QSL cards to the Bureau. If a QSL from you is required from the activators that use my system you can be sure that I will ask you to send your card too.

Log Update
If you request a OQRS for Bureau, then you must update the QSL SENT field in your log with QSL Sent. This way, when you get the QSL you will understand that I do NOT need yours! “Thanks QSL” on my QSO report label should be a hint!

T88ZM & KH0/G3ZEM OQRS requests will be processed when the logs arrive from Bob Henderson.

New Topband Website
Nick UY0ZG writes in to inform us of a new website, “Ukraine Topband” dedicated to the 160m enthusiast. The site is in Russian language, Google Translate is a good way to read in your local language.

QSL Cards arrive!
A 40 kg box arrived from the printer this week with the latest batch of QSL cards. Among them was VE2CSI QSL card, for the Association de Radioamateur Sept-Iles. Direct QSL cards have been posted this week.

I was watching a quite heated discussion on the cluster today. Yes I know the cluster is NOT for discussion, that was not the point of my post. The content of the discussion was about the fact that many hams cannot hear VP8ORK on the South Orkeny Islands, and one ham implied that “Without money you can’t play in the premier league of DX” saying that you need money to buy big antennas and big amps. Well no I completely disagree. Anyone can play in the premier league of Big Guns even the QRP guys get the chance at some point in the game.

There is also a lot of fortune involved too. My experience this month with friends around the UK who have identical shack equipment is that if you are fortunate to live near the coast the advantage you will have with enhancement from the salt water during these low sunspot days is the difference between hearing the DX and NOT hearing the DX. Living inland in the City the problem I have had, is hearing the DX! I always work on the assumption that if you can hear it, you can work it.

So, it is not down to big money and power. Take M0TNX Kev for example. Kev has made a homebrew top band antenna and is working the DX. Kev has been out Portable near the sea and put up a simple vertical dipole. As Kev found out, the advantage that being next to the sea is probably equivalent to the guy inland with a 2 or 3 element Yagi at 40 feet.

The MUF charts show a story, and if you are in the area located where the MUF chart says “MUF 14 MHz” you are not going to work VP8ORK on 21 MHz even if you have an Optibeam 13 element. There are so many factors that are involved in being able to work the DX or not. Being Portable and adaptable to the changes in conditions, MUF, topography are all in the challenge of the DX’er. 

Luckily I do have VP8ORK in the log on 20m SSB. It was the faintest of signals but just enough for me to work the guys. They are doing a terrific job down in South Orkney Island, if only the Sun would boost the Sunspot Numbers so we can all have another shot. One thing is certain, DX’ing gets very addictive when chasing an expedition such as VP8ORK.
Thank you to the team on VP8/O!

For the attention of Radio Amateurs in the United Kingdom (Only) 

As I have been asked a few times in recent weeks if i can provide this service, I am now pleased to announce that I am able to offer UK Amateurs an “Outward QSL Bureau Service”, posting to World Bureaus.

This service is mainly directed to heavy users of the Bureau where the QSL manager is not permitted to send the cards through the QSL Bureau. But is also open to ANY UK Radio Amateurs that want to send QSL cards to World Bureaus

For a charge of £15 per kilogram of QSL cards, I will forward Bureau cards to all World Bureaus every two months. These will be sent by Priority Air Mail.

Bulk users (for example DX’pedition QSL Managers) should contact me by email to apply for discount.

Conditions:

Firstly, email contact [email protected] to confirm your request to use the service and to confirm weight of Bureau posting.

Cheque payable to Tim Beaumont for £15 per kilo or by pre arranged amount agreed Via email.

All packing instructions are exactly the same as you would normally do when sending cards through the Bureau.

All QSL cards must be in Alpha – Numerical order and separated into Bureau piles using elastic bands.

Any cards destined for UK Radio Amateurs must be sent direct to the RSGB Bureau NOT me.

Any QSL routing “Via” MUST be correctly located in your packs!

Who can use my Bureau Forwarding Service?
Any UK Radio Amateur can use my service provided they follow my instructions above.

If any UK hams want to discuss using my service for outward QSL Bureaus you can phone me on 07976 292980.

For a guide to correctly bundling your Bureau cards you can view a list of IARU World Bureaus and prefixes here

It is always nice to read positive comments about my work, today I was really surprised to read the Blog of ON7RU Frank.

“At the hamfest in Friedrichshafen in a lecture sponsored by CQ-DL/DARC, the best QSL’er of the past year is chosen. The last few years Nigel, G3TXF took the golden medal to the UK.
Since a year, a new QSL star is born. The new star lives, just as Nigel in the UK and his callsign is M0URX. The owner of the callsign, Tim Beaumont built up a good reputation in a very short time. His unique OQRS (Online QSL request system) works very well, and he offers a fast turnaround time and premium quality QSL cards.
On his website/blog you can track updates of new DXpeditions, arrival of printed QSL cards, ….
Tim, you’re a 5-star ham, keep up the good work and hope to meet you some day.
Frank, ON7RU”

Thanks for your comments Frank, I have to say it is a team effort, ON5UR Max who is as patient as a saint with my continual QSL design requests. MW0JRX Oliver with his help and advice on IT, and of course the team of DX’ers that I am QSL manager for, they do a lot of work in all aspects of DX’peditioning, it is their excellent communication that enables me to do my job in getting the QSL cards sent to their destination without any dramas. I certainly will be keeping up the work, we have so much coming up this year, I am very much looking forward to keeping the United Radio QSL Bureau working for you. I do hope we can catch up for some beers sometime Frank.