5Z4/G3AB QSL Preview

A new 5Z4/G3AB QSL is in the print room for Andy’s activity in Nairobi, Kenya. Thank you Max ON5UR for the QSL design.
5Z4/G3AB Log search
Please remember that log uploads may be sporadic. Always check the “Last QSO date and time” in the log search.
Andy has now received his new call sign 5Z4VJ and QSL cards are being printed. OQRS will be open shortly.

 

VP8PJ Memento – Thank you

Thank you to the VP8PJ team for the lovely plaque memento received in the post today in recognition and appreciation for the work of “log and QSL management of VP8PJ” Thank you.

Post Costs Hit

This month many post companies around the world are implementing further substantial increases on International post as the effects of Covid-19 hit the aviation industry heavily. It was only a matter of time, the big airlines have cancelled many flights and many aircraft are still in storage as the airlines cut costs by cutting routes.
What all this means is that the available air freight capacity is seriously reduced and what capacity that is available commands a higher premium. For the past few months postal companies have absorbed that extra cost but now that is being past on to customers. I am seeing an increase between 10% and 15% on letters, and 100% on parcels, depending on the route, with the highest rises to the USA & Japan.
I will continue to monitor this in the coming months.

Post Delays Update

As of July 3rd VP8PJ cards mailed on May 21st are still being received. Apparently, some postal services were seriously impacted by the Covid-19 lock-downs.
Please be patient for your mail delivery provider to deliver your QSL cards, this is out of our control at this time. You will get the QSL. Thank you.

Still waiting? If you go to VP8PJ log search, Search for your call sign and click “Request QSL” you will see the status of your QSL request.
Direct QSL & OQRS Direct should all be marked as “SENT”

SWL QSL Requests – What is expected?

Sometimes it can be very difficult to verify if a SWL request is genuine or the information is gleaned from internet sources. So I am asking the SWL community to help me make it a bit easier to verify your requests.
I am very pleased to report that SWL is still a very large part of Amateur Radio with several SWL reports coming in every week

The SWL QSL claimant should provide a list of 3 stations consecutively worked by the DX to verify that the QSL card claimant genuinely heard the DX.
Date, time frequency and mode listed with each report.
Any details about your station also welcome.

1) SWL QSL requests can be requested by email, with the required information to validate the SWL
2) I will add the Qs to the log as SWL and email the SWL claimant.
3) The person claiming the SWL must then go through OQRS to request the QSL for either Bureau or Direct.

Incoming SWL Bureau cards will continue be accepted if the call is an RSGB registered call sign, so always check the QSL Policy of the DXpedition. To keep the workload and cost to an acceptable level. I ask SWL’ers to email me and NOT send Bureau cards.
Please follow the same QSL instructions on this page here:
Any QSL without sufficient funds for a reply will be sent via Bureau.

Could the End of the Bureau System be Near?

Yes, that is today’s headline. In January 2021 new mandatory worldwide security regulations will be implemented in ALL countries.

Some countries already adopted these mandatory requirements in 2019. Briefly, all international parcels must have a completed electronic customs data (CN22/CN23/Pre-advice).

Although QSL cards are “Printed Matter” exempt from the requirements (non commercial), when the parcels reach customs in the destination country and the parcel displays no pre advice documents then customs can and ARE today either returning the parcel to the sender or destroying the parcels as a security risk.

Here’s a real example: I have attempted multiple times this year to contact the Brazilian Amateur Radio society to ask them for help. Every parcel I sent to Brazil is refused entry because it does not have the required data “from” the IARU Bureau system. I have received no reply from Brazilian QSL Bureau.

I raised this matter with the IARU and was told that because no IARU Bureaus have raised a concern that the problem does not exist.

If the IARU will not implement the changes required to meet worldwide postal /customs regulations then what does this mean for the future of the IARU Bureau system?

Congratulations for the ATNO Sven!

Really a pleasure to receive this email this evening…..
“Thanks very much for your great job!
VP8PJ was all time new one for my son Sven DJ4MX (18 years old).
Best regards from Munich.
73, Sven DJ4MX and Mario DJ2MX”
If you are still waiting for your QSL to arrive please sit tight. I am getting reports of mail arriving every day. Covid-19 staffing issues have slowed delivery. 

SpE Brings Life to the Bands

May has produced some of the best Sporadic E conditions for many years here in the Northern Hemisphere, with conditions between Europe to North America and the Caribbean and also Europe and Africa.

PJ4DX Steve in Bonaire reports. “After only ever working around the Caribbean plus a few NA / SA stations on 6m, on the 29th it opened up to Europe. Thanks to Bert for the phone call alerting me to the opening. Best DX was LY3W at over 9000km and I think I heard a 5B4 which would have been over 10,200km if we had made the QSO. Astonishing conditions – I can understand why they call it the Magic Band (I also call it the Frustrating Band!)”
PJ4DX OQRS

OY1OF Ólavur in the Faroe Islands also reports, “Good opening on 10m, 6m, 4m.”
OY1OF OQRS

5Z4/G3AB Log update News

A log update has been made this morning to the 5Z4/G3AB log on OQRS. Andy informs me that he will try to get the CW log update to me as soon as possible.  So please be aware that the log is NOT complete and I ask you not to use the Not in log button for CW QSOs at this time.
CW Log has now been uploaded.