QSL's

[DragoSapien]

Who made yours and how did you go about deciding on its design.

 

[WX2MIG]

I got a program call "QSL Maker", I designed my own, print them out on 110 Lb. card stock, you get two per sheet of paper, cut them out, and they're ready to be filled out and mailed.

If it's close (east of the Mississippi for me) I just stamp and send the card, if it's farther out, and especially a DX contact, I put it in an envelope and mail it that way.

A buddy of mine has a printing business, and I might talk to him about printing me up a batch of good quality two sided cards on glossy stock, they tend to hold up better in transit than the card stock with printer ink, but for now these home made cards do the trick.....

Another thing you might want to check out is eQSL.cc - The Electronic QSL Card Centre if you go with a plain basic card the service is free, most ham's (like myself) prefer to receive QSL cards the old fashion way....in the mail, but many ham's tend to be cheap, and don't mind sending and receiving their QSL's via the internet, the only thing is, if you need the QSL to varify a contact for an award or contest, you have to download it off of eqsl, and print it out....and that consumes printer ink. You can also leave your cards in their archives, but if their system ever crashes, you might end up loosing them all.

It's all a matter choice......

 

[Beetle]

I made a rough sketch of what I wanted and took it to a trade school where one of the "career paths" was printing/lithography and such. The head of the shop called over a couple of second-year students. We sat down and discussed things and they set to work to come up with a working sample. Couple more minor changes and I approved it. A week later I had 5,000 QSLs with K7KBN spelled out in international signal flags. I still use them, and the only change has been the ZIP code, which got changed from 98310 to 98311 about ten years ago.

Cost was just the card stock and ink. The labor was free because places like this are always looking for real-world projects to cut their teeth on. Don't know how many more such schools are still out there, though. Pity.

 

[scantheband]

After a few years of "fun" making my own, I went back to "The QSL Man - W4MPY" because I liked one of his designs in particular. No more hassles with designing, printing, cutting to size, etc.; QSL'ing is no longer a chore.

 

[SR385]

I made my own using The Gimp, a free open source graphics program. I just looked at the basic information most of them had and did my own layout.

Then I just used a random internet printing service. You simply upload your images and tell them which is front and back and if you want glossy front and flat finish back for paper stock etc. I don't send many out so I went with a nice high gloss full color front with a flat back on relatively heavy card stock.

The one mistake I made is that I did a 4x6 or something along those lines and it's a bit bigger than a standard QSL card. I just had to go buy 'invitation' sized envelopes from Staples, they won't fit in a normal one. Doing it over, I'd stay a bit smaller so they fit in a normal envelope.

 

[Beetle]

Yep - standard post card size is 3-1/2 by 5-1/2. I do keep my cards in 4x6 file boxes because there always will be some oversized ones as well as some quite small. One in particular that I received from Portugal was printed on cork bark! Cards like that get stored separately!

 

[W5LZ]

I make my own too. I like doing graphics so it really isn't that hard to make some cards. I basically use a sort of standard format, all the appropriate information in the same place, then insert graphics/pictures/whatever to suit how ever I happen to feel at the time. There are always new/old designs to pick from.
I use the 'larger than normal' index cards and can get two QSL cards per index card. Also tried getting card stock from a local print shop once, did, and used that till it was gone. Lot of trouble cutting out etc. so went back to the 'larger than normal' index cards, whatever size they are (Wal-Mart - cheap! in both sense of the word).
I've also used W4MPY and wouldn't hesitate to recommend him, he does nice stuff.
Having totaled the cost of QSL'ing at one time, it scared the @#$$ out of me! So, I still do occasionally, but not unless asked. I also use one of several "buros", just cheaper. Oh well...
- 'Doc

 

[Happy_Hamer]

ME NO QSL

 

[Moleculo]

I have some QSL cards that a forum member made for me years ago. I have never sent one out. I understand why people sent QSL cards, but I've just never been into it.

 

[DragoSapien]

Thanks for the replies. I was wandering the something. I don't have a radio yet so I haven't even been on the air yet. Who would I send it to and why would anyone want one from me. It will be a while for me to really get into this radio thing, so ill just be patient.

 

[scantheband]

Thanks for the replies. I was wandering the something. I don't have a radio yet so I haven't even been on the air yet. Who would I send it to and why would anyone want one from me. It will be a while for me to really get into this radio thing, so ill just be patient.

You mean QSL cards? They're often used for verification of actual QSO's for various awards, such as the "Worked All States" award. Personally, I simply enjoy exchanging QSL cards with folks with whom I've had an exceptionally enjoyable QSO.

Welcome to this "radio thing," and don't be afraid to ask questions.