                             SUCCESSFUL QSLING
                                     
      by Jan O'Brien, K6HHD, Editor,  The W6GO/K6HHD QSL Manager List

In spite  of all  these "new  fangled" computers  (which were  supposed  to
create a  paperless society!), we still believe that you need the following
information in printed form to keep handy to remind you about the important
items when you send QSL cards.

Getting QSLs  is important  to you.  If it  wasn't you  would  have  little
interest in the "GO List".  Our goal is to help you get those important QSL
cards.   We have been gathering information from many sources and feel that
you will find the following quite useful.

YOUR QSL CARD:  All of the necessary information INCLUDING YOUR CALL should
be on  ONE side  of your  card.   It is especially time consuming for those
managers handling  expedition cards  to have to turn cards over to find the
call.   It is  fine to have a two sided card but PLEASE make sure your call
is ALSO included on the side with the QSO information.

If you keep your log in Universal Time (UT) then the time on your card will
agree with  the time in the DX station's log and save the manager countless
hours. You  must have  a clock  (preferably 24 hour clock) in your hamshack
that tells  time in  the International  standard.   Formerly referred to as
GMT, also  referred to  as ZULU  time by  members of  the military and MARS
members.  KEEP YOUR LOG IN UT.

REMEMBER that  the date  changes at  0000 UT.  This is early evening in the
U.S.  (4 p.m. PST and 7 p.m EST).

If you  work a  station on April 1, 1992 and you put 4/1/92 on the card and
then send it to an overseas country there will be a problem.  Most everyone
but the  U.S. abbreviates  date with  the day, month, year; someone outside
the U.S.  will read  that date  as  January  4,  1992.    Therefore,  avoid
confusion by  writing out  (or abbreviating)  the NAME  of the  month.  The
biggest headache  that QSL  Managers have  is trying to figure out the time
and date that you worked their stations!

Be sure that all entries on your card are readable.  If your handwriting is
poor, please  print.  Do not correct mistakes, make a new card.  Correcting
errors on  a card  that is  later used to apply for awards could cause that
card to be disqualified as "altered".

SASE stands  for  "Self  Addressed  Stamped  Envelope"  and  SAE  is  "Self
Addressed Envelope".   ALWAYS  send at  least one  SASE or  SAE.   If  your
request is  for several  cards, and  especially if  it is for more than one
station that  is handled  by the manager, send more than one envelope or be
prepared to wait much longer for those cards.  Postage expenses come out of
the manager's pocket.  Standard letter size envelopes are preferred by most
managers.   If you  don't send  some means  for returning your card, it may
come back  via the  bureau or perhaps NOT AT ALL.  (Some managers refuse to
answer bureau  cards.)   When you  send a request to an overseas manager or
direct to  the station you want the card from, include IRC's (International
Reply Coupons) for return postage AND a SAE.  Some folks send "greenstamps"
(US dollar  bills) for  return postage.  Please use discretion when sending
dollars overseas.  They are good most everywhere.  However, there are a few
places where  you may get the person on the other end in trouble by sending
money, or,  he may  never receive  it.   Mail theft is quite common in some
areas of the world.

If you  fold your  SASE put the fold in the bottom of the envelope in which
you enclose  it.   Many SASE's  have been  cut in half by the letter opener
because the fold was at the top!

BE PATIENT.   Managers  have various ways of receiving the log information,
but the  most common is via the mail.  Sometimes it may take six months due
to lack  of mail  service to  some remote  islands.  If the operation was a
DXpedition the  cards may  not be  printed until the operation is completed
and if picture QSL's are to be printed they take extra long.

Ninety nine per cent or more of the QSL managers are honest, conscientious,
hard working  folks, who are doing the best job they are able to do to help
you obtain  QSL cards.   Patience  is the  byword for  obtaining QSL cards.
PLEASE, be  quite certain that you have allowed enough time for the manager
to obtain logs before you take him(her) to task for taking so long.

Copyright (c) 1993 Electronics Enterprises.
Permission to  copy or  extract is  given provided  credit is  given to the
author and the source.
