Welcome to the QSL card pages of Mike, EI2CL
Writing QSL cards
The slogan "Correct addressing saves us guessing"
is one of a number of similar pleas used by post offices around the world. The
need for careful addressing of letters will be obvious to most of us but it is
an unfortunate fact that many letter writers do not take all due care when
addressing their letters. It is a fact also that there is a similar need in
regard to writing QSL cards. In order to ensure that QSL cards are received by
those for whom they are intended it is essential that cards be
written/addressed in correct and legible form. As the one who has handled,
glanced at, deciphered and sorted every QSL card sent to the IRTS QSL bureau
from abroad since 1980 I have seen a pretty good share of the most common types
of error that can happen when eventually we get down to the chore of writing
QSL cards. It must be admitted that QSL cards, like contests, are not
everyone's cup of tea. For many of us QSLs may be
hated and regarded with the utmost of derision. At the same time QSLs are a fact and they are unlikely ever to go away. In
various ways they are of interest to many radio amateurs and short wave
listeners world-wide, so much so, that some will go to extraordinary lengths
and expense, and even deceit, in order to obtain that missing QSL.
All that aside, any poor reputation and ill-feeling caused
by the late or non-arrival of QSLs, will be replaced
by unbridled fury when the long awaited card arrives with a total botch made
out of it. It is on that basis that the sender is considered to be a total
nincompoop. The purpose of this article is to highlight some of the most common
errors seen on QSLs and to assist by providing some
essential "DOs and DON'Ts".
Some of these are obvious at the outset and very important per se. Others are mentioned so as to cut out some of the
meaningless jargon and hieroglyphics that tend to creep in and take over from
the correct usage. The guidelines also take into account the fact that most QSL
bureau workers supply their services free, for the benefit of fellow amateurs,
and that they too like to get on the air from time to time.
DO choose a QSL size and design that conforms to
IARU recommendations. In other words don't use large cards that will be well
bashed about by the time they are delivered. Likewise don't use very small
cards, or flimsy paper.
DO choose a QSL design that gives plenty of space
for writing long callsigns, such as DR06SOCCER, GW0/EI2CL/P
or UA9K/UA3XXX/P.
DO ensure that your printer understands that EI is EI
and not E1. This type of error makes me wince every time I see it. Worse again,
I have seen a few cards, bearing this error, rejected and marked "not in
log". Incredible? Perhaps it is, but as far as I
know the prefix E1 has not been assigned to any country. Remember that the
prefix E2 is assigned and used by radio amateurs in
DO use capital letters and numerals of the same size
when writing callsigns.
DO write and print clearly in CAPITALS. Cut out
those fancy twirls and flourishes. Your prize-winning calligraphy will not
impress the poor soul who should not have to decipher it.
DO write EI2CL. Irrespective of what may be common
practice ITU regulations permit letters and numerals only. My callsign is not EI.2.CL. Neither is it EI-2-CL, EI/2/CL or,
despite my own QSL card at some stage, EI 2CL.
DO write the report in the form 59 or 599. Don't
write reports such as 5.9, 5X9 or
DO write a zero as Ø but only in a mixture of
letters and numerals.
DON'T scribble. Do write G as it should be. Do write
I as I and 1 as a 1. Do not write a C that looks like a L, a D like O, E like a garden gate, V like U, and Zero
like a Q.
DON'T use lower case letters such as in Ei2cl,
N2bsa, wa1kdl or W2ora. However, the lower case i as
in Ei2CL is regarded as acceptable. Bear in mind that typical handwriting
styles in
DON'T correct mistakes by striking out, overwriting
or by any other means. There is a good chance that your card, a card from still
relatively rare EI-land, may be required for DXCC purposes. If this is so your
card is likely to be rejected by the ARRL. This will not please anyone.
DON'T rush or write QSLs
when you are tired; this is when errors are most likely to happen. Instead, go
to bed or take a nap.
Michael McNamara, EI2CL
April 2006
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