"QSL"
is an amateur radio
"Q-Code" that means either “do
you confirm receipt of my
transmission” or “I
confirm receipt of your transmission”. For over
a century, amateur radio operators have exchanged QSL
cards to confirm two-way
contacts between each other. QSL cards were
originally used
to facilitate technical details about a station, but
today they are mainly sent as a courtesy and for
fun. QSL cards
are
usually about the size as a postcard, often elaborately
decorated
to express individuality, and are mailed through the postal service.
The QSL card can be as plain or as fancy as the amateur
operator
wishes, can be printed on one side or both sides, and usually with
photos or artwork on them. More basic designs simply have the
station’s callsign along with the important information to confirm the
contact. Some amateur radio clubs and amateur radio
organizations
have contests, offering awards to their members who can
collect the most QSL
cards, or have received QSL cards from certain locations. For
one
amateur radio operator to contact another requires the right
transmitting and receiving radio gear, some skill, the right
atmospheric conditions, and good timing.
So
when two amateur radio operators get in touch for the first time, they
often confirm the contact by trading post cards. Many hams have a
collection of
prized QSL cards showcasing contacts with famous people, contacts from
rare or exotic places, and some (like me) just collect them for fun in
their ham
radio hobby.
QSO:
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