I have no objection to an eQSL QSO party or net. The advisory board has not expressed any objection to it. In fact, another QSO party was one of the goals for this year. However, no one stepped up to organize it so it never got off the ground. Maybe next year.

My objection was to the idea of not working a station in a contest unless he is an AG member of eQSL. If you want to encourage people to join eQSL, work everybody you can and send them all an eQSL. That was my intended point and none of it has anything to do with big guns and little guns.

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73, Rich - W3ZJ

As Rich states, I can assure you this is not the case!

As far as an eQSL net - the forum provides a perfect er, forum, to set something up. If there's a group of people interested in setting up a net of eQSL users, then discuss it on here and arrange a date and time - I'm confident you will find the Advisory Board fully supportive of such a move.

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Tim, G4VXE

A few people have thrown in "thier 2 cents" on this topic, and now I will throw in mine - hopefully from a new perspective.

I am a newer ham - tech ticket in February of 2005 and general ticket in March 2005 - and an even newer member of eQSL - joined yesterday.

I looked at eQSL because I recieved a hard copy QSL card that had a note attached saying he had also left me an eQSL - from someone I worked in a contest.

When I signed up yesterday I had 11 eQSL's waiting for me going back to April, and now that I am signed up, that's 11 more entries for people for whatever award they might be striving for.

If these 11 people passed me by because I was not registered with eQSL, that would be 11 less contacts for me as a newbie, and might have been enough to discourage me and I might not be as active in the hobby as I am.

Now I try to work every contest and QSO party I can find, and from my very new point of view, I think an eQSL party or contest is a great idea! If it is promoted well it can only gain more popularity for this service.

Fortunately I have a lot of time on my hands to "play radio" - I am on disability. My radios have become one of my "windows to the outside world", and I am just as excited to make 10 second contacts during a contest as am to spend 40 minutes working a new DX.

While I can understand that some of you have limited time on your hands because of work and family obligations, I find it almost "snooty" that you can't take the 10-20 seconds of time it takes to work someone during a contest because they are either not a member of eQSL, or you just don't happen to need their call/country/state for your award log - you might be the one last contact THEY need for an award, but you don't have the time.

Most of my experiences in my short time in the hobby is that we are akin to a fraternity - most of the hams I have met go out of their way to help any other ham out with a problem, whether it be an antenna issue, rig set up, or that distant DX frequency announced on the local repeater. I have never met any hams that were so selfish that they would just "pass me by" on the bands because I wasn't an eQSL member. I really hope that this isn't the "new direction" the hobby is going...

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KD8AWZ Keith McKenzie

Hi Keith,
Welcome to ham radio, welcome to eQSL.CC, welcome to the eQSL forum which is almost as new as you are. The forum was just started a couple of weeks ago. You illustrate perfectly the points I have been trying make.

Just FYI: I was first licensed in 1952 at age 12 so have been a ham most of my life. I joined eQSL in 1999 before it was even called eQSL and had only a handful of members. So I watched grow and hopefully helped it grow from birth to nearly 100,000 members (we are over 90,000 strong now) and over 56 million eQSL's posted. So, no there is not a new trend here but there are always differences of opinion and I think it's healthy that we discuss those differences in an open forum like this.

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73, Rich - W3ZJ

Why thank you for the welcome Rich!

I have a "bad habit" of jumping into things with both feet... and both legs... arms, head... You get the idea.

In the just under a year since I first started to study for my tech ticket, and shortly after got my tech, tech plus, and then general license, I have been "involved" in something ham related every couple of days.

I asked some local club members to help me put up my first antenna. Eight guys showed up. The next week someone else in the club threw an "antenna party" for his first HF antenna, and I went - not only to help, but to learn for my first HF antenna.

So in the next 8 months I went to 8 more antenna parties, two of which were at my house. I got "encouraged" to run the 20 meter station at my club's field day with only about 5 months in the hobby (we were 11 alpha!).

As I said above, I jump in with both feet!

All these activities I have been a part of let me talk with many new hams, a ton of hams that have been in the hobby for around 10 years or so, and several real "old timers" - who's insight has been invaluable learning about all facets of the hobby.

It doesn't amaze me at all that eQSL has grown the way that W3ZJ mentions above. With computers and the internet growing the way they have in the last dozen years, it only makes sense, and I think it will continue to grow, especially if members take the time to tout all the advantages.

While I had heard of eQSL several months ago, the excitement of opening an envelope and seeing a QSL card from Greece, Italy, Scotland, ect, kind of made me wait, but I realize the future is now.

But for some reason most people today have no idea what the ham hobby is about, and the only way it can be sustained is if experienced hams take to time to encourage newbies. So if I was just tooling around the bands and Rich were to come back to me and talk about his 53 years in the hobby telling me about some of his experiences, I am sure I would be mesmerized!

So others may have "differences of opinion" about who to contact during a contest, but I may need your contact for just about every award or contest. Give us newbies a chance to catch up!

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KD8AWZ Keith McKenzie

Hi, Keith,
welcome to the hobby and eQSL! I personally understand very well "the jump in with hands and feet" or which ever way you may put it.
I am licensed since 1978 in Germany and I still hold my German Extra, as it is for life, not necessary to renew like here in the States. I was licensed K6faf, when I got tired of using my DL callsign with /w6 and because of limited time am still a General here.
Here you have the point: My time is very limited! I may have about 10 hours spread over the week to work on the air....; I am a DXer and a Paper Chaser, I try to get the most out of my time available, that is why I have to select. On my days off work, you might even hear me calling on 20 or 15, if that band is open. But , as said before, only for alimited time. I try to get weekends off when a contest is on, but that means trying, not always getting it. This year I was not lucky, I only got 1 contest weekend off...and I worked 2 x 6 hours with over 200 qsos, no matter who was calling....I also called CQ myself.
My posts above are not about denying anyone out there a contact with w6-DM14te, they are about my limited time and my eagerness to work or call eQSL members or any other ham in a preplannable because announced eqsl party or eqsl net. If you look me up on qrz.com, you will better understand where I am coming from.
And as to "selfish", well, step into my shoes and limited time, what would you do? If you were as exited as myself about DX and wallpaper? Spending your valuable time allotments targetless? I doubt it.
The only rag-chew time I have is from and to work, on the repeater, as I do not have a 20m rig for the car, just 10m, and that does not cut the mustard right now, does it?
You want CA-DM14te on eQSL AG, send me an email with a sked after 5pm Pacific and I will work you on 20 and 40...If you need CA on 15 and 10, you can have my cell-phone # and I will try to make it possible on my day off during daytime.
Understand? I do not have a problem with helping somebody; but I do have one with my time available for my hobby.

Nuff said, too long post anyway, may lead to more misinterpretations.

You all have a nice weekend, I gotta go to bed.

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K6FAF Buchner, Hans A

Thanks Hans for the welcome! In the last couple of days I have had a little changing of thought... As Rich said, different priorities for different people!

While working the 10 meter contest yesterday I realized what I like doing best - helping hams newer than I - I had an "Elmer" teach me so much in a short time, and I like doing that for other newbies. But not everyone likes doing that - don't have the time to commit.

One thing cool about eQSL I found the other day... The very first HF contact I made after getting my general ticket left me an eQSL was waiting for me when I signed up - a memorable contact for me. I sent him an e-mail, and he replied, said he remembered me - telling him he was my first!

Good luck all in the 10 meter contest this weekend!

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KD8AWZ Keith McKenzie

I'm ready to try. I really don't get much time to contest. I wish there were more of them. I need a whole bunch.

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N9EGM JAMES R. HAMANN

To all those out there who want more traffic at pre-planned times:
I will go on the 20m band every evening 1800 PST=0200UTC and check the density of traffic until 0300 UTC=1900PST (wintertime) and find a frequency least occupied with net traffic.
Then, on January 15, 2006, I will announce here on which frequency on 20m +/- 5 I will call for the first eQSL-NET, probably on Wednesday or Thursday each week, as these are the days with the least traffic here, anyway.
Then we will see, if the word is spread around quickly.
I do not have a big station, but a good qth for traffic inside USA from North-West to South- East, which covers the Continental USA quite well.
I am looking for relay stations in the middle west, to hook up any 1s, 2s and 3s that have a problem working CA under bad condx.
This will all be announced on the net.
Anybody have some suggestions?? Email me or post here.
You want traffic? OK , let's do it!!!
And to all of you out there: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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K6FAF Buchner, Hans A

Hans,

Sounds like a great idea! I am in "8 land" and might be able to do some relays. Busy time of year so I am often distracted, but please keep me informed.

Oh, and when done I am going to have to figure out how to change my info here - upgraded last weekend and now have a new call - AB8VL!

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KD8AWZ Keith McKenzie

Please read the post from Tim Kirby in this forum under the topic

" I've got a new callsign - what should I do!"

It's very important that this be handled correctly.

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73, Rich - W3ZJ

Good evening

Knowing me, I have done something stupid and posted on the wrong forum. I await the abuse at a later time.

e qsl net. sounds like a good idea to me. A chance to spread the word of e qsl and the chance of a few more calls towards an award. I bow to everyones vastly superior knowledge. I have only held a licence since March 2005 and have already rattled a few peoples cages in the uk by having the timerity to mention 'e-qsl'. Operating from home is a real luxury, I spend most of my time truck driving in europe ( not allowed to operate from europe with 2e0 licence). On my return to UK, up goes the 40 or 20 m whip and the FT817 is stoked up. A little help from a 50 w linear helps to compensate for the poor antenna location that is available to me.
I have noted that times of 0200 utc were mentions by someone ( I hope to sleep sometimes)

I have another suggestion based on my very limited experience. I truely expect this idea to receive an exocet across its bows but how about picking a frequency on 20m Lets say for example 14.260 and then let it be known that it is a meeting frequency for e qsler's in the same way as we here in the UK have special interest groups centred (all unofficially) on particular frequencies. No one would have a right to use the fx if there is an existing qso. but hopefully there are enough e qsl'ers active throughout the world that there would be a fair chance of working another member. Calling 'CQ eqsl' might be all it takes.

Thats my idea, ladies & gentlemen you have 3 weeks to take the idea to pieces and dispose of it, I am back to work on 26th dec and will be away for yet another 3 week stint.

Compliments of the season to everyone

73s

jon

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2E0OVL/M Jon Hirst

Going just slightly off topic here, Jon above mentioned getting razzed for mentioning eQSL... I also have been getting a lot of flack for participating with eQSL... Why??? Everyone says "You have to use LOTW" or "Nothing replaces a paper card"! Why can't you use all 3 methods of QSL'ing? Why do most people "look down" on eQSL?

73
Keith
AB8VL

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KD8AWZ Keith McKenzie

QSLing is perhaps one of the most 'traditional' parts of amateur radio. After all, making HF contacts around the world is hardly technically exceptional, as it was when radio started out. QSLing is so ingrained in the hobby with some people, that any change to the culture, will be very slow - and in some cases fiercely resisted!

Don't worry about it. eQSLing is a great idea. If you're on the site, you know that. It's a changing hobby - newcomers will perhaps take to eQSLing more readily than some of the old timers.

Relax and enjoy whatever means of QSLing you feel is appropriate!

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays.

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Tim, G4VXE

I'm a very small station. I only run 75 watts on hf, so I don't have a chance with all the big guns running all the power. I became an AG to help the other guy when I make a contact. I get maybe a 10 percent return.
But I keep trying when I've got the time

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N9EGM JAMES R. HAMANN

Most of the time, I only run 100w but I work plenty of DX on HF! CW and the data modes work well for that. As does tuning around and finding the DX yourself, rather than waiting for it to appear on the cluster! You just have to be more cunning if you're running low power.

I recommend reading the 'Complete DXer' by W9KNI if you want to become a better DXer. I enjoy reading my copy still, after 20+ years of DXing.

Good luck, James - and I'm sure if you persist - you'll work DX!

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Tim, G4VXE

Happy Newyear to all out there!

And to James a very special "Go DX. GO!"
Because it is out there....as Tim G4VXE said, you just gotta tune in. Personally, when I have the time to work in the shack, I have the ARRL DX-Info handy plus I have one computer running on a node of dx-net. The other one is on DX-View to check the "WANTS", as I tune on the bands.
I guess I have to be quite happy with what I acchieved in 4 years, the first year on 10m only with just 25w.
If I could do it, James, you can, too! And I have 100w only since May 2003!

May the DX-Spirit be with you!

Hear u on the bands.....

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K6FAF Buchner, Hans A

I just now looked in on this forum.
Back some time ago, a suggestion was made to try a 20M "net" and see what happened.

I would take on the organization of such a "net" if there is enough interest.

73,Russ, K7INA
eQSL Advisory Board
eQSL Awards Manager

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K7INA Russ Fish

I think that would be excellent, Russ. There seems to have been some good interest on the forum for this. If we get Dave to advertise it in Site News - we should catch some more people too.

If the chosen date/time are feasible for EU, let me know and I will arrange some publicity on this side of the pond.

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Tim, G4VXE

I would be very interested in a eQSL net. Hope we can get something like this posted when the time comes. I would be willing to help out.

de Lindy

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WW5AA Gunter (Lindy) Lindermeier