1. To make the playing field level for everyone, everyone that uses eQSL should be required to submit a copy of their license to become AG and become a member. Every legal amateur radio operator has a license or he/she would not be an amateur radio operator. Therefore, the next logical step is to require all users to submit a copy of their license in order to have AG status and membership. All eQSL users would then have AG status. If any individual is unwilling to do that simple procedure, they should not be a part of eQSL and should not be receiving any eQSL awards. I have read enough stories about people with AG status sending out eQSLs and only getting a 15 to 20% return on their efforts. I, too, am getting very similar results and am getting tired of goldbrickers taking advantage of the people who make the effort to send out eQSLs.
2. If you are a user of eQSL, when you complete a QSO, you should respond to the eQSL that is sent to you or initiate the eQSL yourself. That is nothing but plain common courtesy and common sense. If you are not AG status, do the steps to get yourself AG status and start replying to the eQSLs that are in your inbox. It is ridiculous for people to receive an eQSL, be an eQSL user, and not respond to the eQSL. It is rude, ill mannered, and discourteous. It is just as ridiculous to not have AG status. Your eQSL counts for nothing without AG status.

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NT3W Kenneth W. Wright

Yes i agree also that all eQSL users should follow the steps to get ag status. I think we should send out a notification that all non-ag status eqsl users should follow the steps to get ag status. Atleast have all non-ag status eqsl users get ag status within a month time frame. Alot of users is just getting their eqsl's and not returning one. I think we should make it to where if you archive or mail an eqsl it automaticlly returns one. this way all users are getting their returns very easy.

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W8OSP Jayson L. Tillis

When I started with eQSL, I was open to the idea that some people weren't AG because it made the service more accessible.

But, a year down the road, I have come to a number of realizations:

1. There's no reason not to be AG. You have a licence, and verification is easy.
2. Non-AG eQSLs don't count for awards, etc., not even on eQSL, so for all practical purposes it is like the non-AG confirmations don't exist.
3. It is my belief that a large part of why eQSLs don't count for other awards is that there is no way for an outside agency to tell if any eQSL is from a real ham or not. All AG all the time would go a long way to mitigating that issue because there would be some level of assurance that someone has taken the time to check the validity of the QSL issuer.

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VE3OIJ P. Darin Cowan

I have only been a user of Eqsl since last October, the first thing I did was send a copy of my Licence. It has Amazed me how many members are not AG. I don't Understand why as It's so easy to do. I agree that that to join you should send a copy of the licence in it's easy to do. I know of members of Eqsl how are not AG and have A very large inbox from Lot's of AG members, which is Frustrating to see, so many unclaimed cards. One member I know only get's the Good dx Cards and as he called it 'leaves the rubbish common ones in the Inbox' this kind of comment is so annoying. This kind of attitude to not collecting the cards has made me check each users cards waiting and then decide wether to send the card.

In the Uk only the ISWL accepts Eqsl for Awards for AG they are one of only a few that accept Eqsl.

We all have a Licence, why be so shy to scan it in Send ??

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G7PGZ Neil Allchin

I agree, and changes SHOULD be made...but from what I have read too many times, its SET IN STONE, and never WILL change no matter how many people ask. Basically you will be ignored.

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KB5IBT Steve Hutchinson

It set not in stone but in $$$. In responses to emails that I sent as reminders to please return an eQSL for an AG one that I submitted, I get a request for SAE and "greenstamps." So now I ONLY return eQSLs if I get one. No more uploading of logs to eQSL. For that I use LoTW. Using both services I get REAL, useful confirmations of QSOs plus in eQSL I often also get the "instant" but otherwise useless e-card.

A "fairness" policy would demand a reply card as a requirement to download a card, but don't hold your breath!

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KE4PT Kai Siwiak

I sent five-bucks via a credit card and, hopefully, will get th e-QSL US mail reply. So yes I think the AG is a fine idea and should be practiced.

However, I have to wonder if this will increase the response level to my outgoing cards. I am referring to a casual, courtesy e-QSL to another op acknowledging the contact and a short note at the bottom. No awards for either of us involved.

I can't tell you how many cards I have sent, that have not been reciprocated. I don't expect amateurs to spend hours at the computer sending out QSLs. I guess that, as a QRP operator, I like to say thanks for the contact with someone who didn't have an S9 plus signal. So I am not really upset.

I think that, like USPO mailed QSL cards, participation is down. I find that QSLing is now more mode oriented. QRP to QRP, SSTV to SSTV, Satellites, etc. My experience has been positive when it becomes mode/operating specialized. In my case, QRP-to-QRP.
73

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W2RDD Rich

you forgot the swls who use this service and are not hams

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wa2033swl peter mattice

All good points raised here and I agree, in principle, with most of them.

For the award hunters amongst us it can be very frustrating when most of the cards you receive are from stations who do not have an AG Certificate and let's face it it's not exactly the hardest thing in the world to become authenticated. As an example with over 2000 eQSL's outlying I have only 131 prefixes confirmed so far, not sure exactly what the % is but it doesn't make for good reading!
Having said that however many members are not authenticated and there must be some underlying reason for this situation, what it is I confess to not being able to put my finger on it.
It makes no sense to me that some members go through the registering process and then leave it there unless of course, they simply are NOT award collectors.

In the case of swl's, an area of our hobby I enjoyed myself for many years, authentication could be approved for a minimal donation of something such as $10, for instance, thereby allowing swl's access to the eQSL awards scheme.

I am a confirmed fan of eQSL and will continue to support this great site as & when I can, at least till the pocket-money kindly donated by the 'shack manager' (XYL) runs out!!

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Regards,
Martyn.

Remember, no matter what happens they can't hang you for it!