The ARRL Club News
ARRL Club News for May 2009
ARRL Club Newsletter
May 28, 2009
____________________________________________________________
Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, Editor
IN THIS ISSUE:
+ Elmering Is Not Just For New Hams
+ QSL Direct
____________________________________________________________
Everyone Can Use An Elmer
When we hear the term Elmer used in Amateur radio circles most of us
will conjure up a scene reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell painting
where a grandfatherly character patiently offers guidance to a
youngster at a workbench.
Chances are that if your club has a membership who came from the era
when we dipped the plate and monitored grid current then chances are
that there are many opportunities for Elmering when it comes to the
digital aspects of modern Amateur Radio.
No longer are radio controls right out in front. Extensive menus and
multi-function controls are used to access the multitude of features
and enhancements of modern transceivers.
Other standard features in the ham shack today include computer
software for logging, awards tracking, rig control and, of course,
Logbook of The World. All are areas in which many of us could use a
tutorial to enhance the enjoyment of an already great hobby.
Perhaps at your next club meeting the emphasis can be on mentoring
the not-so-new ham as well as the newer folks. Demonstrate popular
software programs used in ham shacks today by using a laptop computer
and a projector. If you are fortunate enough to have an internet
connection at your meeting hall then you can have a live
demonstration of ARRL's Logbook of The World. The next best thing to
a live LoTW demo is to use the PowerPoint slideshow "LoTW Overview"
which is available free along with many other programs from the ARRL
Multimedia Library < www.arrl.org/multimedia >
____________________________________________________________
Sending A QSL Card Direct
Sometimes we find that the QSL bureau or Logbook of The World may not
be able to meet our needs when it comes to getting that much sought
after QSL card. The radio amateur in the country from which we want
a QSL card may not have a QSL bureau, or we may lack the patience to
wait for a card as it takes a slow journey through the hands of many
volunteer workers in the QSL bureau system. For whatever reason,
there are times when we may choose to go the direct route.
When sending a QSL direct you will pay the postage for both
directions. Traditionally hams have relied on "green stamps" (US
Dollars) or the IRC (International Reply Coupon) to cover the return
postage. An IRC is a coupon that a customer can take to the local
post office and exchange it for one unit of first class air mail
postage. Currently in the United States an IRC will cost $2.10, but
your local post office may not be familiar with this product and may
not have them in stock. Not all countries participate in the IRC
program. < http://www.upu.int/irc/en/index.shtml >
Unfortunately in some countries mail to radio amateurs is targeted
for theft by dishonest postal workers. It has become common
knowledge among this crowd that these envelopes may contain currency
or other valuable items. Because currency and IRCs can be stolen and
possession of foreign currency in some countries is illegal many hams
use foreign postage stamps to cover the return shipping cost.
There are many good reasons to supply foreign postage stamps on an
envelope (SASE-- stamped self-addressed envelope) when sending QSL
cards overseas. Buying foreign postage is often less expensive than
the oft-requested two green stamps or a single IRC. The SASE makes
it easier for the DX operator because he does not have to exchange
currency or use the coupon to purchase a stamp. He simply fills out
the QSL card, puts in the envelope that you supplied and sticks it in
the mail. Most of us who use this method have a 99.99% rate of
return on QSL cards. (There will always be that one in a thousand
who does not return a card no matter how easy you make it for them.)
Unlike currency or IRCs, a self addressed envelope stamped with
postage of the recipient's country can only be used to send a card to
you.
Acquiring foreign postage stamps is easy. There are several stamp
dealers who specialize in foreign postage stamps. You may have a
local dealer, but if not, here are two dealers with good track
records. These folks are familiar with the needs of the DXing radio
amateur and can supply mailer and nesting envelopes and other
supplies.
JAMES E. MACKEY, K3FN
PO BOX 270569
WEST HARTFORD, CT 06127-0569
Phone: (860) 521-7254
k3fn@aol.com
WILLIAM J. PLUM
Airmail Postage & DX Supplies
12 Glenn Road
Flemington, NJ 08822-3322
Tel. (908) 788-1020
Fax (908) 782-2612
plumdx@msn.com
Here Are Some Tips When Sending A QSL Direct
- Use shipping and nesting envelopes to avoid folding the inner
return envelope. Bulging packages can get torn in processing
equipment or are targets for dishonest postal workers.
- Print clearly when addressing envelopes.
- Do not use callsigns on shipping or return envelopes. Callsigns
are triggers that something of value may be inside.
- Address the envelope using an appropriate title. (Mr., Mrs., Ms.)
- Include the name of the country in the addresses.
- Do not use US postage on return envelopes.
- Cutoff about a half inch of the lower right corner of the shipping
envelope so that postal inspectors can easily look to see that there
is nothing of value inside.
- When sending QSL cards to South and Central America and some parts
of Asia it is a good idea to not seal the envelope at all but simply
tuck the flap inside. By showing that there is nothing of value the
envelope is less likely to be pilfered by dishonest postal workers.
Instructions For Sending A QSL Direct
1. First, be sure of the QSL route. The station which you want to
QSL may have a QSL manager. (Someone who administers the QSL needs
for a DX station) If the QSL manager is in the USA then simply send
the QSL card with a SASE using domestic postage.
If the station uses a foreign QSL manager then you will need postage
stamps for the country of the QSL manager.
Example: Cuban Amateur Radio operator CO8LY uses EA7ADH as his QSL
manager. You will need stamps for the country of Spain, not Cuba to
get your QSL returned.
2. Fill out your QSL card completely.
3. Address the mailer envelope to the DX station. (Don't forget your
return address.) Do not use callsigns.
4. Place a US air mail stamp to this envelope.
5. Address the return envelope to yourself. Do not use callsigns.
6. Place the foreign postage stamps on this envelope.
7. Fold the flap on the return envelope over the front side of the
envelope and place the QSL card under the flap so that the glue is
not touching the card. DO NOT SEAL THIS ENVELOPE.
8. Tuck the envelope and card inside the mailer. Seal the mailer or
tuck the flap inside securing the inner envelope and QSL card under
the flap. Make sure to place the opening of the SASE down in the
outside envelope, so that a letter opener won't slice open the SASE
when the outer envelope is opened (surprising how often this
happens.) Now the envelope is ready to mail.
In addition to the ARRL Outgoing QSL bureau and Logbook of The World,
direct QSLing is one more tool for a DXer to get the confirmation
needed to earn awards. Good luck and good DX.
____________________________________________________________
Milestones
10 Years April
*W3
WPA Breeze Shooters Amateur Radio Club K3BRZ
*W4
VA Russell County Amateur Radio Club, Inc. WR4RC
*W6
EB Oakland Radio Communication Association WW6OR
60 Years April
*W9
IN Lake County Amateur Radio Club W9LJ
*W0
IA Clinton Amateur Radio Club W0CS
75 Years April
*W6
SJV Fresno Amateur Radio Club, Inc. W6TO
*W9
IN Wabash Valley Amateur Radio Association, Inc W9UUU
10 Years May
*W3
EPA Bald Eagle Repeater Association KB3HLL
WPA Ellwood City Amateur Radio Association N3EC
*W4
GA Columbia County Amateur Radio Club K4KNS
GA Oconee County Amateur Radio Society W4EEE
SFL VA Medical Center Radio Club K4VMC
*W6
PAC Hilo Amateur Radio Club KH6CC
*W7
AZ Venture Out Amateur Radio Association N7VOC
*W8
MI Alger Amateur Radio Club KC8BAN
25 Years May
*W9
WI South Milwaukee Amateur Radio Club WA9TXE
50 Years May
*W2
NNY Schoharie County Amateur Radio Association WA2ZWM
*W4
GA Northwest Georgia Amateur Radio Club W4VO
SFL Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club W4LX
*W0
NE Amateur Radio Association of Nebraska W0WWV
=============================================================================
The ARRL Club News is published on the first Wednesday of each month by
the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur
Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax
860-594-0259; www.arrl.org. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.
The ARRL Club News is an e-mail digest of news and information of
interest to active members of ARRL Affiliated Clubs.
Material from The ARRL Club News may be republished or reproduced in
whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must
be given to The ARRL Club News and The American Radio Relay League.
Editorial questions or comments: Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, clubs@arrl.org
Delivery problems (ARRL direct delivery only!): club-el-dlvy@arrl.org
To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail delivery:
ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site,
http://www.arrl.org/members/. You'll have an opportunity during
registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of the The ARRL Club News,
W1AW bulletins, and other material. ARRL members may subscribe to The
ARRL Club News by going to the Member Data Page at:
http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html?modify=1
Note that you must be logged in to the site to access this page. Scroll
down to the section "Which of the following would you like to receive
automatically via email from ARRL?" Check the box for "ARRL Club News
(monthly news of interest to Amateur Radio clubs)" and you're
all set.
Past issues of The ARRL Club News are available at
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/club/clubnews/. Issues are posted to this
page after publication.
Page last modified: 03:09 PM, 15 Nov 2006 ET
Page author: clubs@arrl.org
Copyright © 2006, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
