QSL Cards
Don,
Thanks for the reply, I appreciate the fact that you took time to do this. I agree with you about the usefulness of ADIF uploads. My logging does that, and look forward to its implementation on the IOTA website.
The current average price for a fast DX QSL card is 2.5 US$ (many now ask 3 $) . So not including postage or cards, an IOTA 1000 island Dx chase could cost getting on for £1,000 + time.
Or if your very patient just wait many years for Buro returns, which I think I will do, but I won’t get up the IOTA chart very quickly, or get near the top, because I will cut out all the 3$ brigade.
So for the user it is also a cost issue.
Thanks for listening.
Steve
Sent: 01 July 2011 4:13 PM
To: steve@freshpage.net
Subject: Re: QSL CARD EFFICIENCY AND IOTA
Steve,
Thanks for your note. It's not quite as simple as saying "let's do it". The IOTA software team are currently rewriting the APPS side of the website. Their best estimate of completion is 18 to 24 months. The main additional feature, beyond making it more user-friendly and streamlined, is the introduction of an ADIF method of application to run alongside the main one (97.3% of credits) where QSO details are entered manually, supported by paper QSLs, and a less used one (2.7%) where matching with IOTA Contest QSOs provides credit without the need for QSLs. A consultation with users over recent months has shown that a facility to allow entry with an ADIF log, thus saving on the chore of manually entering QSO details, is the most wanted enhancement.
Our view of a link-up with LoTW has hardened against it over the last two years. There are several reasons:
1. The LoTW does not have dedicated fields for the IOTA number and island name (probably doable at a price over time).
2. Many existing logs on LoTW are hybrid, i.e. part home station and part island operation. The only way to get acceptable data would be to get DXpeditioners to reenter their logs as bespoke IOTA logs
3. DXCC and IOTA have different policies on acceptance of operations, i.e. OK for the DXCC country but not for a qualifying island within that country for IOTA. The system would need to take account of that.
4. To set up and run a system to work with ARRL staff 24/7 would require paid professional staff at the RSGB end. No volunteer would take it on.
So we have eQSL on the radar, but as with everything is is resources and priorities. Hopefully the initial work on the IOTA site will yield some appreciated improvements.
Thanks for writing - I appreciate your input.
73
Don, G3BJ
Acting General Manager, RSGB
From: "steve@freshpage.net" <steve@freshpage.net>
To: haveyoursay@rsgb.org.uk
Sent: Thursday, 30 June, 2011 9:27:25
Subject: QSL CARD EFFICIENCY AND IOTA
Author: Stephen Metcalfe, G4AZB
From: steve@freshpage.net
Subject: QSL CARD EFFICIENCY AND IOTA
Message:
Inconsistent Policy.
G stations do not participate in IOTA (Rad Com last month)
IOTA does not accept E-QSL's but the Buro encourages E methods and is against indiscriminate QSL ing. IOTA wants to check each paper card. LOTW E-QSL and QRZ does not count. In other words you can't win. IOTA is a Paper chase (SLOW Buro or Dollars direct) that distracts from operating time.
Why cant we all use IT.., to improve our efficiency.
Do you really need to send a card?
Before QSLing, please ask yourself if you need to send a card. The Society has a policy of discouraging the sending of QSL cards when they are not wanted. If your special event station or DXpedition practices 100 per cent QSL, this is wasteful of both time and effort. It also costs money for bureaux such as that operated by the RSGB who send cards from place to place, only for them to be destroyed on receipt. Consider systems such as Logbook of the World, which replace cardboard by electronic methods.
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Sent via RSGB Have Your Say web pages on 30 June 2011 at 09:27:25
