QSL cards

[N2RJ]

I figured I'd start something that isn't code/no-code. Surprise!

What kind of QSL card do you have? What do you have on it?

What are your reasons for having what you have?

I have a full glossy color card with a picture of a lighthouse, me, my cat and a map of the state.

I did that because I figured that it would encourage DX stations to return a card, because they in turn got a nice card. The full glossy was also not that expensive ($68/1000 from UX5UO).

So over to you. What kind of card and why?

[kg4heb]

You can see my card when you look up my call here. It has a photo of my town. It's a view from a local mountain top that I took myself. I wanted it like this because it's a photo I took which makes it more unique. I also like to give others a nice view of what my part of the world looks like. I like to show them the "DX". If I am DX to them that is. If that makes any sense. I have received many nice compliments on my card and that can make qsling even more enjoyable. 73, Sam

[KI4CIA]

I have a homemade card (or should that be "homebrew"?). http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Why? Because I'm cheap ... and the address will be changing next summer anyway so no need in spending money until we get a permanent address out in the boonies somewhere.


Basic information on mine, no pictures, but do have the SKCC and FISTS logo. There's your CW for you http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif


I do have another card with a picture - the "reconstructed ruins" of the capital building in Tuscaloosa and some rare fall foliage - I've used the last one so need to have more printed. Yep, it's homebrew too, no glossy finish, and I get them printed at the local office supply place. I need to replace the picture with the new addition to the Bryant Denny Stadium, but they probably have that copyrighted -- they've tried it with everything else!!!!!

Sorry, I'm just "cheap". http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[KE5FRF]

My card is my call, of course, with a picture of the Louisiana State Capitol building, the tallest capitol building in the nation, and built (commisioned) by Huey P. Long, one of the most famous American governors in history.

Melinda KI4CIA has my card, and I have hers, at least, her version as of about 3 months ago. Hers is very nice and has a feminine touch. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[N2RJ]

Oh I must add that I took the pic of the lighthouse myself.

Next card is going to have something different, perhaps the view from our new QTH. From what I see it's going to be quite a vew. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[nm5tf]

my paper card is the same picture as my qrz icon...

the picture is my worksite, the VLA, which is all over TV in various advertisements & the movie "Contact"....numerous DX stations have sent me e-mail because they recognize the picture...practically assures me a card in return http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

my callsign is red & highlighted in white which really makes it
"pop" out at you...the front contains basic info about my boat anchors & antennas...backside contains rest of QSO info...

[K7KBN]

I have all the information on one side of the card, with the other side blank. Down the left-hand side I have "K7KBN" represented by International signal flags. Gives it a slightly nautical/Navy flavor.

[K9STH]

Here are some of mine:

http://k9sth.com/uploads/qsl2.JPG

Glen, K9STH

[w8cbc]

I send a QSL letter.

Location, station specs and contact details are printed under a big callsign logo. I write a personal note in the blank area beneath.

I may do something a little more fancy now that I have one of them digital camera contraptions.

[ky5u]

Here's mine:

[n1ydx]

I make my own cards. Trying to wear out my 5 year old printer I guess.

N1YDX - Sarge

[N2RJ]

Nothing is wrong with homemade cards!

I love to receive some of the creative ones. In fact before I received my order from the printer I used to print my own. I printed a whole load of them for the IARU HF contest.

[wv6z]

This is Sheryl's and mine, I guess the reason is kind of obvious, well, that and she let me pick it out because she couldn't care less. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d148/ku4my/KU4MYCard.jpg

[M3ZMT]

This is mine........

http://www.qrz.com/hampix/t/m/m3zmt.1153410269.jpg

Cheers and beers!!

[WA2ZDY]

From an earlier era . . .

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (WA2ZDY @ Sep. 29 2006,08:19)]From an earlier era . . .
LOL! I love it!!

[KI4RDB]

As a newly licensed Technician, all I have at the moment are ideas... I'm still thinking about what I want to display...

73,
Matt KI4RDB

[cu2jt]

Another "cheap" QSL. I produce the card by clicking on "print QSL" on my home made logging program and out of the laser printer comes the card below. All I have to do is to sign it.

I buy bulks of carton paper at a local printing office and the cost for each card, paper, toner etc is about 1.5 US Cent.

I have worked almost 19,000 QSO´s in 2 years and a fancy QSL would cost me a fortune and I will probably develop a tennis elbow filling them out.

[cu2jt]

Quote[/b] (ku4my @ Sep. 28 2006,20:52)]This is Sheryl's and mine, I guess the reason is kind of obvious, well, that and she let me pick it out because she couldn't care less.
A Welsh dragon ! I had expected a GW call on that card !

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (cu2jt @ Sep. 29 2006,16:17)]Another "cheap" QSL. I produce the card by clicking on "print QSL" on my home made logging program and out of the laser printer comes the card below. All I have to do is to sign it.

I buy bulks of carton paper at a local printing office and the cost for each card, paper, toner etc is about 1.5 US Cent.

I have worked almost 19,000 QSO´s in 2 years and a fancy QSL would cost me a fortune and I will probably develop a tennis elbow filling them out.
Nothing is wrong with laser or inkjet cards, but the problems I have with printing cards from my computer -

- I have to cut them with a paper cutter
- Not glossy (but I have a color laser so they are nice looking)
- Laser toner gets expensive. $70/color (x4 - cmyk) for approx 5000 pages

I don't mind writing cards but I think when we move to the new house we're going to have to start using labels.

[KF0RT]

Here's the one I did for my recent vacation (only 12 sent out, and 10 of those went to DX):

http://rbton.home.comcast.net/rt06-ham/qsl-lg.jpg

Done on an inkjet printer. My "real" cards are from a QSL company. I'll be glad when those are gone so I can do a better job with the next ones.

Here's my eQsl card:
http://tatanka03.home.comcast.net/card3.jpg

73, Rob

[P29ZAD]

Q. “What do you have on it (QLS card)?”
A. If I did not QSL, a few people would be upset with me. It is fun working a pile-up and letting people get QSL cards from P2.

Q. ”What are your reasons for having what you have?”
A. I want to show some of the culture of PNG. People don’t walk around town with their face painted, but many people dress up for celebration in traditional dress. Also I know several people who can put things through their nose. I use to print my own QSL cards off on my laser printer and put notes on many of them, but the cost of postage ($1.80 US) and PNG not excepting IRC kind of pushed me to having a QSL manager (N5FTR, Buzz). I have glossy photo for people who send cards direct to my QSL manager.

I really enjoyed see all the different QSL cards. I have my QSL manager keep all my cards and I enjoy looking through them. My favorite cards have some kind of picture or photo that shows something about the person or where they live. (I really like the old fashion look of AG4YO and WA2ZD too) I pin my favorite cards up on my wall. One of my favorite cards is a "homebrew" card. It was a drawing printed with black ink, but he took a few seconds to add some color with a highlighter. Stock designed cards with the call sign are fine, but are stock designed to me.

[KF0RT]

Quote[/b] (P29ZAD @ Sep. 29 2006,17:23)]I really enjoyed see all the different QSL cards. I have my QSL manager keep all my cards and I enjoy looking through them. My favorite cards have some kind of picture or photo that shows something about the person or where they live. (I really like the old fashion look of AG4YO and WA2ZD too) I pin my favorite cards up on my wall. One of my favorite cards is a "homebrew" card. It was a drawing printed with black ink, but he took a few seconds to add some color with a highlighter. Stock designed cards with the call sign are fine, but are stock designed to me.
I like your QSL card "spirit."

In this day of digital cameras and relatively inexpensive printing, it doesn't take a whole lot to come up with a unique card. I love them all, but especially the home made ones. Stock designs aren't as much fun (and really, aren't much cheaper).

Recently, I worked a mobile station who was driving a "big rig" down an interstate highway at the time -- the contact was on CW. Got his card in the mail -- it was a picture of a Freightliner cut out of a magazine or something. On the back was a sticker with the QSO information hand printed. Anyone who goes through that much trouble to get a card from me gets one back as fast as I can get it in the mail.

Years ago, I got a card from a station in CA that was printed on a piece of 1/8" hardwood. It actually went through the mail as a post card.

73, Rob

[WA2ZDY]

Quote[/b] (AB2MH @ Sep. 29 2006,18:13)]Nothing is wrong with laser or inkjet cards, but the problems I have with printing cards from my computer -

- I have to cut them with a paper cutter
- Not glossy (but I have a color laser so they are nice looking)
- Laser toner gets expensive. #$70/color #(x4 - cmyk) for approx 5000 pages
I don't do mine in colour. I'm a ham (thus I'm a cheapskate.) You're right though, they're not glossy but who really needs a card from Florida anyway?

Buy 5x7 cardstock from an art supply store like Michaels. It only needs one cut in half to have two cards. And I print them two at a time before cutting.

Again, these are cheapskate suggestions. If I lived in Rare County Wyoming I'd feel differently about cards. But here in Florida . . . eh.

[w4hwd]

Cards with big glossy pictures are sure nice to look at, but any DX QSL manager will tell you that a plain jane card, with the info all on the same side, efficiently laid out and precise yet "short and sweet" is easier and faster to handle and will get a faster response. This is especially true when the manager is used to handling literally thousands of cards a year.

For everything else, like casual contacts, etc., a pretty card is sure nice to get. Of course the DX can do whatever they want as for cards since I would rather have a glossy card like the one above from New Guinea than a full color 5x7 from Disney World (like I've never been there!).

I have two cards - one I use for Century Club contacts with all the CC related stuff on it, and one generic plain jane I use for everything else - because the non-CC contacts don't really need or care to have CC contact info.

[w2nsf]

I use different cards for different reasons. One thing common to all of them is they are one-sided cards with all the QSO and station information clearly posted. QSL cards serve many purposes, but I think two stand out: one is simply to confirm and thank a fellow ham for a QSO, the other is to chalk another contact up towards an award. In all cases, the cards should carry the basic QSO information and all the relevant QTH information, including grid and county. Thank you.

[MM3XXW]

My card is also one of an inland harbour lighthouse which is located about 440m from my house.
I live in Newhaven, now a district of Edinburgh, and this area was once bustling with fishermen and their associated industries so I used this particular picture as a little bit of nostalgia/history to remind me of an era unfortunately long gone.

The debate on whether we should have one or double sided cards shouldn't really come up.
Perhaps it is easier for the folks at the varying world-wide bureaus to read all the details on a one-sided card but as long as you're hand-writing is legible I don't really see it as a big problem, turning a card over that is!

[KI4CIA]

There's a picture floating around here of a goalpost - would probably make an entertaining QSL card, especially for any QSO's with Arkansas ops. But it's probably copyrighted (like the stadium) ... AR ops for probably get a kick out of it anyway, so I might just make a couple of "special" QSL cards.

I need a new design anyway ...


73,
Melinda / KI4CIA
Wide-Right, Alabama

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[n0nwo]

this did not work and there ain't no delete button so I can eliminate it.

[NN3W]

I created this one using Microsoft Word and then a duplicate using Excel that i can drop computer files into for a computer generated QSL - printed onto thick color stock through a color printer.

When I'm lazy I use QSLs ordered from a QSL printer.

http://img446.imageshack.us/img446/7733/qslwk3.jpg

[n0nwo]

My son teen age son picked out my card. He said the one I was considering was boaring and that this one fit my personality better.

[n0jaa]

Quote[/b] (M3ZMT @ Sep. 29 2006,08:10)]This is mine........

http://www.qrz.com/hampix/t/m/m3zmt.1153410269.jpg

Cheers and beers!!
Okay, the card is yours, but who's beer is that? Yours or the dog's?

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[n0jaa]

My card (which can be seen on my profile) is of a Florida East Coast Railway piggyback freight. #The consist is led by FEC 2000 in the railway's old passenger train colors. #Behind 2000 is FEC 444 in its anniversary livery and the railway's old slogan "Route of the Speedway" and the company's old herald which said "Florida East Coast Flagler System," surrounding a setting sun (FEC celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2000). #

The photo was shot by a fellow FEC Railway Society member, and depicts the train crossing a bridge over a bayou south of St. Augustine, FL.

On the reverse of the card is the Florida state flag (shaded).

The card was made for me by QSL Factory.

I could have gone with a standard QSL card, but I wanted something special that depicted something about Florida and my other main hobby, Railfanning.


PS: The current FEC herald, shown on FEC 2000, depicts the road's reporting mark inside a hurricane symbol.

[kl7aj]

We need photos of great QSL cards for the QRZ Handbook of Amateur Radio Knowledge and Lore.

Eric

[KE5FRF]

Quote[/b] (cu2jt @ Sep. 29 2006,16:17)]Another "cheap" QSL. I produce the card by clicking on "print QSL" on my home made logging program and out of the laser printer comes the card below. All I have to do is to sign it.

I buy bulks of carton paper at a local printing office and the cost for each card, paper, toner etc is about 1.5 US Cent.

I have worked almost 19,000 QSO´s in 2 years and a fancy QSL would cost me a fortune and I will probably develop a tennis elbow filling them out.
Hey Gary,

I'll be looking forward to exchanging QSL cards!

[N2RJ]

Got a really nice homemade one today, and the gentleman was even kind enough to return my GS.

It was printed on a piece of HP photo paper and had a pic of his antenna. Really nice. If I get a chance later I'll take a pic of it.

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (MM3XXW @ Oct. 02 2006,18:56)]My card is also one of an inland harbour lighthouse which is located about 440m from my house.
I live in Newhaven, now a district of Edinburgh, and this area was once bustling with fishermen and their associated industries so I used this particular picture as a little bit of nostalgia/history to remind me of an era unfortunately long gone.

The debate on whether we should have one or double sided cards shouldn't really come up.
Perhaps it is easier for the folks at the varying world-wide bureaus to read all the details on a one-sided card but as long as you're hand-writing is legible I don't really see it as a big problem, turning a card over that is!
That is a really nice card, OM!

I always get nice cards from Scotland, especially those from the islands.

MM0MSS sent me a nice picture card, had a pic of some bird with a colorful bill.

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (w2nsf @ Sep. 30 2006,10:45)]I use different cards for different reasons. #One thing common to all of them is they are one-sided cards with all the QSO and station information clearly posted. #QSL cards serve many purposes, but I think two stand out: one is simply to confirm and thank a fellow ham for a QSO, the other is to chalk another contact up towards an award. #In all cases, the cards should carry the basic QSO information and all the relevant QTH information, including grid and county. #Thank you.
I put everything on one side of my card, but that doesn't mean I have to leave the other side blank.

I put the picture/design you see on my QRZ.com profile on the other side.

[KB3LIX]

Mine are plain-jane homebrew cards.
I have a friend that prints mine as I do not have a printer.

Picture of an outhouse with a 3 element yagi on top.

Box for basic QSO information to the right, and my
info at the bottom. All printed on freebie-card stock.
Price is right !

[wv6z]

Quote[/b] (cu2jt @ Sep. 28 2006,15:20)]Quote[/b] (ku4my @ Sep. 28 2006,20:52)]This is Sheryl's and mine, I guess the reason is kind of obvious, well, that and she let me pick it out because she couldn't care less.
A Welsh dragon ! I had expected a GW call on that card !
Gary, I have lived in South Carolina for over 25 years now. Naturally my first choice was a 'road kill' oppossum, but I was afraid that I may be confused with somebody from Georgia, so, The Red Dragon it is mate! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[w9mpc]

One of my other hobbies. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[cu2jt]

Quote[/b] (WA2ZDY @ Sep. 30 2006,07:00)].....
Buy 5x7 cardstock from an art supply store like Michaels. It only needs one cut in half to have two cards.
.....
I use blank sheets 210 x 297 mm and get 4 cards out of it using the "landscape" format in MS Word. I have a template with keywords and for each card I print, my logger fetches the template and does a "replace" of the keywords with the info.
When all 4 matrixes are used, my logger saves the file witn another name and re-loads the template.

Yes, I have to use a paper cutter for small quantities and for bulk, I go to a printing office with a paper cutter machine and they do it for nickels.

[cu2jt]

Quote[/b] (KE5FRF @ Oct. 03 2006,16:34)]Quote[/b] (cu2jt @ Sep. 29 2006,16:17)]Another "cheap" QSL. I produce the card by clicking on "print QSL" on my home made logging program and out of the laser printer comes the card below. All I have to do is to sign it.

I buy bulks of carton paper at a local printing office and the cost for each card, paper, toner etc is about 1.5 US Cent.

I have worked almost 19,000 QSO´s in 2 years and a fancy QSL would cost me a fortune and I will probably develop a tennis elbow filling them out.
Hey Gary,

I'll be looking forward to exchanging QSL cards!
For you, Heath, I will use one of my glossy cards. Please let me know if and when you find the typo on it

[G3OZN]

Ive had about ten designs since first licensed in 1961, my first few batches were free and were printed by Mullard Ltd (UK valve manufacture) only a small symbol of theirs on it.
Present card as shown (my surname is Badger, can I become an honorary member of Wisconsin state?http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif Hi)
Now get them from "QSL Factory" in UK, a great guy with unlimited patience and skill.
73
Ted G3OZN

[KF0RT]

Quote[/b] (cu2jt @ Oct. 04 2006,02:22)]Quote[/b] (WA2ZDY @ Sep. 30 2006,07:00)].....
Buy 5x7 cardstock from an art supply store like Michaels. It only needs one cut in half to have two cards.
.....
I use blank sheets 210 x 297 mm and get 4 cards out of it using the "landscape" format in MS Word. I have a template with keywords and for each card I print, my logger fetches the template and does a "replace" of the keywords with the info.
When all 4 matrixes are used, my logger saves the file witn another name and re-loads the template.

Yes, I have to use a paper cutter for small quantities and for bulk, I go to a printing office with a paper cutter machine and they do it for nickels.
FWIW, here in the States, the big office supply stores sell 250-sheet packs of 8-1/2 x 11" 110# card stock for about $10. Real careful with the layout, you can get 4 cards per sheet or one cent per card. Standard card size is 3-1/2 x 5-1/2" in the non-metric world, though post cards seem to have mostly gone to 4 x 6".

Requires a printer that will print borderless, though. I'm lazy and do 2 per sheet, but I don't do many "custom" cards. I wonder if Kinkos has one of those paper cutting machines.

73, Rob

[ac3p]

This thread reminds me of when there were real hamfests with QSL card contests. Everyone would submit a card. There were prizes for best design and farthest distance travelled.

The thread also reminds me that I need to order some new cards. I have a box of bland ones I ordered from AES about 15 years ago or more. Time to update with a better design.

Some great cards on display here.

73

Frank

[ab8ma]

Quote[/b] (KI4CIA @ Oct. 03 2006,17:39)]There's a picture floating around here of a goalpost - would probably make an entertaining QSL card, especially for any QSO's with Arkansas ops. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Hockey? In Arkansas ?? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif