QSL Cards with Letters and Notes

[A71AN]

This week I have received 4 letters along with the qsl cards, one of those letters is from a Japanese Doctor, very interesting personnel history and the second letter from a Canadian Gentleman, the second wrote a lot about his experiences with the Ham radio and I have enjoyed every single word he wrote to me.

From today, I will open a special file and post all of the letters I receive their and keep them for my future records, I wish I could one day publish a book which reflect my ham radio hobby and post all of these letters I receive in it.

How many would enjoy receiving such letters and having time to read them and understand their contents as I really do?

All of the best to every one

[KC7UP]

I too often include a brief letter with card sent overseas. I started this considerable years ago and it's stood me in good terms.
Curt

[N2RJ]

I get quite a few letters and notes. Most of them are from people who lived here or have relatives here.

From my operations in Trinidad, I got lots of letters saying they are grateful for the contact, and some about their military members serving overseas etc. All not necessary as I reply to every QSL (QSL 100%) but still nice to have.

[WS2L]

This is not a story about a letter I receive but a QSL card.

For some reason when it comes to callsigns I can remember QSO's that I had from previous years back. One day I worked a ham who I had a QSO with about 8 years previous to the current one. The gentleman sent me a QSL card which was a picture of himself at his desk in his shack. On the walls there were QSL cards that I was able to view about 75% of the callsigns on the cards. Much to my surprise on the wall was my QSL card from our previous conversation 8 years prior.

Anyone run into one like that ?

[SM51252]

Our friend Rashed's comments are indeed pleasant to read. I strongly support the idea of trying to communicate in a personal way - and I am happy to say many hams do send personal notes to me as an SWL in reply to my reports, either by E-mail or together with their direct QSLs. The generosity of many hams is a fact, and the willingness to keep in touch too. Rashed himself is a good example of this.
Being an SWL is not inferior to transmitting activities. I find that by careful reporting I can give valuable information to hams - provided I take time to compile a comparative report and give some sincere comments. Sending the standard 599 report (I am only listening on CW) will not be of much use, but if the ham I send a report sees I give him 589 and other stations in or near his country get 599, 569 and 559 he sees he is "almost on top of the ladder!"
Enough said. I got HS Thailand confirmed today, four other QSLs yesterday and two last Friday, direct of course, so I don't complain! They are indeed honey for my soul - especially when some notes and comments are added...
73 to all
Ullmar, SM5-1252
SWL since 1945, CW fan since 1947, age 73

[SM51252]

I must add a few words after reading WS2L's message.
I had a ham station once, operating as SM4DXL between 1964 and 1978 when due to strong reasons I left ham radio for almost 30 years....
Some time ago F9NF sent me his QSL for an SWL report, but to my astonishment he had also photocopied my SM4DXL QSL he had received back in 1964! What a surprise - and indeed this ham has got his QSL collection in order and his observation ability is higher than normal!
73 again
Ullmar SM5-1252

[n5xm]

I'm not much into QSL cards, but when I get one with a letter enclosed, or some nice comments on the card, it sure makes me smile. There are a lot of interesting people out there. When you like to ragchew and get to know the other op, that just makes me happy as a clam. :):D

[A71AN]

Our friend Rashed's comments are indeed pleasant to read. I strongly support the idea of trying to communicate in a personal way - and I am happy to say many hams do send personal notes to me as an SWL in reply to my reports, either by E-mail or together with their direct QSLs. The generosity of many hams is a fact, and the willingness to keep in touch too. Rashed himself is a good example of this.
Being an SWL is not inferior to transmitting activities. I find that by careful reporting I can give valuable information to hams - provided I take time to compile a comparative report and give some sincere comments. Sending the standard 599 report (I am only listening on CW) will not be of much use, but if the ham I send a report sees I give him 589 and other stations in or near his country get 599, 569 and 559 he sees he is "almost on top of the ladder!"
Enough said. I got HS Thailand confirmed today, four other QSLs yesterday and two last Friday, direct of course, so I don't complain! They are indeed honey for my soul - especially when some notes and comments are added...
73 to all
Ullmar, SM5-1252
SWL since 1945, CW fan since 1947, age 73

Thank you my friend a lot, you have given me an great idea today, I will look for a programer to add SWL section in my digital log book in order to always have a great respect for all of the SWL people, it is only some times I feel my English is not helpping me a lot, other wise I will have the great pleasure to receive your card at this end and send you mine where I also love to see you back on the air using the cw key and give me the pleasure to qso with you.

Thank you my friend, I really do not deserve your complements but I will make sure to be at the service of all Hams and maintain respect for this hobby.

73 my friend

[cu2jt]

Just a note regarding SM5-1252, Ullmar. Back in the late 1950's Ullmar and I belonged to the same Swedish radio club specialized in medium wawe DX-ing. Then our paths parted and earlier this year, I received a SWL report from Ullmar. So, 50 years later our paths crossed again !

And, by the way, those of you who have worked me know that I am not one of those 599TU guys. My wife always says that I talk too much (whatever she means with that...)

[G0NGA]

I wish I could one day publish a book which reflect my ham radio hobby and post all of these letters I receive in it.

Why don't you? Try www.lulu.com . Upload as a PDF and then buy one copy, a few pounds (or dollars), sorted!

[K0DXC]

I have always enjoyed getting letters along with QSL cards. I do not get very many though; normally l just find a few comments written on the back of the QSL card, that is always nice too. I like the letters because it shows that the other ham cared enough about the QSO to tell you even more about them.

[A71AN]

Why don't you? Try www.lulu.com . Upload as a PDF and then buy one copy, a few pounds (or dollars), sorted!

Thank you my friend, I will do that.

All of the best my friend

[N2RJ]

And, by the way, those of you who have worked me know that I am not one of those 599TU guys. My wife always says that I talk too much (whatever she means with that...)

LOL, I was literally rolling on the floor when you were talking about me on RTTY with my XYL... SHE is a 599TU person, btw... :eek:

[SM51252]

Hello all and especially A71AN and CU2JT:
I have been away on two weekends to my home province of Vermland, so I have a delay in many directions. This is why I reply so late. (In Vermland I met three old pals, SM4AIQ, SM4ATA and SM4DF I have not met for 38 years - and we had a nice picknick together!) - Rashed is going to take SWLs into more consideration, and I am happy to see that. But although most listeners are sincere, there are some who try to get QSLs in dishonest ways, for instance by using the DX Clusters, pretending they heard a station they found there. What fun is there in receiving a QSL as a result of cheating? I can't understand it.
The number of CW loving SWLs is small, but we have got a few in the SWARL (Yahoo SWL group).

Gary CU2JT was heard here late at night a few months ago, at a time I normally sleep, on 80 m CW. I almost fell off my chair when I found his name in QRZ.com. Imagine you are in touch with a guy in your own country, and 50 years later he pops up in the Azores... I think it's the unexpected, the surprise, which makes the radio hobby so exciting. Also, you find the bands extremely dull, suddenly you hear a station you could hardly dream of hearing, there and then!

Good luck from Sweden
Ullmar, SM5-1252

[A71AN]

Hello all and especially A71AN and CU2JT:
I have been away on two weekends to my home province of Vermland, so I have a delay in many directions. This is why I reply so late. (In Vermland I met three old pals, SM4AIQ, SM4ATA and SM4DF I have not met for 38 years - and we had a nice picknick together!) - Rashed is going to take SWLs into more consideration, and I am happy to see that. But although most listeners are sincere, there are some who try to get QSLs in dishonest ways, for instance by using the DX Clusters, pretending they heard a station they found there. What fun is there in receiving a QSL as a result of cheating? I can't understand it.
The number of CW loving SWLs is small, but we have got a few in the SWARL (Yahoo SWL group).

Gary CU2JT was heard here late at night a few months ago, at a time I normally sleep, on 80 m CW. I almost fell off my chair when I found his name in QRZ.com. Imagine you are in touch with a guy in your own country, and 50 years later he pops up in the Azores... I think it's the unexpected, the surprise, which makes the radio hobby so exciting. Also, you find the bands extremely dull, suddenly you hear a station you could hardly dream of hearing, there and then!

Good luck from Sweden
Ullmar, SM5-1252


Thank you my friend and I do approciate your input.

For the SWL who are not honest, it is very ahrd to figure them out, I would easly figure that out for a ham who send a card to me while not having a real qso with me as he is not going to be on my log book and I would ignore his card as this is not an honest way to qsl but for the SWL cards I receive I can only check for the stations he states that had a qso with me and if that station is in my log, then I have to add a trust in those people in which I hope at most caes are honest people.

I have 2 different qsl cards which been designed to to send for SWL and planing to have this aded to the 4 different cards I am printing in Thailand during my holiday this time, that will include my A71AN/P, A71AN/M.

Thank you my friend again and wishing you all of the best from the A7 land.

73 my friend