Interessante analisi di Paul su le ultime proposte a proposito dell'OQRS per il Kosovo!
With last week’s DXCC rule change, the Republic of Kosovo has briefly become the “most wanted” DXCC entity. Rarer than North Korea because until now “it didn’t count” for a DXCC entity. While I welcome the DXCC rule change which enabled Kosovo to join the DXCC program as a new entity, I am a bit surprised at the QSL/LoTW announcement of today.
Today, the Project Goodwill Kosovo team has announced “As many have requested confirmations during the ongoing activation, it has been decided to do an immediate LoTW and fast direct QSL service for those who contribute USD 20.00 or more. This option would not delay any of the traditional QSL options, but just put a priority on those who are willing to help Kosovo Amateur Radio finally move beyond the past ten difficult years”.
So, in essence what they are offering is for $20, you can get a QSL card and LoTW upload sooner rather than later. There is probably some appeal to that for #1 Honor Roll guys that will “fall off” the top of the list if they don’t keep all of the available entities confirmed. I get that.
I also strongly feel that DXpeditions to rare and remote places must somehow cover their costs as best as they can. Most DXpeditions including those organized by myself, have offered a QSL/LoTW via OQRS in the range of $5 to $7. That has become the norm and while there has always some grumbling about that, most DXers are comfortable with it and seem to prefer it. Those $5 to $7 QSO/LoTW fees are for the convenience of using OQRS rather than taking the time to send a card and self addressed stamped envelope to the QSL Manager.
Those DXpeditions where there is a $5 to $7 OQRS fee often entailed huge shipping/transportation costs where QSL income was essential to ease the financial burden.
The vast majority of us do not mind a nominal fee for the convenience of a quick turn around of a LoTW upload. A LoTW upload costs the Dxpedition nothing! Not one cent.
In fact, the 2016 VP8STI/VP8SGI team was so elated with the financial support that we received after the culmination of those DXpeditions that within one week of our last contact, we had uploaded all of our contacts to LoTW. The entire log, for each and every contact made with us. We uploaded for everyone, donors and non-donors. The thought of asking $20 for a confirmation from the #3 and #8 most wanted entities, with a $300,000 ship charter would have never occurred to us.
So, I am a bit taken aback when the Project Goodwill Kosovo is offering a quick/simple OQRS for $20. While some DXers will have no issue with this amount, I am concerned that other low cost DXpeditions may follow with potentially unreasonable charges for the convenience of a OQRS request. Their logic may be that if Project Goodwill Kosovo could do it then we can do it too.
With Project Goodwill Kosovo being a fly in Dxpedition without the massive costs to charter a ship, buy generators and fuel, buy coax, antennas and other gear, I see no reason to ask for $20 for a QSL card. There are many generous donors in the DX realm who will add something extra from the goodness of their heart.
I hope this does not become a new trend.
What do you think?
N6PSE Paul
With last week’s DXCC rule change, the Republic of Kosovo has briefly become the “most wanted” DXCC entity. Rarer than North Korea because until now “it didn’t count” for a DXCC entity. While I welcome the DXCC rule change which enabled Kosovo to join the DXCC program as a new entity, I am a bit surprised at the QSL/LoTW announcement of today.
Today, the Project Goodwill Kosovo team has announced “As many have requested confirmations during the ongoing activation, it has been decided to do an immediate LoTW and fast direct QSL service for those who contribute USD 20.00 or more. This option would not delay any of the traditional QSL options, but just put a priority on those who are willing to help Kosovo Amateur Radio finally move beyond the past ten difficult years”.
So, in essence what they are offering is for $20, you can get a QSL card and LoTW upload sooner rather than later. There is probably some appeal to that for #1 Honor Roll guys that will “fall off” the top of the list if they don’t keep all of the available entities confirmed. I get that.
I also strongly feel that DXpeditions to rare and remote places must somehow cover their costs as best as they can. Most DXpeditions including those organized by myself, have offered a QSL/LoTW via OQRS in the range of $5 to $7. That has become the norm and while there has always some grumbling about that, most DXers are comfortable with it and seem to prefer it. Those $5 to $7 QSO/LoTW fees are for the convenience of using OQRS rather than taking the time to send a card and self addressed stamped envelope to the QSL Manager.
Those DXpeditions where there is a $5 to $7 OQRS fee often entailed huge shipping/transportation costs where QSL income was essential to ease the financial burden.
The vast majority of us do not mind a nominal fee for the convenience of a quick turn around of a LoTW upload. A LoTW upload costs the Dxpedition nothing! Not one cent.
In fact, the 2016 VP8STI/VP8SGI team was so elated with the financial support that we received after the culmination of those DXpeditions that within one week of our last contact, we had uploaded all of our contacts to LoTW. The entire log, for each and every contact made with us. We uploaded for everyone, donors and non-donors. The thought of asking $20 for a confirmation from the #3 and #8 most wanted entities, with a $300,000 ship charter would have never occurred to us.
So, I am a bit taken aback when the Project Goodwill Kosovo is offering a quick/simple OQRS for $20. While some DXers will have no issue with this amount, I am concerned that other low cost DXpeditions may follow with potentially unreasonable charges for the convenience of a OQRS request. Their logic may be that if Project Goodwill Kosovo could do it then we can do it too.
With Project Goodwill Kosovo being a fly in Dxpedition without the massive costs to charter a ship, buy generators and fuel, buy coax, antennas and other gear, I see no reason to ask for $20 for a QSL card. There are many generous donors in the DX realm who will add something extra from the goodness of their heart.
I hope this does not become a new trend.
What do you think?
N6PSE Paul
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