Understanding OQRS

DXpeditions need funding before the team depart to pay for expensive shipping of equipment and for the charter of a vessel to get to the island. Quite often these expensive costs need to be paid at least by means of a deposit up to 12 months before the DXpedition. The best way that we can raise these funds is by using the teams Donation page on their website.  This not only helps the teams funds but also if you are in the log your QSL and LoTW will be sent for you automatically.

To help you understand some changes on OQRS you may find this helpful.

The Pre DXpedition Donation

Once you fill in the form on the donation page, the data on that form is automated onto an Excel file. Once the DXpedition sends me the first log update. I upload the Excel file to OQRS, this file is then populated to the relevant QSL address fields and your QSL is queued, while your LoTW QSL is automatically uploaded to LoTW. This is repeated for every log update that i receive. ALL your QSOs are covered by the donation.
It is the DXpeditions IT team that must prepare the Excel spreadsheet correctly. I will provide the Excel spreadsheet to the team with all the needed fields laid out correctly. High end DXpeditions may attract 1,500 personal donations and this has to be automated by the team. As you can imagine doing this manually would not be possible. 

“Express LoTW”   In recent times some DX’ers have said that they do not want a QSL, but want to request an early LoTW and not have to request a QSL card.  So for this reason Express LoTW replaces the QSL request. You are not forced to pay for the LoTW upload and neither is it an extra QSL charge.
DO not use Express LoTW if you want a QSL card. You will NOT get one.
Express LoTW will upload all QSOs in the log so far…. It will NOT upload any Qs you make tomorrow.

“OQRS Direct + LoTW”  If you want the QSL and LoTW this is the option you should use.

“OQRS Direct” – NON DXpedition logs are normally uploaded to LoTW when the log updates arrive, either by me or the log owner.

“Busted/Missing Call Requests” VERY IMPORTANT Please do not send ANY busted or missing call emails – Use the “NOT IN LOG” Button on OQRS. All inquiries are handled on the system. NO EMAILS.

Finally, ALWAYS without fail, CHECK the QSL Policy of the DXpedition that you are wanting a QSL confirmation. 1 or 2 dollars will not be enough and your letter will NOT be replied to.

Please also remember, Bespoke OQRS is self-funded so it is not always possible to do upgrades that you may think are relevant and/or worthwhile. A lot of thought is given to upgrades and in particular the cost implications that surround them.

 

Incoming Bureau Cards

With another 2,500 Incoming Bureau cards received yesterday, I am finding it very hard to understand why so many people find it so difficult to follow QSL information?

My QSL information on QRZ.com and on my website is very clear:


BUREAU QSL – OQRS IS ONLY BUREAU ROUTE

Request your QSL. Please don’t send it. Use OQRS only. (Online QSL Request System)
NO OTHER ROUTE – ONLY OQRS

“QSL Via” is not permitted by the RSGB and most of these call signs are not RSGB members. The cost to receive these cards is not viable. Please READ  the QSL information for the station you need the card from. The biggest problem is the culture of the German and Japanese sending every QSO a QSL Via the Bureau. These days are long gone. The year is 2023, please get a grip!

There is clearly a need for the DARC and JARL to re-educate their members in how to initiate a Bureau QSL response.

You DO NOT just flood the Bureaus with QSL cards from every QSO in your log.
Go to QRZ.com – Check QSL Policy
If you need the QSL for a new band slot or Mode, or you would just like to receive the QSL, then USE OQRS to request the QSL for either DIRECT or BUREAU.

VK8MC QSL Preview

Welcome to VK8MC / VK8D formerly VK8VWA Philip Brennan. QSL cards are in the print room to be available very soon.

W1DED Kevin interviews TX5S co-leader K3EL

W1DED Kevin, has interviewed TX5S co-leader K3EL, Dave Lloyd, about the upcoming Clipperton Island Dxpedition. TX5S is planned for January, 2024 by the “Perseverance DX Group.”  Dave talks about all things DXpedition in this interview. You can find out more about this DXpedition on the website link TX5S.

TX5S Press Release #5

For Immediate Release Press Release #5 August 8, 2023
TX5S Clipperton Island DXpedition (NA-011) January 18 – February 1, 2024

Camp Site Design: Detailed planning is underway.
Our current plan consists of two operating camps: CW/Digital/Satellite/EME and SSB/Digital.

The camps will be separated by about 500 meters, with CW located at the main campsite and SSB being the distant camp. The combination of distance, bandpass filters, horizontal and vertically polarized antennas at both camps will enable simultaneous operation on the same band. WiFi networking will link the camps.

The main encampment consists of ten sleeping tents (two people per tent) the CW tent, kitchen / dining tent and a HQ/networking tent. The power grid will consist of six Generac GP6500 generators. Five units will be on-line 24X7 and one spare.

TX5S Team: The nineteen person team consists of sixteen radio operators, one scientist each from the University of French Polynesia and the University of Orleans, and one environmentalist from the Association la Passion-Clipperton (France). The radio operators are each experienced DXpedition operators and/or contest operators.

Internet Availability: Confirmed (in writing) from Space X, Clipperton is within the Starlink footprint. We will have at least one Starlink terminal online 24/7. Logs will be uploaded to M0URX.com at least once per day.

Corporate Sponsors:- Elecraft has been a long time partner of PDXG projects, and the tradition continues. Elecraft will provide several K4D transceivers and KPA-1500 amplifiers to augment our lineup of K3 transceivers and KPA-500 amplifiers.

– SSB-Electronic GmbH (Germany) offered to supply equipment for the project.

Fundraising: Our goal is always to split the expedition funding approximately equally between the expedition operators and the DX community – organizations and individuals. At the moment we still have a long way to go to reach that goal, and if you need Clipperton for an ATNO or will work us for the DX Marathon or a club competition or similar, or just for the fun of competing in the pileups, we would appreciate your help. Most bills must be paid before we sail, and we wish to thank those organizations and individuals who have already pledged their support to TX5S.”

Since the last press release the following organizations have joined the project as sponsors:

– Eastern Iowa DX Association
– West Virginia DX Association – significant donation to the project
– Lynx DX Group
– Northeast Wisconsin DX Association
Sponsor logos appear on our website and will appear on the TX5S QSL card.

Ham Radio Events: We met many DXers at the Dayton (Xenia) Hamvention and at Ham Radio, Friedrichshafen (Germany).
Next stop will be Tokyo Ham Fair in August where we will attend a DX Seminar / Dinner on Saturday, August 19th. Additional details: http://ict-kuwa.net/tokyodxseminar/TX5S was featured at the July Ham Radio Festival, Kansai, Japan

Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tx5s2024 Website: https://TX5S.net Additional details will be released as they develop. Questions to: info@pdxg.net

73, Clipperton 2024 Team

Argentina QSL Bureau

Argentina QSL Bureau has given us many problems with mail being returned since 2015, this package sent last July was returned in October, re-posted in October and returned in July 2023.

Sadly I am no longer able to continue sending Bureau cards to Argentina!

In an email from Argentina QSL Bureau i am informed that there is no communication from the PO that the package is ready for collection when it gets handed from customs to Argentina Post. As this is a long term issue I have asked the team to discuss with the mail center manager, because we  are just not able to get QSL cards to the Bureau in Argentina. 

VK8AW QSL Preview

Welcome to Gary, VK8AW from the Northern Territory, Australia to the UR QSL Management. QSL cards will be available soon. OQRS Open!

4U100QO C7A QSL Preview

4U100QO is active on QO satellite from the United Nations Vienna International Center, Austria. OQRS open.

Hinckley AR&ES QSL Preview

Welcome to HARES –  Hinckley Amateur Radio & Electronic Society to UR QSL Management. QSL cards now available on OQRS.