nofars.net

By Billy Williams, N4UF 

Several at the October NOFARS meeting were curious about why hams bother to verify contacts.   Two top reasons:  Radio room display and operating awards.

Widespread verification exchange using QSL cards started back almost 100 years in the early 1920s.  Until 2000 or so, sending and receiving QSL cards by postal mail was the only practical option--an expensive proposition when working to earn award certificates.  

For DXers, two dominant awards are ARRL's DX Century Club (DXCC) and CQ magazine's Worked All Zones (WAZ).  DXCC requires at least 100 verifications and WAZ requires 40.

Fifty verifications are needed for ARRL's Worked All States, 200 for Five Band WAZ,  250 for Five Band WAS, 275 for CQ DX Honor Roll, 320 for a high position on DXCC Honor Roll and 500 for Five Band DXCC.

Rising international postage rates make postal mail very expensive.  Costs can be reduced by using QSL bureaus and sacrificing quick responses. 

Some DX stations have U.S. operators designated as QSL managers. This means cheaper domestic postage rates vs. international rates to verify.

Confirming DX countries using postal mail can cost several $$ for each card.  Multiply by 40,50,100,200,250,etc.

Most DX stations require return postage or self-addressed-stamped envelopes (SASE).  DXpeditions are supported by donations from those seeking verifications. Donations may be required for "faster service."

Or wait many months, sometimes years, using the bureau.

ELECTRONIC VERIFICATIONS

Around the start of this century, a half dozen or so different electronic verification systems sprang up.  In terms of users and acceptance, the most successful has been N5UP's eQSL.  Users design their card using templates.  Instead of postal mail, digital eQSLs are routed through its system.

Recipients can print out cards for display. An "authenticity guaranteed" option is available and is required for earning some awards.

Fraudulent verifications and hacking are major threats to the integrity of award programs.   ARRL and CQ magazine, the two biggest American DX award sponsors, only accepted paper cards sent via postal mail.

Forging paper cards was possible but difficult to successfully accomplish.  Close inspection with magnifiers and special lights along with cross checking rooted out bogus cards, especially from the rarest DX zones, countries and territories.

During my term as CQ magazine's DX Award Manager, I authorized eQSL for use in earning DX Awards and DX Honor Roll spots.  Subsequently, acceptance expanded to include CQ's WAZ and WPX awards.  

More about awards in upcoming postings of the NOFARS Balanced Modulator newsletter.