Everyone enjoys viewing picture post cards. But you may be asking, “What is A QSL Card?” For the non-ham radio folks, a brief explanation is in order.

About QSL Cards

QSL cards are similar in size and design to picture post cards. They serve as confirmation that a two-way radio transmission took place between two amateur radio operators. Typically post card size, a QSL card usually includes a picture on the front and details about the radio contact on the back, although some cards are single-sided and show both picture and contact details on the same side. Hams enjoy receiving QSL cards from distant places.

Amateur radio operators also enjoy receiving certificates and other awards from participating in “radio sport” activities, which are essentially contests and challenges to make contact with certain special event stations. Often, these contests and special events offer awards and certificates to operators who achieve successful contacts.

These pages feature some interesting QSL cards, certificates and awards received by local Treasure Coast hams. Separate pages display QSL Cards and Awards & Certificates.

By chance do you need QSL cards?

Are you running low on cards? Or perhaps you need help in designing your own personal QSL card. In either case, see the Need QSL Cards? page for information about QSL Concepts, our preferred card printer. Fabrice and his team do an outstanding job supporting the ham radio community. Give them a try.

* * * * * * * * * *

Electronic QSL cards: An alternative to post cards

Confirmations (QSLs) by electronic means and email have become quite popular in recent years.

Probably the most popular electronic QSL card service is eQSL (web site eqsl.cc). By creating an account at eQSL, a ham can create a personal QSL card to send to other hams. A ham can also receive electronic confirmations from other hams who use the eQSL service. And best of all, basic membership in eQSL is free.

There are numerous other electronic QSL and logging services besides eQSL. All do a reasonable job.

Unsolicited email QSL cards: A controversial subject

There are a number of web sites that email QSL cards on behalf of members who subscribe to their service. Most of these services obtain email addresses of hams from publicly available sources or ham databases, such as is found on QRZ.com.

Controversy surrounds emailed QSLs. They don’t qualify for any of the major DX awards offered by logging services, and should you want to file the card or hang it on your shack wall, you must print it yourself. Email QSL cards are considered a nuisance by many hams who treat them as spam or junk.

A relative newcomer to the QSL card universe that has been the subject of much discussion lately is QSL World (web site QSLworld.com). QSL World is a free service that takes information from a user’s log, looks up the email address of the station contacted and sends an electronic QSL card via email on behalf of the user.

There are numerous other email QSL services. All operate in a similar manner.

Learn more about unsolicited QSL cards via email

You can also monitor a lively forum that talks about unsolicited email QSL cards on QRZ.com: (https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/qsl-world-spam-via-qrz-com-e-mail-adresses.946970/)