Filling In QSL Forms

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 9, 8 September 1933, Page 25

Filling In QSL Forms

> In last week’s article it was explained how any listener can become a dxer, and a list of the requirements necessary for this hobby was given, This’ week’s article explains the way to go about preparing a reception report. °

HEN once a station has been logged and sufficient data obtained on its transmission, there is nothing very difficult in preparing a reception report, but the task is rendered much simpler if the special QSL forms designed for the use of DX Club members are employed. All that is necessary is to fill in the blank spaces provided, and the report is complete. The first: blank to fill in is that provided for your own address; the next that for the eall-sign and location of the station heard; together with its frequency (in kilocycles), and wavelength (in metres). The frequency or the wavelength will do, however, because these two’quantities are directly interrelated, the product of them always equalling 300,000. Thus the wavelength of a station operating on 600 kilocycles is 300,000 divided by 600, ie. 500 metres. Conversely, a station operating on 500 kiloeycles has a wavelength of 600 metres. — The next blank is also for the callsign and location of the station to which you are reporting, while the next is for the time it was heard. This may be given as New Zealand Standard Time, but preferably should be that of the station concerned. Many stations, notably some of the Japanese, refuse to verify unless their own time is quoted. The conversion of New Zealand time to overseas, and vice versa, is a- rather confusing task, and so a special World Map: and Time Converter, which obviates the need for calculations, has been designed to assist dxers. The next blanks to fill in are for the make and model of receiver used, and the number of valves. If your set is home-made, say so, and give the typewhether superhet. or t.r.f-and the number of valves. The "Q" and "R" signals, which are used to describe the characteristics of the actual transmission, come next. These are quite simple to interpret, as you will discover after a few moments’ study of the table-given on this page. The "R," or "strength of reception" signals, come first on ‘the form. Audibility, or the actual volume of sound coming from the speaker, is indicated by placing the appropriate figure (1 to 9) after the capital letter "R." The two extremes are "Ri" and "R9," the former meaning "faint signals; just readable," and the latter, "extremely strong signals." It does not matter in the slightest whether headphones or speaker are used-the system is purely a relative one. The best plan is to take R9 as the greatest undistorted volume your set will handle from a powerful local, and _ to judge the relative strengths of other transmissions on this standard. ‘ Next come the "QSA," or "readability" signals, which should not be confused with the "R" signals, these being concerned entirely with the strength of the actual signal, and not with any extraneous noises, arising from power-interference' or static,

which may accompany it. Readability is indicated by placing the appropriate figure (1 to 5) after the letters QSA. For,example, "QSA4"’ means "good readable signals," "QRI" indicates tone, whether harsh, mellow, etc., while "QSB". means fading, which ‘might | be . "long, . slow,.’ "rapid," ete. "QRN" indicates static, which might be heavy, light, in intermittent bursts, ete, while "QRM" means power: interference, described. similarly to static. This completes the "Q" and "R" signals, Then comes "WX,’. which’ means "weather conditions." In this ‘line.

briefly describe the weather conditions prevailing at the time of reception: A typical’ example would be "sky overeast, light N.E. wind." The next space is provided for the items heard, with a separate column for the times. If you cannot recognise the names of items played, give a brief description of them, such as "soprano solo, with piano accompaniment and violin obbligato." The final space is provided for re-marks-on any little peculiarity you may notice about the programme or transmission, or perhaps about an announcement. Lastly, fill in your DX Club number at the bottom of the sheet, and your report is complete. Before it is dispatched, however, details of the station heard should be recorded in a log-book, which every dxer should keep, Otherwise, once a

station report has been sent away, the sender has no record of his loggings, . and if the station does not verify, he has to begin all. over again. One last word of advice. Never .guess at the identity of.a station, and never. send an incomplete or vague report. If you are not sure of the call-sign, or haven’t enough items for a full report, wait and try to pick up the station, again on a-more fayourable occasion. Finally, never exaggerate in the hope that you will please the, management: of the station concerned, and thus. be granted’ a verification more readily. Station engineers generally have a. good idea of the way their signals are getting out, and they can detect if a report is exaggerated or not. And ‘if it is, the sender will be very fortunate if he receives a verification, despite the fact that he may have actually heard the station.

"Q" SIGNALS, QRA-Loceation of Station, QRH-Wavelength. QRI-Tone of signals. QRK-Strength of signals. QRM-Interference, QRN-Siatic. QRO-Higher power. ® QRP-Low power, QRS-Sending slower. QRT-Stop sending. QRU-Nothing further, QRX-Waiting. Q@SA-Readability, QSB-Fading. _QSL-Acknowledgment, QSO-Contact. R-Audibility. Ri-Faint signals; just readabie. . 2-Weak signals; barely readable. 8-Weak signals; but can be copied, 4-Fair signals; easily readable. 5-Moderately strong signals. 6-Good signals. %-Good strong signals; readable through QRM and QRN. 8-Very strong; readable several feet away from phones. 9-Extremely. strong signals, QSA1-Hardly perceptible; unreadable. 2-Weak; readable in patches. 38-Fairly good; readable with difficulty. 4-Good readable signals. 5-Very good signals; perfectly readable, ;