------------------------------------------------------------------------ ARRL's Incoming QSL Bureau System ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Introduction
· How the System Works
· Claiming Your QSLs
· Hints
Call Area Bureaus:
1st · 2nd · 3rd · 4th · 5th · 6th · 7th · 8th · 9th · 10th · Hawaii · Alaska · Puerto Rico · US Virgin Islands

· SWL Introduction

Within the US, the ARRL DX QSL Bureau System is made up of numerous call-area bureaus that act as central clearing houses for QSL cards arriving from foreign countries. Volunteers staff these "incoming" bureaus. The service is free; ARRL membership is not required. (Canadian amateurs can use the Radio Amateurs of Canada's incoming QSL bureau.)
How the System Works
Most countries have "outgoing" QSL bureaus that operate in much the same manner as the ARRL Outgoing QSL Service and the RAC outgoing QSL bureau. Members send their cards to their outgoing bureaus, where the cards are packaged and shipped to the appropriate countries. A majority of the DX QSLs are shipped directly to the individual incoming bureaus where volunteers sort the incoming QSLs by the first letter of the call sign-suffix (the B in the BRD in the call sign W9BRD, for example). One individual may be assigned the responsibility of handling from one or more letters of the alphabet. Operating costs are funded from ARRL membership dues. Claiming Your QSLs Send a 5 x 7-1/2 or 6 x 9 inch self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) to the bureau serving your call-sign district. Neatly print your call-sign in the upper left corner of the envelope. Place your mailing address on the front of the envelope. A suggested way to send envelopes is to affix a first class stamp and clip extra postage to the envelope. Then, if you receive more than 1 ounce of cards, they can be sent in a single package. Some incoming bureaus sell envelopes or postage credits in addition to the normal SASE handling. They provide the proper envelope and postage upon the prepayment of a certain fee. The exact arrangements can be obtained by sending your inquiry with a SASE to your area bureau. (A list of bureaus appears below.) Hints on How to Make the Bureau System Work Better for You Good cooperation between the DXer and the bureau is important to ensure a smooth flow of cards. Remember that the people who work in the area bureaus are volunteers. They are providing you with a valuable service. With that thought in mind, please pay close attention to the following dos and don'ts. Dos •Do check the list below to see if your bureau has any special requirements. •Do keep self-addressed 5 x 7-1/2 or 6 x 9 inch envelopes on file at your bureau, with your call in the upper left corner, and affix at least one unit of first-class postage. •Do send the bureau enough postage to cover SASEs on file and enough to take care of possible postage rate increases. •Do respond quickly to any bureau request for SASEs, stamps or money. Unclaimed card backlogs are the bureau's biggest problem. •Do notify the bureau of your new call sign as you upgrade. Please send SASEs with your new call, in addition to SASEs with your old call. •Do include a SASE with any information request to the bureau. •Do notify the bureau in writing if you don't want your cards. Don'ts •Don't send domestic US to US cards to your call-area bureau. •Don't expect DX cards to arrive for several months after the QSO. Overseas delivery is very slow. Many cards coming from overseas bureaus are over a year old. •Don't send your outgoing DX cards to your call-area bureau. •Don't send SASEs to your "portable" bureau. That is, AA2Z/1 should send SASEs to the W2 bureau, not the W1 bureau. •Don't send SASEs to the ARRL Outgoing QSL Service. •Don't send SASEs larger than 6 x 9 inches. SASEs larger than 6 x 9 inches require additional postage surcharges. Bureau Addresses First Call Area All first-area call signs: W1 QSL Bureau YCCC PO Box 80216 Springfield, MA 01138-0216 This QSL Bureau prefers money credits over SASEs. For specific information on bureau credits, please email [email protected]. This address can also be used to send comments or general questions to the W1 QSL Bureau Manager. Second Call Area All second-area call signs: ARRL 2nd District QSL Bureau NJDXA PO Box 599 Morris Plains, NJ 07950 This QSL Bureau prefers that subscribers send a check for postage credits. SASEs will only be accepted if they are close to 5 x 7-1/2 inch size. The Bureau will provide envelopes if required. For detailed information on the W2 Incoming QSL Bureau, please contact Ron Levy, K2CO, Bureau Manager, [email protected], or John Maikisch, K2AZ, Assistant Manager, [email protected]. Additionally, the Bureau has its own home page that contains a world of QSL Bureau information. Third Call Area All third-area call signs: Pennsylvania DX Association PDXA PO Box 100 York Haven, PA 17370-0100 Fourth Call Area All fourth-area call signs with single-letter prefixes (K4, N4, W4): Mecklenburg Amateur Radio Club PO Box DX Charlotte, NC 28220 Comments or questions on this bureau's operation may be directed to [email protected]. All fourth-area call signs with two-letter prefixes (AA4, KB4, NC4, WD4, etc): Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club Call Box 599 Sterling, VA 20167 Comments on questions on this bureau's operation may be directed to [email protected]. Fifth Call Area All fifth-area call signs: ARRL W5 Incoming QSL Bureau PO Box 50625 Midland, TX 79710 Comments or questions on this bureau's operation may be directed to [email protected]. Sixth Call Area All sixth-area call signs: ARRL Sixth (6th) District DX QSL Bureau PO Box 1460 Sun Valley, CA 91352 This Bureau prefers 5 x 7-1/2 inch SASEs. You may also send money for postage credits. Please write for detailed information on postage credits, enclosing an SASE. Comments or questions on this bureau's operation may also be directed to [email protected]. Seventh Call Area All seventh-area call signs: Willamette Valley DX Club Inc PO Box 555 Portland, OR 97207 Comments or questions on this bureau's operation may be directed to [email protected]. Eighth Call Area All eighth-area call signs: 8th Area QSL Bureau PO Box 182165 Columbus, OH 43218-2165 Ninth Call Area All ninth-area call signs: Northern Illinois DX Association Box 1450 Woodstock, IL, 60098 Comments or questions on this Bureau's operation may be directed to [email protected]. Tenth Call Area All tenth-area call signs: W0 QSL Bureau PO Box 4798 Overland Park, KS 66204 Comments or questions on this Bureau's operation may be directed to [email protected]. Hawaii All Hawaiian call signs: KH6 QSL Bureau Wayne Jones, NH6GJ PO Box 788 Wahiawa, HI 96786 Comments or questions on this bureau's operation may be directed to [email protected]. Alaska All Alaskan call signs: Alaska QSL Bureau P.O. Box 520343 Big Lake, AK 99652 Puerto Rico All Puerto Rico call signs: Puerto Rico QSL Bureau PO Box 9021061 San Juan, PR 00902-1061 US Virgin Islands All USVI call signs: Virgin Islands ARC GPO Box 11360 Charlotte Amalie, VI 00801 Comments or questions on this bureau's operation may be directed to [email protected]. All US SWL calls SWL QSL Bureau Mike Witkowski, WDX9JFT 4206 Nebel St Stevens Point, WI 54481 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Page last modified: 11:16 AM, 19 Jan 1998 ET Page author: [email protected] for more info go to http://www.arrl.org/qsl/qslin.html lets go to the front page now