QSL Success with SWB?

[K2GOG]

What are your experiences in return QSL cards from SW Broadcasters?

Years ago, I had fairly good success in getting QSL cards and other print material all over the world before the "Internet Age"

While this may be part of our hobby that is being phased out, I recently sent letters to Radio Bulgaria and Radio Havana Cuba to see if they still get back to occasioanl listeners.

I was surprised I only received a return QSL from Radio Bulgaria (postal stamps and broadcast program plus letter). In the past Radio Havana Cuba was quick on reply and even sent unasked for holiday cards. I have not seen anything yet from them. It took about 60 days for reply from R.Bulgaria. As of 120 days, nothing from RHC.

I am interested in hearing from others who can comment on QSL requests from SW broadcasters longer then 10 years ago versus current and maybe even more specifically, from Havana.

Note: I picked R.Havana because of close proximity as an international broadcaster with radio hobby content (Arnie Corro's show) to the US and Bulgaria being almost as far away as one can get. Only mentioning incase anyone had any political jokes, since both countries been or are still Communist countries.

 

[n5ims]

Many international broadcasters would accept receiption reports, but only return a QSL card if it was specifically requested and return postage in the form of an IRC (International Reply Coupon). Failure to request a QSL or sending the required IRC would result in no return QSL card being sent. IRCs are available from the USPS online here --> https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/st...sort=&viewAll=N&rn=CategoriesDisplay&WT.ac=10

While the IRC and specific request was required in the past, the broadcasters would often send QSLs anyway, but with the budget cuts in today's world economy, they often will no longer send them out freely.

 

[ka3jjz]

Yeah, postage rates are killers to QSLing these days...anyway, I skipped through the last few issues of the NASWA Journal, and didn't see any QSLs reported from Habana. Arnie's friendships with hams and SWB listeners aside, the Cubans don't particularly like us - so I would expect a very slow response, if any at all (in fact, none would not at all surprise me). 73 Mike

 

[k9rzz]

RAI in Italy used to be big on mailings. After a QSL report I used to get something from them every month!

 

[SCPD]

I haven't done the QSL thing for 25 years, but I remember sending several reception reports to Radio Habana Cuba and never getting any reply in return. To this day I do not own a QSL from RHC. I often wondered if Ronald Reagan's people weren't intercepting my letters or if I would be receiving a knock on my door late one night and finding a friendly FBI agent outside.

What's also funny is, depite sending reception reports to VOA in Washington, I never received any replies back from them as well. I learned later that VOA never replied to Americans. As far as we Americans were concerned, VOA never existed, despite evidence to the contrary.

Dave
KA6TJF

 

[ridgescan]

I wouldn't want one from radio habana. The way they constantly rag on my Country like a bunch of little girlygirls-the United States did this...the United States did that...SHUT UP! Not to mention their signal is beamed into this continent so well that it is a non-challenge. They don't need your reception report-their spies are a reliable enough radio check sorry David not against you but just my observation. That is sad about VOA because I like to hear them and made an attempt myself to no avail. They should be better about it.

 

[k9rzz]

RHC should return a card for you. However, your mailman might toss it in the ditch before you see it!

Does Voice of Korea (North) QSL to the USA? If you sent them some IRCs would they get used? Maybe just send them some candy bars. Those might be more valuable.

Look at the posting "Old QSLs" and you'll see that VOA did send stuff to us Stateside.