By mistake, I sent this only to Jim at first...

On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 7:24 AM, Kent R. Frazier k5knt@amsat.org wrote:

On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 12:52 AM, Jim Walls jim@k6ccc.org wrote:

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Stuart Underwood wrote:

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Greetings,

I have a question about exchanging QSL cards. When the last time the

ISS xband repeater was up I made seven contacts. I was very excited because this was the first time I was able to work satellites. Very anxious, I sent out seven QSL cards. Waiting to get some back. I received only one. My questions is, is there a protocol for sending and receiving QSL cards for satellite work? When I get better, I would like to try for VUCC... Thanks in advance. 73, Stuart W8STU EN91

When was the ISS last on cross-band? Has there been enough time for you to have received the cards? I'm new to satellites also, from what I've read some use QSL bureaus and they only send out once a month or when a certain amount of cards are ready to be sent. Did you include a SASE with your cards?

...

Unfortunately fewer and fewer hams are willing to send QSL cards. I will always send a card if requested, and would usually send a card if it was to someone I had never worked on satellite. Also if it was something special for one or the other of us.

When I was trying to finish my satellite VUCC, it took some effort to get the last few card.

Satelllite VUCC #108

This is disturbing... As a newbie to satellites, I've never been interested in collecting awards or QSLs until now. If fewer hams are willing to send QSL cards (too expensive?) then the ARRL and AMSAT need to reconsider allowing some form of electronic QSLs for the awards, IMO.

I just sent nine cards out this week. These are the first satellites I've worked. I included a SASE with each. It will be interesting to see what kind of response I get.

73,

Kent

-- Kent R. Frazier, K5KNT