• Don't give praise where praise is not due. If you sat through 15 minutes of the most boring radio you ever listened to, don't say you found it interesting, educational and fascinating simply to try and get a QSL. You'll get a QSL card whether your reaction to the programme was positive or negative.
• Don't over-rate a signal rating in the SIO code. If the signal is 232 don't say it was 444. Remember there will be other listeners writing in from your area and if the engineers note that most people report 232, your report of 444 will be thrown out as being unreliable. If you do the same twice to a station, the chances are that people will remember your name!
• Don't worry about your command of English if it is your second language. Some excellent comments are received at Radio Netherlands from listeners in Japan, Germany, Finland, India and many other countries where English is not the mother tongue. Stations do understand what you are trying to say, even if the grammar is not perfect, providing they can read your writing.
   
• Don't forget a bit of diplomacy. If you feel strongly about a point, by all means say so. But don't resort to personal abuse or outright demands. A cool collected summary of why you feel something ought to be changed is a much better and effective approach. Letters which contain an alternative suggestion after criticising are always considered, those which simply criticise play far less of a role. Bear in mind too that humour and double meanings are very different from country to country. The secretary who reads your letter may or may not have the same command of English as you!
• Don't expect a station to change a frequency because you have provided them with information about a clear channel nearby. Few stations are able to "hop" about the band, and the use of one frequency for an hour or less is not common in international broadcasting. Stations often have to serve large target areas, and it's difficult to find a clear channel. Low sunspot activity over the past few years only added to the problems. Assistance from listeners on a voluntary basis is always appreciated, though remember that not all suggestions can be realised. Radio Netherlands is able to choose its own frequencies and monitor the results. In many countries though, the station has to use frequencies assigned to it by the PTT authorities in that country. It is rare that stations are able to offer payment for monitoring.
• Don't over-rate the value of a standard cassette taped reception report. Remember these recordings take much longer to process as somebody has to listen to them. They can be very misleading unless done on reasonable quality equipment. Some stations do like these reports, though it is a minority. At Radio Netherlands we prefer written reports. Cassette tapes are not encouraged nor are they generally returned.
• Don't forget to ask for a QSL card if you require one. Radio Netherlands issues a new QSL card when stocks of the old one get low. There is a limit of one card per month per listener. Some stations have stopped sending out QSLs altogether, others do so only on request.
• Remember that reports on frequencies not intended for your target area are usually of marginal interest to the station, unless there is no service directed to your part of the world. Remember too that not all stations have a huge number of promotional items (such as pennants, books, diaries) to send out. Their primary function is to make programmes. 'I would appreciate a pennant, if you have one, please' will avoid embarrassment.

Never Throw QSL Collections Away!
There comes a time when many people lose interest in collecting objects, even QSLs! If you would like to ensure that your collection is preserved, then why not consider donating your collection to one of two organisations listed below. Both are dedicated to making sure that these colourful pieces of history are preserved.

The Committee to Preserve Radio Verifications has a superb collection and publishes reprints in several North American listener magazines. You can find out more by sending a stamped addressed envelope (in US) or an addressed envelope and 2 IRCs (elsewhere) to: Jerry Berg, Committee to Preserve Radio Verifications, 38 Eastern Avenue, Lexington, MA 02173 USA. Tel (1) 617 861 8481. No collect calls please. http://www181.pair.com/otsw/cprv1.html

In Europe, the Austrian DX Association has set-up an excellent collection together with respected international broadcaster, Radio Austria International. They regularly set-up exhibitions which tour many parts of the world (e.g. ITU conferences). For more information write to QSL Collection, P.O. Box 2, AT-1112 Vienna, Austria. Send 2 IRCs for a "wants" list. You can also call (but not collect) to +43 1 7495283. Web: http://www.qsl.at/english/welcome.html

In Asia, the El Nino Electronics DX Club has set-up an collection. It will be made online soon. 

[ Back ] [ Next ]