QSLing

There is a tradition in ham radio to send out a card in confirmation of a contact with another ham, and to expect to receive one in return. This is called a QSL card. A week-and-a-half ago I received one out of the blue from a ham who I had a contact with in Oklahoma City, and this prompted me to put my own into production. The result is at left; the underlying image is a little watercolor I did three years ago looking west over the field next to our house towards the Vaca Mountains.

QSLing is definitely not as popular as it once was, the blame for such being put on the rise of the Internet, the cost of postage, or just the frenzy of modern life. But it’s a great tradition, motivated in part by the need to document contacts for various amateur radio awards. I’m now sending my own card to recent contacts. And just today, I received another QSL card out of the blue, this time from Pennsylvania — I’m all set with one to send in reply.