QSL cards

At one time, these were the main way of confirming a contact. An extensive network of bureaus meant that QSL cards could be sent across the world instead of directly. Some times cards could take months or even years to arrive!  

These days a contact may be confirmed a number of ways and eQSLs exchanged. I have to admit that I rarely send out QSL cards these days.

QSL cards

In earlier years, these were the common way of confirming contacts.  I remember the ones from the old USSR were of poor quality. 

More recently, QSL cards are often colourful although people exchange QSL cards less frequently as there are other means of confirming contacts.

eQSL cards

Brazilian QSL card received via www.eqsl.net

To be honest I'm not very good at QSLing.  In years past I would regularly write out QSL cards and send them out to the bureau and look forward to the next batch of cards. These days I do send out some paper cards, but not that many. Instead I tend to use eQSL cards instead, but I was way behind with reviewing incoming QSLs so this evening I spent an hour or so getting up to date. I rejected a few cards - one for a WSPR "QSO" where what had really happened was an exchange of reports via the WSPRnet database, and the other for a voice-over-internet QSL with a JA station.

Checking my totals I see that I have 55 countries confirmed by eQSL cards. All these will be with 2.5W or less on all modes, mostly SSB on 10m and 6m. Many of my DXCC countries pre-date the eQSL era and I have not been that active in DXing as such in recent years, apart from the occasional contest like CQWW SSB, which I enjoy with QRP.  As you know, I prefer to carry out crazy experiments somewhat on the edge of sanity on strange bands with odd antennas instead!