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Reviews For: eQSL

Category: QSL printers; callsign badge engravers; etc.

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Review Summary For : eQSL
Reviews: 236MSRP: Free - Donations accepted
Description:
Electronic web-based QSL exchange service
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.eqsl.cc
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
54.62363.5
VE6AGE Rating: 2011-08-31
The Best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
For me, this is the only way to exchange QSL cards. I just love it. It's easy and not too expensive. That's got to be good for something.
KB3Z Rating: 2011-08-30
Work's Just Fine For Me! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
With EQSL when you send a QSL and person is notified. With LOTW you need to wait for the person to send in his file. That's no good! LOTW can learn something from EQSL. The person who had problems also asks for an SASE because he claims postage is too costly! I guess he doesn't send out any cards initially. You call me, but I won't call you. Not a good way of doing business as a Ham!
K9FV Rating: 2011-08-30
Works great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Has good security, better than paper cards for sure. Just too many ways to fake a paper card while this is pretty secure.

Cost is very reasonable.

73 de Ken H>
N0FPE Rating: 2011-08-30
works for me.. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am a long time ARRL memeber but have no use for LOTW. To had to set up and use. I dont make many contacts and QSL even less. eQSL is fast and easy. I dont care abt the awards. And yes I still send paper QSL if asked.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by N0FPE on 2008-07-13

I dont make lots of contacts, and the few I do either send a paper QSL or use eQsl. I have as of yet in many years of this hobby had anyone that ASKED if I used LOTW. I find LOTW just too complicated for what it is. I am a long time ARRL member but this is one thing the ARRL needs to rework. ARRL staff are you reading this?? Get rid of all the hoops with LOTW and more folks would use it. Also there is NO real good reason that the ARRL should not accept eQSL's for awards.
So there you go..LOTW 0 eQSL 5

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Earlier 4-star review posted by N0FPE on 2007-01-06

I hate when folks give a rating based on their dislike of something. How abt a rating based on the item its self not you personal dislike. Just because YOU dont like it doesnt mean its a bad thing. eQSL works ok, its not perfect but it works. saves me money on postage and I have NO problem with the fakes I just dont acknowlage them.
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Earlier 4-star review posted by N0FPE on 2005-11-23

Not bad for the sometimes user. Has alot of quirky things tho.
Too bad Chris thas problems with the card graphics BUT it is FREE, see the words Chris?? FREE<---- when you pay for it then you can bitch abt how they do things.

Ok for me....
AA0MZ Rating: 2011-08-30
No Thanks Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I mostly agree with LW4DYI. I started using eQSL when it first came out and then dropped it. I picked up LOTW when it first came out and stuck with it. LOTW supports ARRL awards from DXCC, WAS, VUCC, etc. Soon to support CQ awards WPX, WAZ, etc as well. Then IOTA? I upload QSOs immediately after logging. It is so simple with DXLabs DXKeeper logging program (freeware). eQSL is a business and problems with authenticity have been well discussed. LOTW is not that hard to set up and once you have it running it is SWEET ! Everyone has their preference and mine is LOTW or paper QSLs. I don't support things I don't prefer by sending them my logs or participating in their business. Thank goodness we always have paper QSLs we all can agree on.....RIGHT?
N8AHA Rating: 2011-04-29
Poor customer support Time Owned: more than 12 months.
After finally getting a new antenna back up, after being inactive for 10 years, I contacted eQSL to set myself up with them. Their registration process includes a step where they send you a setup code (via e-mail) that enables you to finish the reqistration process. After more than 10 e-mail requests and giving them my cell number several times, I can't get them to respond, so I can complete that step.
If that's what I can expect from them, I'm open to go with another eqsl provider, Is there anyone else out there? I can't imagine subscribing for their upgraded paid services if no one is ever manning their inbound e-mail server.
Jeff K4DKW
W0FMS Rating: 2011-04-21
I don't get it Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I don't get it. It's free, it works well and is a much better user interface than LoTW. The ARRL doesn't like it, so give it a 1? Huh? Great logic guys! ARRL does crap in it's hat plenty of times, and this is an example of it. (I'm pro league but in many cases it's a love/hate relationship!)

I happen be paper chasing myself now-- however, the "honor" associated with it is internal. No one else out there cares AT ALL if W0FMS even gets ARRL DXCC or ARRL WAS! But since the stakes are actually so low, the security needs to be better than the IRS or your bank? Huh?

I've gotten about three annoying e-mails and one NIL request (which wasn't from an AG member anyway) in a year from eQSL.. Its been down a few times (like right now)... Big whoop. It's faster and easier than LoTW with about a ten year newer design web interface.

LoTW I understand is harder for the -DX- station to setup than stateside. That's probably the issue. Why would a DX station who can MAKE MONEY off of paper QSLs go through extra work to register in LoTW? Many do and I credit them for it.

I still had to scan my FCC ticket to get AG at eQSL... how's that less secure than LoTW?

Both serve their purpose and do it well. It's getting up to $6 a QSL for a DX SASE.. This -and- LoTW are a bargain with little hassle!
AJ4RW Rating: 2011-04-09
Great program for my needs!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
eQSL is a wonderful program for confirming QSO's, getting cards and for receiving certificates. I've been using eQSL for a couple of years and love it. HRD logging allows immediate upload of QSO information to eQSL so that when I get a card back it's right without questions. I heard LOTW up load from HRD is also possible now but I haven't tried to configure the program yet. If someone sends me an eQSL that I need to confirm, then I just go to my log and either confirm the QSO or not. If it's bogus, then I hit the reject button. That's not a difficult process but just simple and easy. Plus if you like QSL cards, it saves you a ton of money on postage. With postal rates changing like gas prices, it makes good financial sense. Back in the 60's you could go and collect soda bottles and turn them in for postage money for QSL cards but now it takes a credit card with a high credit limit to buy stamps. I don't like to waste money on postage! Amateur radio is only a hobby, not a career! Can't beat the deal.
KE4NU Rating: 2011-02-14
works great! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Instant qsls, really cheap, merges with logging apps. Yes, some awards. What more could you ask for? Honesty? yes its easy to cheat but isn't it all about honesty anyway? Besides, you do it for yourself and if you cheat your just hurting yourself in the long run. I prefer eqsl over any other method of electronic qsls. Just wish more people would use it. Lotw is useless unless your a arrl member and paper qsls get expensive.
EI7BA Rating: 2011-02-13
No integrity Time Owned: more than 12 months.
eQSL is a good idea in principle. It is fine for the casual QSLer, but as an award system, it is a dismal failure. It is much too easy to cheat. Even when there is no intention of cheating, many people just tick the green box without checking their log. Because there is very little security in this system, the eQSL awards are virtually worthless. The ARRL and CQ awards are the ones that mean something, because they have integrity. The amount of integrity is proportional to the checks and balances, and the penalties imposed if caught cheating.
I use eQSL myself, to accomodate the casual QSLer, but for me, the awards mean nothing.