Ham Hacks! Filling Out QSL Cards FAST

If you are like me, you fill out many QSL cards. I've added a Dymo LabelWriter 450 to speed the process up considerably.
Label Writer 450 on Amazon: amzn.to/3jCtEtT
Want Amanda to make you some QSL Cards? [e-mail]
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[@BeastlyKings]

While I think this is cool, and I understand that not everybody has the time to hand write a bunch of QSL cards. I'll admit I'm always a little sad when I get a card with a printed label. Don't get me wrong, it's better than not getting one at all, but still, I LOVE hand written cards. I write all my cards by hand in permanent fountain pen ink. Then again I only make like 500 QSO's a year right now, so it's not that hard to keep up I guess haha. Thanks for the video!

[@WillOnSomething]

For phone and CW contacts, I can certainly understand why one would want handwritten QSL cards, but for modes like FT8 where you can easily get hundreds of contacts (depending on propagation), it’s simply a pain to manage all of those, especially if you have bad handwriting like me!

[@BeastlyKings]

@@WillOnSomething I suppose that's true yeah, ft8 is inherently impersonal. I've done a tiny bit of ft8, but I'm primarily on SSB, though I'm learning cw

[@forgetyourlife]

Now i love my legacy hand written one from you in red ink even more!

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

I sent you the new one. I kind of went on a frenzy with my new cards and machine and sent more. Lol.

[@forgetyourlife]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse I wondered why the side of my card showed in the posted Twitter picture. I didn’t wanna jinx it by saying anything 😃

[@pastorlarry7470]

I got in Ham Radio in 1976. The thing I loved about ham radio was the QSL cards. We had these plastic holders and hung on the wall.

[@BeastlyKings]

We're still out there! I'm new to the hobby, less than 2 years in, but I qsl 100% and paper only. I've got a binder full of cards, and it's only getting more full over time!

[@F4EGX]

Nice idea, I use this thermal printer for my work. but Label diseaper after 1 or 2 year to become a blank sticker. For QSL inside a folder it's OK, but outside on a wall, or on the sun light, that not good.

[@thuff3207]

Great idea. Thank you for showing a nice idea.

[@BobtheTraveler-WD8NVN]

Excellent Video, Josh.... !!

[@stridermt2k]

Creative! Great stuff!

[@bet2600]

Excellent idea, thanks

[@TheNoCodeTech]

Very nice

[@jeromej221]

Well done.

[@vicmiller7191]

Nice tip for sure

[@HamRadioDX]

Excellent tip Josh. I still love receiving QSL cards in the mail, something that is truly unique. I'm waiting for 1000 of my cards to arrive to send out my backlog of cards.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Nice!

[@youtubethrowaway4682]

YAY I love Ham Radio DX!!!

[@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee]

Very crafty

[@W9HJBill]

I have the Dymo LabelWriter 450 Turbo (pretty much the same thing) and it's a great printer. I've had mine for about 6 months and zero issues. I will have to try out the logging software you us as QRZ doesn't really let you print labels from their site (or at least I can't figure out how). Right now I just use it to cut and paste the addresses from there to mail the QSO card back, but I hand write in the contact info, but I like you method better.

[@kj4unxpondosinatra937]

Great video. I had never thought about printing labels like. The OT’s in my are like you just write everything out plus where they can read it too. It's only polite since they done it for you. But l really like your method better. Now I need to design a card and get busy mailing. Do you use the bureau or mail each individually?

[@loganmacgyver2625]

Reminds me how my friend does mailing forms for dropshipping. He tapes the edges of a post form (about the size of a QSL card) onto a regular A4, scans it, adds the details in the computer in a separate layer (in Gimp or something like that) and feeds the paper through a regular inkjet. Not the best way tbh but at least it's cheap. He doesn't use a label printer lmao. Just he doesn't like hand filling stuff either

[@danielwietchy1037]

Good Video. Never occurred to me to use the label maker for the QSL info. Great idea for the small batches.... I receive about 200 QSL cards per month via the KL7 Burro - mostly from overseas - JA, SA and Russia and use GlobalQSL. I upload my ADIF file and they get printed and through GlobalQSL and sent via the Burro. Takes a while for sure but have experimented with some hams in EU: Germany and Austria and delivery time is about a month. Also - thanks for your podcasts - great suff... KL1JP (Alaska)

[@w1rcp]

I recognize the KO4NLL call as my best friend and fellow ham. Too bad I bought a new antenna because now I want a Dymo!

[@nemito69]

Be aware that thermal printers eventually will dimmed and erased

[@BeastlyKings]

That's a real shame. I handwrite my cards in permanent ink for this reason. You could run it through a washing machine, and while the paper may take a beating, any fibers left would still have ink on them haha.

[@merggarvey]

If you’re concerned about this, look into thermal transfer printers - they use a ribbon and the printouts from them are much more long lasting and far more resistant to fading.

[@DaveNT9E]

With Ham Radio Deluxe printed labels you can highlight a group of QSO's and the Dymo LabelWriter 450 will print out a group of of labels. My cards get the label on the back side so you normally don't display the backside, just the front.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

N3fjp will do this too.

[@gcarmichael]

QRZ doesnt appear to have a print option....

[@timothymaimone8611]

Bro, if you have a laser printer, why not print your information on QSL cards instead of a label? 73 de KD6UYK Tim

[@jimbassett4742]

Let's not forget if you are sending QSL to DX stations. Save the stamp by using the outgoing QSL Bureau! Only exception is when the DX tells you they do not use a Bureau.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Yes indeed. I have another video on that topic.

[@4444panther]

Haha virtually all signal reports are the same for both stations.. five & nine right RIGHT 😂

[@xxM5xx]

Hi Garett from N3RRB

[@bgarett]

Hello Rick from KY4WIN!

[@KG4JYS]

I guess people don't do these for 2 meters and 70cm? I'm new, so forgive me if that's a stupid question.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

They do. But mainly for simplex fm and weak signal single side band.

[@paulhastings3109]

don't use ARRL bueau send envelops and stamps. When you have a bunch they put them in the enelops and send them to you. Will I think they still do it 73 KQ4CD Paul i

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Yes. I didn’t mention this in the video since it’s more about the printer. When you have a lot of dx cards, I put them in a bit envelope and send it the buro. They’ll Disseminate from there. This saves a lot of time/cost.

[@paulhastings3109]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse been out of hamming sometime. So all the things going on, Technology is killing me I'm bring dead

[@sockeatinggolden8316]

Shit. The original video was better.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Lol

[@sockeatinggolden8316]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse Thank you for everything you do for ham radio. Your video about GLAARG online testing was the kick in the pants I needed to take the exams. I love your videos and your guest spots on Leah's podcast. 1x crew. 73 W8SEG

[@bryanwollenberg1113]

Dumbest "hack" I have seen in a long time. I have been using a thermal printer to print the address labels on QSL cards for years, but for the actual QSL data? As others have mentioned, they fade pretty quickly unless they are kept in a cold, dark place.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Where do you keep your qsl cards?

[@bryanwollenberg1113]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse My wall. My desk. Certainly not in a locked up temperature controlled room. It's not like they need to be in an oven to fade. Barely above room temperature will do it over time, and all the QSL data is lost. Permanent marker on the card, thermal printer for the address labels.

[@InternetGoldMiner]

If you want to rush through the qsl process then you shouldn't even do it. The point is to confirm and personalize your qso you had with the other om. Now you just ruined it.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

The only right way must be your way. 🙄

[@ohiorivervalleyhomestead]

Great idea! I ordered my post cards from Vista print cause I didn't know better. I've only been licensed for about 4 weeks and wanted to send stuff off. This is a great upgrade. Thanks! KJ7ZRE