A QSL card is a written confirmation of a two-way radio-communication between two amateur (ham) radio stations. A typical QSL card is a special size but made from the same material as a typical postcard, and most are sent through the mail in envelopes so as not to get mangled by the post office machinery.
QSL card derived its name from the Q code “QSL”. A Q code message can stand for a statement or a question (when the code is followed by a question mark.) In this case, when one ham says to another… ‘QSL?’ (note the question mark) it means “Do you confirm receipt of my transmission?” The other ham will normally reply ‘QSL’ (without a question mark) which means “I confirm receipt of your transmission.”
Part of the fun of amateur radio collecting cards, called QSL cards, from other amateurs that you’ve talked to on the radio. Some people like to collect stamps form various parts of the world but hams collect QSLs.
Another reason for collecting QSL cards is to participate in the many certificate programs available to amateurs. Whether it’s getting your DXCC (DX century club) for getting cards confirming contacts with 100 or more DX countries, working all states in the U.S., all provinces in Canada, or many other awards available you will need the cards to support your claim for the award.
Our service is simple. We do custom QSL cards for a very reasonable price.
We produce exceptional quality amateur radio QSL cards with a gloss finish using your photographs, artwork, or text. We put a contact report form on the back with ARRL or other logos if desired. Our cards are full color both sides!
Use your own picture. We can design for mailing as a postcard for lower postage expense ~ 5.5 x 3.5 inches (bureau recommended size.) We can do portrait or landscape mode.
We can use any picture you like… of you, of your shack, your dog, or maybe a favorite place… anything. (Large pictures work much better. We can always make them smaller. We can’t easily make them larger.)
If you supply the pix, the cost of pre-press is $75. If you want us to search for pix or if your job entails more work the price is obviously going to be higher.
[We suggest you Google for royalty-free pictures. One well-known site is unsplash.com.]
We do the pre-press artwork ourselves. We use a trade printer which does great work for us. We handle the entire transaction… you make one payment to us, we pay them, they ship directly to you… it could not be easier for you.
Card specifications
- 14 pt. (.014″) card stock with standard QSL 3.5 x 5.5 in. trim size
- Full color, high resolution, high luster card front
- Full color printed on back back
- Aqueous gloss finish on both sides (but writeable on back)
Print Quantities
We print in quantities of 250 or 500.
Shipping
Shipping for cards is by ground averages $20.
Out the door
So, for really nice QSL cards shipped to Chicago, you are looking at :
Item | 250 Cards | 500 Cards |
Pre-press artwork | $75 | $75 |
Printing | $69 | $89 |
Shipping | $20 | $20 |
TOTAL | $164 | $184 |
(Sales tax will be charged to applicable customers.)
We have a no-questions-asked guarantee. If you don’t like your QSL cards, send them back to us and we will refund what you paid, minus shipping.
Do you want a really nice QSL card, one you can be proud of and which will set you apart from all the other hams? If so, contact us.
Here are a few examples of our work.
To see more samples of our work click here.