Logging Procedures
There are seven team members, each of whom have their own VP2M call signs. You are
encouraged to work all team members, on each band, and on each mode. Some island operations
will portable operations without the aid of computer logging. Such paper and pencil
logging will eventually be transcribed into computer-based logs by the end of each day.
The team's online log within this web site will then be updated. We anticipate this update
to occur nightly.
The DXpedition team will endeavor to produce logs with the highest degree of accuracy
possible under the operating conditions at hand. We hope that these rules and guidelines
will help mitigate any problems with the data, either on the DXpedition-side, or on
the DX-side, of the contact.
Online Log
The DXpedition team has gone to great lengths to publish an online log. If believe you
have worked us, but cannot find yourself in the online log in the next update, it is
possible that either we have a data entry error, or this was a broken QSO (we really didn't
work, though you may have thought we did!). We certainly hope this is a very rare
occurrence. If the DXpedition is still active, the simplest solution is to work us
again. If the DXpedition has come to a close, please make a note in any correspondence
you might have with the QSL manager that you are not in the online log (though,
obviously, you believe you should be).
Electronic QSLing
It is the intention of the DXpedition members to provide electronic QSLing for all
QSOs. Each team member will upload their log to the
Logbook of the World and to eQSL services. These
may be uploaded during the operation, or after the operation, depending on the team
member. The status of such uploads will be reported on the DXpedition web site.
We plan to have a beautiful QSL card designed for this operation. Even if you have
QSLed electronically, feel free to request a paper QSL card. The rules associated
with this QSLing follow.
QSL Manager
The QSL manager for this DXpedition is B. Scott Andersen (NE1RD). Here is his contact
information:
B. Scott Andersen (NE1RD)
614 Old Stone Brook
Acton, MA 01718
USA
QSL Rules
The following rules apply to paper QSLing only. Electronic QSLing services impose
their own rules. There are two sets of rules: (1) who gets the card, and (2) how
is it delivered. These rules follow:
Who gets a card
- Get a card by sending a card -- There are seven operators
on this DXpedition maintaining their own logs and chasing their own awards.
The first thing to know is: you need to send a card to get a card in return.
Each operator should receive a separate card from you for QSLs you wish to
receive. For example, if you work Scott (VP2MRD) and Budd (VP2MFF) and wish
to QSL contacts with those two operators, you need to send a card with Scott's
QSO information on one card, and one with Budd's QSO information on a separate
card. Team members are looking forward to your cards at least as much as you
are looking forward to ours! Multiple cards may be sent within the same envelope,
of course.
- All data matches -- This is the best way to get a card. You send us
a card with the correct call sign, date and time (always in UTC), band, and
mode, exactly as it appears in our log (and as shown in the online log), and we
will produce a QSL card for you.
- Wrong time -- Everything else is correct on the card, call sign of the
operator worked, date, mode, and band, but the time varies from our log by some
period greater than 10 minutes. We will QSL this contact with the correct time
on the card. We might also encourage you to change the batteries in your clock. {wink}
We encourage you to update your log file with the "correct" time and upload your
data to the LoTW and eQSL services to get full electronic credit for the QSO.
- Wrong date -- This is a pretty common problem, especially past midnight
UTC where people write the local date and UTC time instead of the UTC date and
time. We've all done that. A QSL card will be issued for such requests
with the correct date on the card.
We encourage you to update your log file with the "correct" date and upload your
data to the LoTW and eQSL services to get full electronic credit for the QSO.
- Wrong date and time -- The operator call sign, band, and mode are correct,
but the time and date are wrong. If you are in our log, we will QSL with the correct
data; if you are not in our log for this band and mode, we will return a note not
in log. You may see how QSLing such contacts blindly would lead to abuse.
- Wrong operator -- There are seven operators on this DXpedition. Each
operator has their own Montserrat-issued call sign beginning with VP2M. We understand
this might be a little confusing during the QSLing process and will work hard to
ensure all QSO credit is given where it should be given. We would very much
appreciate, however, you getting this one data point right. You can verify the
call sign of the operator you worked by checking the online log before QSLing.
QSL card request that do not match the operator worked look exactly like "not in log"
requests at first. The team will attend to these request as time allows, but expect
long delays in seeing a return card.
- Wrong band -- Everything else is correct, operator call sign, time, date,
and mode, but the band is incorrect. We will QSL the bands and modes for that operator
only using our log data.
- Wrong mode -- Everything else is correct, operator call sign, time, date,
and band, but the mode is incorrect. We will QSL the bands and modes for that operator
only using our log data.
- Other errors -- The DXpedition team wants to ensure all legitimate
contacts receive their full QSO credit. The team will, at their discretion, and as
time allows, try to work through any problems not listed above. We hope, however, that
the online log, electronic QSLing mechanisms, and even email, are used to prevent
major misunderstandings long before a QSL card is sent.
How cards are sent
- US Stations, SASE preferred -- US stations and other places accessible by the US Post
Office are encouraged to send their card(s) requesting a QSL via US Mail with a
Self Addressed Stamped Envelope. There is no need to include any money. We just want
your card and a way to easily get our card to you.
- Non-US Stations, Direct + Green Stamp -- Non-US stations wishing to get
a card quickly should send their request direct to the QSL manager with one Green
Stamp (one US Dollar) to cover return postage. Please enclose a self addressed
envelope with your $1 and QSL card. Thank you.
- BURO -- Cards that are received via the QSL bureau (BURO) are returned via
the QSL bureau. As always, expect significant delays with this system.
- US Stations, No SASE -- US stations sending a card without SASE will be answered
at the DXpedition team's discretion. We anticipate a large number of card requests
and would rather save our money for another DXpedition than go broke on postage.
- Non-US Stations, No postage -- Non-US stations that send a card to us
direct but fail to enclose a Green Stamp will have their card returned via
the BURO.
Rule Changes and Intent
The DXpedition team hopes that the above rules and guidelines ensure everybody
who works a team member on the air will get full credit for that contact. The
team reserves the right to change these guidelines at any time. It is our intent
to make this system as fair, and as accurate as possible. If we discover a problem
in our rules, or find a better way to accomplish a goal, we'll try to post it here.
Thank you for working us and taking the time to read these guidelines. 73!
-- The BUMS Team
Version 1.00 December 14, 2006
Copyright (C) 2006 B. Scott Andersen. All rights reserved.
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