HOW I QSLed PARAGUAY

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How I QSLed Paraguay

By Don Moore
This article is two postings I made to the HCDX mailing list.

April 23 2000 Posting
I've never used an embassy or similar office to help me get a QSL. I did once, unintentionally, get the help of another station. In 1988 I had a friend who was going to Paraguay to do some research. He had lived there for several years and spoke both Spanish and Guarani (Paraguay's second official language) fluently. The latter is very unusual for a foreigner. My friend took reports of mine for Radio Nacional in Asuncion and for Radio Encarnacion (11940v kHz), although he didn't expect to get to the city of Encarnacion.
His Guarani wowed the people at Radio Nacional and he got me a nice QSL and several good pictures for me. At that point in his visit he knew he wouldn't get to Encarnacion and he mentioned the Radio Encarncion report to the manager at Radio Nacional. The manager said not to worry, they had a special courier who was going to Encarnacion the next day. The courier could take the report and deliver it in person along with a letter from the manager instructing the station to answer my letter. My friend handed over my report, not exactly expecting any results.
Did it really get sent by special courier? I don't know, but less than two weeks later - before my friend was back from Paraguay - I had a QSL in the mailbox from Radio Encarncion, sent via special handling, registered mail.
In this instance, the power of high officials obviously worked in my favor. Ironically, I did not receive a QSL from Radio Nacional in 1985 for the same reason - power of officals. I visited the station that year while in Asuncion, but had waited until my last day in the city to go there. It turned out to be a holiday, which I hadn't read about, and all the higher officials at the station were gone. Only a few lowly announcers and technical people were there. Although very polite (they gave me a great tour), they all refused to issue me a QSL since that was clearly an important document that only someone like a manager could sign.
April 25 2000 Posting
My experience at Radio Nacional de Paraguay was unusual. Most of the time I have had no trouble getting someone to sign the QSL - secretary, program director, announcer, technician - but never the station janitor - I have some standards, ;-) . The most disheartening non-QSL was at Radio Nacional de Mendoza in Argentina. In two days I went there three times and waited at least an hour for the manager, but he never came and no one else would QSL my report. At least Mendoza was a beautiful city to visit, but I still don't have a QSL from there.

This website is maintained by Don Moore,
Association of North American Radio Clubs
DXer of the Year for 1995.
My Address Is In This Graphic

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How I QSLed Paraguay By Don Moore This article is two postings I made to the HCDX mailing list. April 23 2000 Posting I've never used an embassy or similar office to help me get a QSL. I did once, unintentionally, get the help of another station. In 1988 I had a friend who was going to Paraguay to do some research. He had lived there for several years and spoke both Spanish and Guarani (Paraguay's second official language) fluently. The latter is very unusual for a foreigner. My friend took reports of mine for Radio Nacional in Asuncion and for Radio Encarnacion (11940v kHz), although he didn't expect to get to the city of Encarnacion. His Guarani wowed the people at Radio Nacional and he got me a nice QSL and several good pictures for me. At that point in his visit he knew he wouldn't get to Encarnacion and he mentioned the Radio Encarncion report to the manager at Radio Nacional. The manager said not to worry, they had a special courier who was going to Encarnacion the next day. The courier could take the report and deliver it in person along with a letter from the manager instructing the station to answer my letter. My friend handed over my report, not exactly expecting any results. Did it really get sent by special courier? I don't know, but less than two weeks later - before my friend was back from Paraguay - I had a QSL in the mailbox from Radio Encarncion, sent via special handling, registered mail. In this instance, the power of high officials obviously worked in my favor. Ironically, I did not receive a QSL from Radio Nacional in 1985 for the same reason - power of officals. I visited the station that year while in Asuncion, but had waited until my last day in the city to go there. It turned out to be a holiday, which I hadn't read about, and all the higher officials at the station were gone. Only a few lowly announcers and technical people were there. Although very polite (they gave me a great tour), they all refused to issue me a QSL since that was clearly an important document that only someone like a manager could sign. April 25 2000 Posting My experience at Radio Nacional de Paraguay was unusual. Most of the time I have had no trouble getting someone to sign the QSL - secretary, program director, announcer, technician - but never the station janitor - I have some standards, ;-) . The most disheartening non-QSL was at Radio Nacional de Mendoza in Argentina. In two days I went there three times and waited at least an hour for the manager, but he never came and no one else would QSL my report. At least Mendoza was a beautiful city to visit, but I still don't have a QSL from there. This website is maintained by Don Moore, Association of North American Radio Clubs DXer of the Year for 1995.