QSL Cards

This page is a collection of several QSL cards I received years ago. QSL cards are sent out by most international broadcast stations to acknowledge reception reports that listeners send in. I was an avid shortwave listener (SWL) years ago after I built my first Heathkit 5-band radio, the GR-54. I mailed out reception reports to several shortwave stations and most replied with an interesting QSL card. Here are some that I received. These cards were received to acknowledgement of their English language broadcasts.
This is a QSL card from Deustche Welle, the German international broadcaster. I received this card in 1968 for acknowledgement of receiveing their broadcast on 9640 kHz at 0130 GMT, Greenwich Mean Time, now referred to as Universal Coordinated Time (UTC). The broadcast orginated in Cologne, Germany. Deustche Welle no longer transmits English language programs to the US.

This is a QSL card from HCJB, Quito, Ecuador. HCJB stands for Heralding Christ Jesus Blesings. I received this card in 1968 for acknowledgement of recieving their broadcast on 9745 kHz at 0245 GMT. HCJB is a religious broadcaster, and they have several interesting programs - especially their shortwave listeners program. Unfortuntately HCJB has ceased operation in late 2003.


This is a QSL from Radio Australia. It is one of the more colorful cards I have. The picture is of the Red Cap Gum, one of Australia's many flowering eucalypts. I received this card for acknowledgement of receiving their broadcast in the 31 meter band at 1115 GMT in 1968. Transmitter power was 100 kW.

This is a QSL card from Radio Denmark. I received this card in 1968 for acknowledgement of receiveing their broadcast on 9520 kHz at 0150-0215 GMT. I have not heard this station on in recent years.

This is a QSL card from Radio Nederland (Netherlands, or Holland). I received this card in 1968 for acknowledgement of receiveing their broadcast on 9590 kHz at 0130 GMT. The broadcast originates from Hilversum, Holland and is rebroadcast from their Bonaire relay station in the Carribean. Therefore reception of this station is strong in the US. This station is still on the air and still brroadcasting from Hilversum through the Bonaire relay station. Another point of interest is that their address is still the same as back in 1968: PO Box 222.


This is one of my favorite QSL cards because of its color and detail. This card is from Radio Portugal in Lisbon. I received this card in 1968 for acknowledgement of receiving their broadcast on 9680 kHz at 0200. I have not heard this station in recent years.

This is a QSL card from Radio Prague, Czechoslovakia. I received this card in 1968 for acknowledgement of receiveing their broadcast on 7345 kHz at 0100 GMT. I remember witnessing the termination of their broadcasts after the Communists took over that country in 1968. Today, Radio Prague is on the air with English language broadcasts.
Here is the back of the Radio Prague QSL card. Note the interesting stamp.

This colorful QSL card is from Radio South Africa broadcasting from Johannesburg, South Africa. I received this card in 1968 for acknowledgement of receiveing their broadcast on 9705 kHz at 2330 GMT. Today, Radio South Africa is on still on the air with English language broadcasts.

This QSL card is from Radio Spain. I received this card in 1968 for acknowledgement of receiving their broadcast on 6130 kHz.

An avid Shortwave Listener must have a clock that shows the time around the world in 24-hour format. It must show Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), now referred to a Universal Coordinated Time (UTC). I purchased such a clock and I still have it today and it still runs perfectly. This clock is shown below.



This clock is electric and is a Mastercrafters Model 191. It has a 24-hour dial and an 8-inch diameter chrome case. It has a south polar projection of the globe showing world time. I purchased it circa 1968 from Allied Electronics. The 1968 Allied catalog price was $8.37.