If no reply has been forthcoming within four to six months, and you're left wondering if it was "lost in the mail, " perhaps it's time to compose a follow-up reception report. A follow-up report, whether by postal mail or email, should politely mention that no reply was received to your original correspondence, including the date it was mailed, followed by the complete reception report details.
Consider addressing your follow up report to another office or station official, or to the attention of the QSL Manager if one is present, or to the Chief Engineer. The language service that represents the programming monitored works, while medium wave DXers regularly send their report to the Program Director or Manager. Most amateur radio operators also use QSL Managers.
While many shortwave hobbyists address their correspond to the attention of a Veri-Signer (an individual reported as having verified in the past), be mindful that station personnel change, and I recommend sending correspondence only to those signers that are reported regularly.
If using the postal service, enclosures always attract the attention of the receiving station. The list is endless but a few I have used include; souvenir postcards, travel brochures, mint and used postage stamps, photographs, business cards, decals and stickers. A newspaper clipping of the country has worked, as well as a question about their country or programming.
Follow up reporting gives you a chance to refocus on the station. Try to relog the station to include with the original report, and you could find yourself on the receiving end of a station packet of goodies, and one less station on the QSL Hit-List.
Amateur Radio
Northern Ireland-G10KVQ, 20 meters USB. Full data color card. Received in two years and three months via ARRL bureau. (Larry Van Horn NC)
Norway-LA2Z, 15 meters USB. Full data color card. Received in nine months via ARRL bureau. (Van Horn).
Senegal-6W/PA3GIO, 20 meters USB. Full data photo card in 16 days for two $2.00US direct from Bert van den Berg, Parklaan 38, Netherlands (Van Horn).
Germany
Clandestine: Voice of Democratic Eritrea International via Jülich, Germany, 15670 kHz. Full data Media Broadcast eQSL page with two color transmitter site photos, from Michael Puetz. Received in three months after follow up report to Walter Brodowsky, Media Broadcast. Confirmed for total of five years and eight months from my original report to Rüsselsheim, Germany. Station is brokered by Media Broadcast (former T-Systems International) currently active on 9820, 13830 kHz via Wertachtal, Germany. Programming is produced by the Eritrean Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council. Email reception reports preferred to: qsl-shortwave@media-broadcast.com Michael Puetz michael.puetz@media-broadcast.com . Postal address: Media Broadcast GmbH, OMB Köln, Bastionstrasse 11-19, D-52428 Jülich, Germany. MB website: www.media-broadcast.com (Gayle Van Horn, NC)
Greece
Radiophonikos Stathmos Makedonias, 7430 kHz. Full data folder card signed by Tatiana Tsioli, plus sticker and postcard. Received in five years, two months, ten days for an English report. QSL addressed to my former home address, and the envelope appears to have made two trips between the US and Greece, until it was finally delivered to my current work address! Obviously, the post office did some real searching on this one. Station address: ERT S.A., Subdirection of Technical Support, PB 11312, 541 10 Thessalonika, Greece (or) Angelaki 2, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece. Streaming audio http://www.ert3.gr/. (Joe Wood, TN)
Medium Wave
CHAB 800 AM kHz. Greatest Hits of All Time. Electronic verification card with Moose Jaw trivia and local attractions attached from Ken Fisher-Engineering & IT Director. Received in three days for email to: kfisher@goldenwestradio.com. (Tob Wood, NE). Postal address: 1704 Main Street N., Moose Jaw, SK Canada S6J 1L4. Website: www.chabradio.com/
Slovakia
Miraya FM via Rimavska-Sobota, 15650 kHz. Full data (except site) Miraya FM card from Omerovic Wihada for Mr. Jean -Luc Mootoosamy, Miraya Program Officer. Received in 17 days. QSL address: Hirondelle, Avenue du Temple 19C, Ch-1012 Lausanne, Switzerland. (Wendel Craighead, KS).
South Africa
IRIN-UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs via Meyerton, South Africa, 7160 kHz. Email reply from Louise Tunbridge notes this was their Somali service and "thank you for your email" reply. Reception report to: feedback@IRINnews.org within 24 hours from email follow up, total of six months from original report. On-demand audio and podcast www.irinnews.org/radio.aspx . (Edward Kusalik, Canada).
USA
Open Radio for North Korea via KWHR Hawaii 9930 kHz. Full data (except site) personal letter from Han Gwang Hee, plus program schedule. Letter states they have no QSL cards due to "a temporary printing difficulty, usual cards will resume very soon." QSL address: P.O.Box 158, Mapo, Seoul, 121-600, Rep. of Korea (Craighead).
Radiophonikos Stathmos Makedonias, 7430 kHz. Full data folder card signed by Tatiana Tsioli, plus sticker and postcard. Received in five years, two months, ten days for an English report. QSL addressed to my former home address, and the envelope appears to have made two trips between the US and Greece, until it was finally delivered to my current work address! Obviously, the post office did some real searching on this one. Station address: ERT S.A., Subdirection of Technical Support, PB 11312, 541 10 Thessalonika, Greece (or) Angelaki 2, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece. Streaming audio http://www.ert3.gr/. (Joe Wood, TN)
Medium Wave
CHAB 800 AM kHz. Greatest Hits of All Time. Electronic verification card with Moose Jaw trivia and local attractions attached from Ken Fisher-Engineering & IT Director. Received in three days for email to: kfisher@goldenwestradio.com. (Tob Wood, NE). Postal address: 1704 Main Street N., Moose Jaw, SK Canada S6J 1L4. Website: www.chabradio.com/
Slovakia
Miraya FM via Rimavska-Sobota, 15650 kHz. Full data (except site) Miraya FM card from Omerovic Wihada for Mr. Jean -Luc Mootoosamy, Miraya Program Officer. Received in 17 days. QSL address: Hirondelle, Avenue du Temple 19C, Ch-1012 Lausanne, Switzerland. (Wendel Craighead, KS).
South Africa
IRIN-UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs via Meyerton, South Africa, 7160 kHz. Email reply from Louise Tunbridge notes this was their Somali service and "thank you for your email" reply. Reception report to: feedback@IRINnews.org within 24 hours from email follow up, total of six months from original report. On-demand audio and podcast www.irinnews.org/radio.aspx . (Edward Kusalik, Canada).
USA
Open Radio for North Korea via KWHR Hawaii 9930 kHz. Full data (except site) personal letter from Han Gwang Hee, plus program schedule. Letter states they have no QSL cards due to "a temporary printing difficulty, usual cards will resume very soon." QSL address: P.O.Box 158, Mapo, Seoul, 121-600, Rep. of Korea (Craighead).
WRNO, 7505 kHz. Partial data station/antenna photo card. Received in 16 days for a report and $1.00US, QSL address: P.O. Box 895, Ft. Worth, TX 76101 USA. (Wood).
United Arab Emirates
Radio Japan relay via Dhabaya, 13740 kHz. Full data card entitled Fisherman, unsigned. Received in 120 days for an English report. Station address: NHK World/Radio Japan, KHK Tokyo 150-8001 Japan. (Wood). Streaming audio and podcast www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/
Utility
NDTH, 6821 kHz USB. USCG Auxiliary Station. Full data plain QSL card, signed by John P. Fullingim. Received in 123 days for an Armed Forces Day Cross Band Test. Station address: 5802 Club Oaks, Dallas, TX 75248 USA. (Bill Wilkins, MO).
Travel Information Station-WQHR783, 1700 kHz AM. Nice package from Carolyn Sigtowicz-Exec. Assistant for the Office of the Mayor. Received info on the city, including a souvenir copper lapel pin of Issaquah. No mention on station's power, but was surprised the signal reached my location. QSL address: City of Issaquah, P.O. Box 1307, Issaquah, WA 98027-1307 USA. (Patrick Martin, OR)
(Gayle Van Horn/QSL Report-Monitoring Times)
Radio Japan relay via Dhabaya, 13740 kHz. Full data card entitled Fisherman, unsigned. Received in 120 days for an English report. Station address: NHK World/Radio Japan, KHK Tokyo 150-8001 Japan. (Wood). Streaming audio and podcast www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/
Utility
NDTH, 6821 kHz USB. USCG Auxiliary Station. Full data plain QSL card, signed by John P. Fullingim. Received in 123 days for an Armed Forces Day Cross Band Test. Station address: 5802 Club Oaks, Dallas, TX 75248 USA. (Bill Wilkins, MO).
Travel Information Station-WQHR783, 1700 kHz AM. Nice package from Carolyn Sigtowicz-Exec. Assistant for the Office of the Mayor. Received info on the city, including a souvenir copper lapel pin of Issaquah. No mention on station's power, but was surprised the signal reached my location. QSL address: City of Issaquah, P.O. Box 1307, Issaquah, WA 98027-1307 USA. (Patrick Martin, OR)
(Gayle Van Horn/QSL Report-Monitoring Times)