Mark Wickens

QSL Labels

Introduction

The ADIF Processor includes simple support for printing QSL card labels. I added this as I found existing logging program support for printing labels quite difficult to use, and this enables me to print labels without needing to import contacts into a logging program.

The process is as follows:

• run the ADIF processor.
• download the QSL label file.
• paste the QSL label file into Microsoft Word, or another word processor.
• print the labels.
• save the QSL’d contacts list.

I use A4 Avery Labels code is J8159/L7159, the labels are 63.5mm X 33.9mm and there are 24 labels per sheet.

You can use my A4 QSL Label Template. This uses Courier 9 point font.

An example QSL label output file is:

QSL labels are generated for any station that has bureau mentioned in their QSL information and are not in the exclusion list.

When this is loaded into Word is should look like this:

You can start generation of labels on the sheet at a specified location. This is useful if you are reusing a partially printed sheet.

If you want to do this specify the position in the Options panel. Here’s a reference of the locations on the label sheet:

┌──────┐  ┌──────┐  ┌──────┐
│   1  │  │   2  │  │   3  │  
└──────┘  └──────┘  └──────┘  
┌──────┐  ┌──────┐  ┌──────┐
│   4  │  │   5  │  │   6  │  
└──────┘  └──────┘  └──────┘  
┌──────┐  ┌──────┐  ┌──────┐
│   7  │  │   8  │  │   9  │  
└──────┘  └──────┘  └──────┘  
┌──────┐  ┌──────┐  ┌──────┐
│  10  │  │  11  │  │  12  │  
└──────┘  └──────┘  └──────┘  
┌──────┐  ┌──────┐  ┌──────┐
│  13  │  │  14  │  │  15  │  
└──────┘  └──────┘  └──────┘  
┌──────┐  ┌──────┐  ┌──────┐
│  16  │  │  17  │  │  18  │  
└──────┘  └──────┘  └──────┘  
┌──────┐  ┌──────┐  ┌──────┐
│  19  │  │  20  │  │  21  │  
└──────┘  └──────┘  └──────┘  
┌──────┐  ┌──────┐  ┌──────┐
│  22  │  │  23  │  │  24  │  
└──────┘  └──────┘  └──────┘  

This will only affect the first sheet.

Label Format

The format of each label is as follows:

Example:
┌────────────────────────────┐
│4X6HU                       │
│                            │
│Date     Time Band RST Mode │
│20210702 1130 20m   58 SSB  │
│From SOTA: G/LD-050         │
│Thx for QSO from Gummers... │
│                     PSE QSL│
└────────────────────────────┘

Format:
┌────────────────────────────┐
│Callsign                    │
│QSL via...                  │
│Date     Time Band RST Mode │
│yyyymmdd hhmm 20m   58 SSB  │
│Your activity reference     │
│Your QSL Message            │
│                     PSE QSL│
└────────────────────────────┘

The QSL via… line is as specified by the station in their QRZ.com information.

Your activity reference is pulled from either your MY_SOTA_REF, MY_POTA_REF or MY_SIG_INFO/MY_SIG_REF ADIF fields.

Your QSL message is generated from the ADIF QSLMSG field (in Fast Log Entry add a qslmsg entry to your comment, e.g: QSLMSG: Thx for the contact).

Excluding stations from QSL Label generation

For stations you have frequent contacts with you might want to exclude generating labels. Do this by specifying a Don’t QSL Callsign List on the Options panel of the main ADIF Processor form. Any stations in this list will not have a QSL label generated.

If you want to build up a list of stations that you have already QSL’d then add the QSL’d Contacts list on the results form to your exclusion list. It doesn’t matter if a station appears more than once. Spaces separate stations with an optional comment.

Limitations

It’s worth noting the limitations:

• I only support 24 labels per sheet with 63.5mm X 33.9mm label dimensions.
• This is strictly for bureau contacts. As the ADIF Processor loads QRZ.com information for each contact it looks at the qsl information and determines if bureau is mentioned. If it is a label is generated.
• If you have more than one contact for a station separate labels are generated.
• The format of the label is fixed.

Why Use a Word Processor rather than print direct?

I decided for the sake of an extra step you then have control over the template used, so if things aren’t lining up quite right you can modify the word template document once then use that for subsequent print runs.