The Bureau will assign you a box, much like a post office box, and a QSL Manager.

As others has said, your first option is to become an ARRL member so you can receive these services.

The next thing will be that once you get a couple of cards in your box, your QSL manager will send them to you - with his own money.

They will also send a request that you send them a certain sized envelope and some postage so they can send your cards to you in the future.
This is a courtesy - since they will still send you your cards - just not on a frequent basis - when they have to use their own money.
Just think of them as being your neighbors and you going away on vacation and they are taking care of your mail for you.
Would you want to stiff them and make them spend their own money to handle your personal affairs?

The other option - the US Post Office has a special stamp that can be used to send International Mail - I think it is around $1.25 a stamp.
This will allow you to send one envelope to someone anywhere, or allow them to send one envelope back to you.

Many of the people you will talk to will be poor - as in no Denaro.
They will specify on their QRZ page - if you want a QSL Card from them to send them X amount of green stamps - US Dollars.   Some charges $2 - $3.00 if you want them to send you a QSL card direct.

Congradulations on the purchase of your first HF transceiver and your first contacts.

As you have discovered - Amateur Radio is not cheap!

The cheapest part of amateur radio is the $15.00 license exam.

Everything after that costs money!

You are well on your way to becomming a REAL HAM!

Have fun chasing DX - but remember - there are a lot of regular people out there, just the same as you and me.   Most of them had no choice in where they were born or where they live.
Yes it is nice to work someone from somewhere else - but just because they are from somewhere else - doesn't make them special to anyone except YOU!

Some people will feed on this, and some people will violate every rule in the Part 97, just to try to make themselves appear as being somebody.

QSL cards up on the wall and awards are nice - but they are not everything.

In time, you will decide whom you want to send a QSL card to and who you do not.

You will decide who you want to say 73 to and who you do not!

Its not like shaking hands.

Make lot's of contacts and have fun on the HF bands.

I'm so sorry everyone, I posted a link to a video I made of my Storm Chasing machine, then remembered I forgot something in the video.  I had to delete it, and upload the new edit.  So here it is, and this time I won't delete it, PROMISE!

My Storm Chase/SkyWarn Severe Weather Spotting Vehicle.

Enjoy!

Thank you!

I received the same treatment as you did, even went so far as to get banned twice for complaining to the forum owner.
Anytime you have a web site that is ran by one man, and a buddy group - you will always get that type of treatment when ever you do anything to ruffle the feathers of one of the buddy club members.

QRZ is ok for logging purposes and to have a web page to show where you are and your technicial infomation which is useful if working any type of contest or field days, because it allows you to confirm whom you talked to.

If the name given does not match the name on the QRZ account - then you know something is wrong.

At the same time, if someone is operating illegally and you are using QRZ - you will see their license class and can make a note of the illegal activity.

Its just a lot easier to use then the FCC URL Data Base.

The worst part about QRZ is the fact that those TROLLS goes from web site to web site reading your IP Address and they will flame you and try to get you thrown off other web sites..
Also had that happen about a dozen times.

Web site owners makes their money by collecting fees from the advertisers.
The more hits a web site gets, the more revenue it generates for the web site owner.
At the same time - if you have a problem - don't be afraid of sending a friendly email to the advertisers on the site...
Sometimes it is enough to get them to pull their support for the web site and the administrator / owner will suffer for their actions.

In the end, what happens is that everyone moves on and then when there is no activity, the web site owner has to decide if those people are their friends and if they want to continue to associate with people like that - or run a clean web site where everyone is free to voice their opinions without fear of being attacked.

It is a shame that we do not allow this kind of behavior in our public schools anymore - but it is allowed over the internet.
This is a learned behavior that is passed from parents to children, and when there is no one to tell them NO - this is not an acceptable behavior - it just keeps going.

Eventually what needs to happen is that the FCC needs to step in and look at the situation and close down some of these web sites until they conform to some certain set of universal standards - either you behave and enforce the rules - or you get taken off the WWW forever!

There will come a day, when someone goes too far.
Thinking that they can hide behind a screen name, yet their call sign is posted.
Where the person who was harassed, comes to their house and either burns the shack down with everyone in it, or hooks a rope to that persons coax and pulls their radio right out through the window - along with their antenna off their roof!

Paybacks are a beotch!

It often boils down to costs. Direct QSLing can be expensive and eQSLs just can't beat the real thing!

Hello Everyone!
I Was Featured In The May Issue Of Popular Communications Magazine.
I Am SWL WPC8JWA/K8SSS.
This Article Was About Me Being Both An Avid SWL'er And Ham Radio Operator.
It Was A Very Nice 3 Page Article Starting On Page 58.
You Mite Want To Pick Up A Copy Of The May Issue Of Popular Communications Magazine.

I did fail to mention...the Bureau process is a very SLOW process...I have had cards show up 2 or 3 (or more!) years after initial sending of the cards thru the bureau, so you will have to be very patient!

Well, IF you are a member of the ARRL, go to their website and look up the outgoing QSL bureau for instructions. If you are not, then I recommend Global QSL. They may be found at www.globalqsl.com. With them, you pay a very reasonable fee, design a card, or upload your artwork, then as you make the DX contacts, you upload your log info in ADIF format. They then print and mail the cards for you.
Have fun chasing DX!
73,
Jim  K8SI

Hey Guys, need a little bit of help here qith QSL cards, I have finally got an HF rig and an Antenna that actually works, and have finally made a few contacts OUT of the Country, but when I look up QSL info, they say to QSL VIA the Bureau, how does one go about doing that?

Wanted to invite everyone to check out my club's attempt at some ham radio humor. We started www.hamhijinks.com a few months ago and have had a great time creating stories in the satirical style of "The Onion."

Our latest adventure was "covering" Dayton. We also have some ham radio-related memes and videos.

Check it out:  www.hamhijinks.com

73, K5KVN