I Had No Idea About QSL Bureaus…
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About this video
I’ve been licensed for years and just realized I had no idea how QSL bureaus actually worked — until THIS happened.
If you have a number in your callsign that doesn't match where you live, you might be sending your cards to the wrong place. Here's what I learned.
📄 Official ARRL PDF on the QSL Bureau System:
arrl.org/files/file/QSL/Incoming%20QSL.pdf
🧐 What the Heck is a QSL Bureau?
A QSL Bureau is a service that helps amateur radio operators exchange QSL cards (confirmation of contact cards) with other hams around the world — especially for DX contacts.
Instead of sending cards one-by-one (and paying for international postage), you send or receive batches of cards through a central bureau.
In the U.S., these are volunteer-run and organized by the number in your callsign, not where you currently live.
📍 So if you have a “K8XXX” callsign but live in Illinois (which is 9-land), your incoming cards still go to the 8th call area bureau.
✅ Quick Reminder:
The bureau you use is based on the number in your call sign, not your current zip code.
Here’s the most up-to-date list I could compile. If anything is off, don’t flip out — just kindly let us know in the comments.
🇺🇸 U.S. Incoming QSL Bureau List
📍 W1 (1st Call Area)
Yankee Clipper Contest Club
PO Box 73, Marlborough, MA 01752-0073
🌐 yccc.org
📍 W2 (2nd Call Area)
North Jersey DX Association
PO Box 599, Morris Plains, NJ 07950-0599
🌐 njdxa.org
📍 W3 (3rd Call Area)
Third Call Area QSL Bureau
PO Box 88, Lancaster, PA 17608-0088
🌐 w3qsl.org
📍 W4 (4th Call Area)
Fourth Call Area QSL Bureau
PO Box 59, Morris Plains, NJ 07950-0059
🌐 w4qsl.org
📍 W5 (5th Call Area)
Fifth Call Area QSL Bureau
PO Box 202222, Austin, TX 78720-2222
🌐 w5bureau.org
📍 W6 (6th Call Area)
Sixth Call Area QSL Bureau
PO Box 970, Fairfax, CA 94978-0970
🌐 sixthbureau.org
📍 W7 (7th Call Area)
Seventh Call Area QSL Bureau
PO Box 3454, Redmond, OR 97756-0454
🌐 w7bureau.org
📍 W8 (8th Call Area)
Eight Call Area QSL Bureau
PO Box 307, West Chester, OH 45071-0307
🌐 8thareaqslbureau.org
📍 W9 (9th Call Area)
Ninth District Incoming QSL Bureau (NIDXA)
PO Box 125, Naperville, IL 60566
🌐 qsl.nidxa.org
📍 W0 (0th Call Area)
Zero Call Area QSL Bureau
PO Box 907, Florissant, MO 63032-0907
🌐 w0qsl.org
