Join the Party

Contribute something and get the week's newsletter. Don't worry about making it fancy. Just use the supplied form to let us know you're out there, and if you feel like adding more, you're welcome to do so. There are two steps to take: compose your contribution and choose the path to send and receive your QSP content.

It's important to separate the message format from the transmission method.

Origination: Compose Your Contribution

The best way to participate is to use the FLMSG Custom Form "Share with QSP."

Here are the steps to use our custom form in FLMSG:

1. Download the Share With QSP Custom Form (ZIP) and extract the HTML file from the ZIP.

2. Save the HTML file to your NBEMS CUSTOM folder.

3. Start FLMSG.

4. Select Form>Custom>Share With QSP.

5. Select the Edit Form button in FLMSG.

6. Complete the form and hit the Submit button at the bottom of the form.

7. In FLMSG save the form with File>Save. Note the file's name: it will have your callsign, a date-time stamp, and a number, followed by .k2s. That's the file you will need to transmit in the next step.

We have deprecated other origination formats. Radiograms, Winlink Net Check-In Form, and free-form text all require manual processing. Note that Winlink as a transmission method is supported, but the supported message format is created with "Share with QSP."

Transmission: Prepare For Radio Relay

Now that you have a message, you need to select a way to get the message to its destination. The currently supported methods for reception are via BLACK SWAN Net and Winlink. NTS and Packet BBS are deprecated.

Sending by BLACK SWAN Net

Report into the BLACK SWAN Net and list your traffic, e.g., if you're AA8AAA, 

DE AA8AAA ZKE ZBO 1 R QSPEDITOR K

When instructed to transmit, send your k2s file via FLAMP in accordance with net procedure. See the net's Signal Operating Instructions for details.

Sending by Winlink

Compose a Winlink message, attach the k2s file that you created in the origination step above and address the message to QSP@Winlink.org.

The Winlink "net check-in" form is deprecated and we will not be including those starting in calendar year 2025.

Other Transmission Options

We have deprecated:

• Relay by amateur radiogram (e.g., NTS) for failure of the amateur traffic system to make timely delivery of contributions.  This led to frustrated contributors whose work was not included (we can't relay what we don't receive!) and the point of what we are doing is to stress readiness and reliability. As far as we know, it was only rarely attempted.

• Relay by packet BBS. Where packet is linked into a supported method such as BLACK SWAN Net or Winlink, the system is perfectly fine. Addressing through the amateur packet system, however, is not supported, and was rarely used. Rather than set expectations that might not be met, we advise contributors to use the supported method.

Of course if you are not able to use either of the supported transmission methods, you're free to participate via relay. That is, find an amateur station that can reach one of the supported methods, transmit your contribution in the k2s format to the relay station, which will then get it to the QSP Editor. Be sure that your relay station transmits the resulting newsletter on the following Monday back to you!