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Viewing User Profile for: KA3JLW Jay Horman
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Joined: Apr 16, 2008 03:09 AM
Last Post: Apr 15, 2009 02:45 AM
Last Visit: Apr 21, 2009 12:26 AM
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KA3JLW Jay Horman has contributed to 4 posts out of 11674 total posts (0.03%) in 5,921 days (0.00 posts per day).

20 Most recent posts:
Support - English speaking » Print quality/ resolution of e-qsl printed and mailed cards. Apr 15, 2009 02:45 AM (Total replies: 5)

Agreed with all comments.

I'm no longer a website programmer, but I suspect it wouldn't be difficult to allow users to either
a) choose their download resolution based on their connection speed or
b) have the site or user cookie somehow know the user's download speed and throttle the image sizes accordingly.

I love getting eQSLs and printing them. A while ago I gave up using photo paper for the prints because the graphic quality was bad enough that it just wasn't worth it. I don't expect "hi rez" but some of the cards really come out quite rough.

I understand that bandwidth isn't free and that graphics drive the bandwidth usage on a site like this. Maybe (as suggested) the higher resolution could be a perk of membership - essentially letting the users pay for bandwidth rights. And of course, allowing higher resolution cards would probably envigorate the small side business of professional QSL design, either for the eQSL team or 3rd party providers.
KA3JLW Jay Horman

Support - English speaking » How many "nice QSL!" votes does my card design have? Nov 2, 2008 01:28 AM (Total replies: 0)

Is there a way to tell?

I took some time with it and (of course) I think I made a nice looking card. And while sheer number of QSOs (or nudity) is a way to the top 25 of the vote list, I'm really just curious if ANYONE cared to vote for my card.
KA3JLW Jay Horman

Support - English speaking » Higher resolution pictures/cards? Nov 2, 2008 01:23 AM (Total replies: 7)

Thanks for all the replies - way back when :)

Some other ideas on how to do this:

1. Have the pictures stored elsewhere (like flickr) and find a way to "marry" the picture upload with the QSO data. It is done now, the only difference is the file will pull from a different source. That may solve any bandwidth issues but probably creates new ones.

2. Have a throttle for those with dial-up. One dial up ISP I had provided a browser plug-in that would reduce picture file sizes by reducing the resolution on the fly. Maybe the site serves those with higher bandwidth and then provides a link or download to that kind of throttle software for those with dial-up. But then again, I don't know how many users are on dial-up and we certainly want to welcome/encourage "3rd world" participants who may not have access to broadband.

3. Provide the card in relatively lo-rez as it is now, with a "click here" to get it in high-rez, and maybe the "click here" is only active for silver/gold members. (can you guess I'm silver?) This may help drive sales.

4. Bigger picture idea, I posted this on QRZ.com: Paper QSL printers must feel a little threatened by LotW and eQSL. So how about joining with them a bit? Here's how - offer these options:
- Have UX5UO design your card: $25
- Have UX5UO host your card to provide others with a higher quality QSL: $25/yr
That way the QSL maker becomes a partner with eQSL, people can use a 'unified' design with their paper QSLs, and higher bandwidth / resolution cards are offered.

As earlier in the thread, I LOVE the idea of LoTW officially connnecting. And I love unicorns and hitting the lottery... :)
KA3JLW Jay Horman

Support - English speaking » Higher resolution pictures/cards? May 6, 2008 11:26 AM (Total replies: 7)

I've poked around and can't find a way to produce higher resolution printed cards.

I'll assume that it is a bandwidth issue - higher resolution = more cost. If so, a suggestion: Is there any chance that either
A. as part of higher levels of membership a higher resolution card is generated (incoming cards, that is?)
B. that eQSL.cc might pull images from, say, flikr, to generate cards without additional bandwidth?

I love the service, please don't get me wrong. The only downside seems to be that the cards are printed from jpg/gif images instead of higher resolution formats that look better and look more like, well, real QSLs. I just feel like...for the sake of a little bandwidth, this could be improved.

73 and thanks for the awesome service,
Jay KA3JLW
KA3JLW Jay Horman