HQSL
A standard for cryptographically signed amateur radio QSL cards
The Future of Radio Communication Validation
Start using HQSL right nowWhat is a QSL card?
A QSL card is a paper document confirming that a radio contact actually took place. They usually take the form of a unique postcard. They have been an essential part of amateur radio hobby since its earliest days.
Documental confirmation of radio contacts is a requirement for amateur radio honors of every kind. Confirming your radio contact is the final courtesy of amateur radio.
As the hobby grows, so does the number of cards one needs to send. Sending so much mail all over the world can be very expensive!
Why not use a digital database, then?
Since the beginning of the XXI century, centralized databases for logging radio contacts have been edging out traditional paper QSL cards, significantly transforming the competitive landscape of amateur radio.
But centralized databases have certain shortcomings:
No single centralized database (like LoTW, Clublog, or Hamlog.Online) fits the needs of every amateur, leading to a fragmented landscape. Paper QSL cards are still universally accepted.
Centralization introduces a single point of vulnerability. The shutdown of any one such service could have catastrophic effects on the hobby.
Allowing third parties to see the data within these databases raises privacy concerns. But most amateur radio honors are endorsements from clubs, publications, or national amateur radio organizations. Only a few of them maintain their own databases.
Digital solutions lack the tangible charm of a physical QSL card. Sending QSL cards by email as pictures is popular, but such images are trivial to forge.
Despite the digital revolution, paper QSL cards remain in wide use, and their problems are as current as ever.
What Exactly is HQSL?
HQSL.
HQSL is a standard for cryptographically signing QSL cards, designed to bridge the gap between paper cards and centralized databases, fitting the needs of both.
Designed for Everyone.
HQSL can be decoded by any QR code reader. Its structure is straightforward, fully documented and human-readable.
Tailored for Technology.
HQSL remains machine-readable. With open source tools available for parsing, it’s ready to help you populate your own database as well.
Secure and Authentic.
Leveraging the widely used OpenPGP standard, HQSL guarantees that the QSL card sender holds the appropriate license for operating under the specified call sign on the contact date.
Independent of Delivery Method.
With HQSL, it does not matter if you got a paper card, an image of the card, a text file, or a link in an instant messenger. They can all be verified.
Verification Made Easy.
All you need to verify HQSL is access to the public key database. You can easily mirror this database, or run your own, compatible system.