Reception report

A reception report is a means by which radio stations (usually short- and medium-wave broadcasters) receive detailed feedback from their listeners about the quality and content of their broadcasts. A reception report consists of several pieces of information which help the station verify that the report confirms coverage of their transmission, and usually include the following information:

  • Date, time and frequency (in kHz) of the transmission
  • Station name
  • Description of the interval signal, if heard
  • Programme details
  • Name of announcers or programme host, if heard
  • Details of the overall signal quality (normally using the SINPO code)

The listener's location relative to the station is also useful; this indicates how well the station's transmitter is performing and in which direction(s) its antenna is beaming the signal. The station also evaluates a reception report in light of the listener's receiver and antenna. Upon receipt of a correct report, a broadcaster sometimes issues a letter or postcard (known as a QSL card) to the sender, thanking them and confirming that the details are correct. "QSL" is part of the amateur radio Q code, meaning "I acknowledge receipt". One aspect of DXing is collecting QSL cards and letters from stations heard (similar to a birdwatcher's "life list"). QSLing a radio station involves writing an accurate reception report, mailing it to the station and awaiting a reply. Since QSLing is a voluntary act on the station's part, several techniques are used to improve a listener's success rate.

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