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Survey Question

Question

Although the population of SWL's seemingly has decreased over the years, that is the path many of us took into ham radio. What are your thoughts?

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Survey Comments

WPE9EJR

I first started SWLing in 1957, and later built a Knight-Kit R-100 receiver and acquiring my Popular Electronics magazine callsign of WPE9EJR. SWLing was the genesis for my entry into amateur radio, as was typically the case in the late '50s and early '60s. SWL's learn the craft of "listening, and then more listening," which is most applicable for serious DXing on the ham bands. Although we are blessed with state-of-the-art transceivers today that offer great stability, frequency readout and resettability, noise floor, and selectivity, sometimes those late-nights or early-morning hours spent dialing the knobs on the R-100 in my youth seem more magical. Serious SWL's were, and still are, an asset for the international broadcasters and hams alike. I support them in their endeavors, and encourage them to continue in the SWL hobby. And, if they decide to eventually get an amateur license, that's great as they will be a welcome addition to the service/hobby.
Posted by W9CW on 2002-06-25

VU SWL's

I enjoy getting SWL cards. It's also interesting that this thread attracted posts from a VU SWL. I received a SWL QSL from a VU SWL in my last buro mailing. Usually I only get them from EU stations.

Posted by AC0X on 2002-06-24

SWL & QSL

Greetings from the Isle of Man (GD/MD-land).
Like most people, I started out SWLing when I was a kid - part of the "home geography lessons". My mom used to say that she had "travelled the world from her armchair" by reading about far-away places, and she encouraged me to "listen to the wireless" for the same purpose. That was over 50 years ago, and I still do today. I got my 10watt HF licence in Jan.2002, and although I am very keen to work DX with it, I obviously get swamped by bigger stations. When I get pi..... (fed up) with this, I return to my (still) favourite part of the radio hobby - SWLing. I have a great collection of QSL cards from ham/cb/commercial stations from around the world. As far as replying to SWLQSL cards, I do so 100% - if big, busy commercial stations take the time to reply to a 'nobody' like me, then I certainly have the time to reply to anyone who makes the effort to send me a card.. Who knows, by doing so, I might just encourage someone to become a ham; or I might just give someone a small bit of pleasure in an otherwise very dull day! My swl-machines are Drake SSR-1, RadioShack DX-394, Kenwood 930S (all for commercial/ham); Yaesu FRG-9600 for air/pmr/FM broadcast; and a Trio 830S/Tono5000 cw/rtty decoder for anything that bleeps rather than talks :-) Long live SWLing. Good DX. Howard Grundey - md3iom/gd7esm/BRS84881 (rsgb swl number) PS - I don't even own a TV!! Is that dedication to the hobby, or what?
Posted by GD7ESM on 2002-06-24

listening first, no?

I think listening to the band is the first thing to do before transmission, right? :-)
Listening to radio broadcast stations is exciting as well as listening to CW pileups. And you can listen to the radio even while you are hospitalized or on a business trip.

I'm listening to the ham bands now though I don't have a transmitter. I will soon return to ham radio transmission, but I won't stop listening to the airwaves anyway.
Posted by JJ1BDX on 2002-06-23

Always an SWL!

I've been licensed for 22 years or so now, but I still do all kinds of SWLing, mainly tropical bands and trans Atlantic MW broadcasts, but even when it comes to the "ham" side of the radio hobby, I listen maybe 99.9% of the time and only transmit 0.1% of the time, I always thought that was the way "good" dxers were supposed to be?, so surely licensed or not, we are all SHORT WAVE LISTENERS?

Rob M0BOL
Posted by M0BOL on 2002-06-21

More than it seems

I am satisfied to receive a SWL report from somewhere where I was not able to make a contact. It gives me a good feeling that I am not a total loser ;-)
After all, there are many restrictions (in my country age of 15 is the minimum required for license, 10 to legally operate from a club stn) which make SWLing a good way to start.

Last but not least, listening without possibility to answer is needed to learn certain important operator skills. For some people (including myself, when I was younger) it was/would be rather difficult to wait and listen once they could swith the TX on.

73 Jindra
Posted by OK1FOU on 2002-06-20

SWL forever!!

The nice thing about SWLing is the absence of competition from other stations, trying to work the rare ones. You can tune around the tropical bands and easily log rare ones you'd be hard-pressed to hear on the ham bands. Lots of variety, neat music, and an opportunity to hear the news from a different perspective. It truly requires skill and top-notch equipment to really pull the weak ones out of the mud. Almost more challenging than ham radio. But I'm crazy about both, though I became an SWL before getting a callsign. Try it! You might enjoy it!!

73,
Ed NI6S
Posted by NI6S on 2002-06-19

Short Wave Listening

I agree with KL7IPV's comments. Shortly before getting my novice license in 1959, I got the SWL call WPE0GR from Popular Electronics. As an avid DX'er with only fifteen more countries to work, I'm listening a lot more and transmitting less. I still enjoy listening to foreign broadcasts as well as the ham bands, and my wake-up alarm is a Sony SW100S programmed to Radio Australia at 9580 KHz.
Posted by NI0C on 2002-06-19

WPE7COH

I still Shortwave listen a lot...with my Drake R8 and Palstar R30C rigs. LOTS of fun...there's still lots to hear and enjoy on shortwave!

John K7FD/WPE7COH
http://www.hamhobby.com
Posted by K7FD on 2002-06-18

tolerate ??

What a poor choice of words for a question. I not only encourage SWLs but will gladly send a QSL if asked. How else could we as hams make them feel like they would want to become one of us if we don't respond graciously to them? When the bands are crummy or I just want a change of pace I listen to the non-ham bands. I even caught a low power station in N. Dakota long ago on a new year's eve because the high power boys shut down early. Don't you think I was as proud of getting their card as I am getting ham cards? You bet I am. I still enjoy it after over fifty years of listening and 36 years of hamming. A SWLer may never become a ham but getting a signal report from them is gratifying just knowing they took the time to listen and let me know I was getting there. Then asking me for my card makes me feel good too. Thinking my card might be on a wall somewhere in some part of the world I will never get to and thinking also that the person who asked for it enjoyed receiving it is the best reward I can think of as a ham. Sound "soapy"? It is what kept me interested until I licensed. I hope I never lose that "soapy" feeling about hamming.
73
Frank
KL7IPV
Posted by KL7IPV on 2002-06-18

SWLing

If anyone should get a QSL from an SWL in another country, please reply.

In some countries an SWLer has to produce QSLs form ham radio stations heard as a requirement to getting a ham ticket. So by sending that response you may actually be elmering a new ham in a DX country without realizing it.

73

Frank AC3P
Posted by AC3P on 2002-06-17

SWL

I enjoy swling much more than dxing. I think there is much more interesting stuff off the ham bands than on it.
Posted by KG5FTK on 2002-06-17

SWL Advantage

In the days of rampant dependency on packetcluster spots to find your next dx contact, it's nice to have some folks who are well practiced and developing their skills in listening for the weak DX signals. Not to mention they'll maybe even get the call right when someone mistypes a spot...
Posted by K8DE on 2002-06-17

swling

i wished i had more time to spend both hamming and swling.
both aspects are fun and interesting. I try to keep an swl log
beside my ham log to track stations and modes.
packet clusters have taken away some of the dx fun. i
try not to watch the cluster, but i keep it on

73
Posted by AF4OD on 2002-06-17

SWL's

I started out as an SWL and graduated to ham radio back in the mid-60's. I still do some SWL'ing when I have the time. There are a lot of fascinating signals in the shortwave spectrum besides radio amateurs' signals. I particularly enjoy tuning in to the numbers stations and obscure commercial shortwave broadcasts.

The CUMBRE-DX SWL e-zine is published by Ulis Fleming, K3LU. See http://www.cumbredx.org.

73, Zack W9SZ
Posted by W9SZ on 2002-06-17

first step

Here in India there is no dearth of SWLs unfortunately no local company is manufacturing comm Rx these enthusiast have to make to do with broadcast Rx.I fondly remember tuning to HAM bands on TRIO 9R59DS
a valuable posession during my school days.Now use an Eddystone EC958 for the purpose but knowing hurdles one has face here try to help all SWLs in all possible ways for me listening has been first towards my ticket.

Posted by VU3WJM on 2002-06-17

first step

Here in India there is no dearth of SWLs unfortunately no local company manufactures comm Rx these enthusiast have to make to do with broadcast Rx and BFO.I fondly remember tuning to HAM bands on TRIO 9R59DS
a valuable posession during my school days.Now use an Eddystone EC958 for the purpose.Having faced the hurdles I try to
help SWLs in all possible ways for me listening has been first step towards my ticket.Same may hold true for them.
Posted by VU3WJM on 2002-06-17

SWL in my blood


I grew up as an SWL. For a few years as a kid, my parents took us overseas to countries where I didn't understand the language and couldn't enjoy TV or local radio. So SWL was my primary source of entertainment in my native language. Even today, I honestly have more interest in listening to SW broadcasters than talking to other hams about my rig and signal reports. It turns out, I can learn more about a country and its people from DX broadcast stations, than by talking to DX hams in a pileup. So yeah, I have a lot of respect for SWLs. I've never received a QSL report from one, but I would send a card if I did.
Posted by KD6JLS on 2002-06-17

SWL's

"Tolerate" was a poor choice of words, I just don't mind getting cards from them at all. Heck, shocking as this may sound, sometimes hams won't turn loose of one of their precious cards! Return a card?...you bet; I answer ALL cards. I've even sent a card back advising that they had copied the call wrong and I was not the station they heard and thanked them for the interest. Although SWL'ing may be an inroad to hamdom, it is a stand alone hobby. If the SWL is not interested in becoming a ham that does not make them a 'lesser' person.
Posted by K0CBA on 2002-06-16

No SWL thoughts.

I don't spend any time thinking about SWL populations, or that many hams were SWLs.

I don't worry about the CB population either, or that many hams came from the CB ranks.

I send QSLs to SWLs when I receive them.
Posted by RobertKoernerExAE7G on 2002-06-16

I enjoy the SWL's reports

I run a 10 meter beacon so I enjoy getting the reports. Some of the cards or reports I have gotten are from non-hams. It really lets me know how well the beacon is being heard throughout the world. I also enjoy showing others the reports or QSL's as the beacon here only use's 1 watt output, kinda gives a new meaning to low power QSO's for me. I say let'em send a card to me, I still enjoy getting them.
73's de Eric...KD4MZM...EL-87rg
10 meter beacon @ 28.277
Posted by KD4MZM on 2002-06-16

late nite DX

What did it for me was a crystal radio kit that I wheedled my Dad into buying me when I was about 8 or 10. I ran about 100 feet of wire throughout the back yard in the trees. I used to sit up at night trying to listen to the faint stations. From my boyhood home in Macon, GA I listened to New Orleans and Cincinnati and Pittsburgh AM stations. I was hooked forever. 45 years later I still tune the sw broadcast bands at night to hear strange and wonderful stations. It's still a thrill. Ham?
Oh, yeah. I got my first novice at 10. I've been KC2TU for 22 years.
Mike, KC2TU/5
Posted by KC2TU on 2002-06-16

SWLing reminded me I wanted to Ham

Hi,

After about 30 years of listening, I was licensed about 3 years ago. Hamming is a blast, lots of tinkering, and tons of folks who really are radio experts. I am an amateur but, there are some very professional hams out there.

Topic suggestion: How many folks are SWLing and hamming because of Radio Shack and the books and radios they carry. They may have some stinkers but WOW have they had helped radio enthusiasts.

73, Mark, KC0FNS
Posted by KC0FNS on 2002-06-16

Pirates.

Dare I say that I go back to SWLing to listen to pirates on occasion?? Hmm..

Either that or some utility junk. I really haven't tried SWLing since I got my 746. I need to do that.
Posted by KG4IVT on 2002-06-15

The "Radio Bug"

I consider SWLs our "brothers"
and dont think of them as "lessor".
I was and still am a SWL myself and belong to the "Southern California Area DXerS"
(SCADS) SWL club. SWLs have caught the radio bug equal to or greater then some Hams I know of. My salute to all SWLs, TV Dxers, FM DXers, Longwave listeners, Medium wave listeners, etc. Support "Monitoring Times" magazine !!!
Ken, WDX9MWL

Posted by WB9YCJ on 2002-06-15

I started out as an SWL in the early 60's. I always loved listening to the ham bands. Today's SWL may just be tomorrow's ham, so it pays to encourage them. I QSL 100% to SWL's with both my cards, regardless of band or mode.

73 & 88 to all of the SWL's out there. GET UR TICKET!!!!!!!
Posted by K3ZE on 2002-06-15

I don't understand the question?

Here we have what seems to me, to be yet another "hidden agenda" survey question!

The multiple-choice answers appear to be more related to a question of how we, as amateurs, feel about responding to SWL's either in meeting them or in receiving QSL's from them; however, the question as written provides no clear correlation between itself and the choice of answers!


With this in mind, I will answer the question and complete my commentary on the poorly-chosen multiples in separate parts:


1) I entered amateur radio almost as directly from my long-time hobby of SWL'ing, as is possible. I was at a ham swap two years ago to this day, perusing the wares for anything SWL I could get my hands on, especially receivers and accessories. I was goaded in a friendly way by a ham acquaintance of mine, into taking part in the VE exams being held that morning.


I do not assume that the population of SWL's is declining worldwide, although the author of the survey question has cited no factual evidence to this effect. As a continuing SWL and an active amateur, I enjoy both activities tremendously. There are more parallels in these pursuits than amateurs may at first believe.


As an SWL, I struggled to get the best antenna system possible, constructed my own station as carefully (or even moreso) as many amateurs have done, spent hundreds of dollars QSL'ing stations, doted on my receivers and accessories, even going through no less than twelve rigs before settling on a really satisfactory machine!


There are many dedicated worldband enthusiasts, even gathering annually at Kulpsville, PA (SWL's very own Dayton, but on a smaller scale). Worldwide, I believe SWL's far outnumber hams.


Amateur radio is obviously very well-known and understood by the SWL community, but it has certain drawbacks from a listening standpoint, when compared to MW-BCB, LW and SW. It's something I understand completely from my own many years of listening and it's a certain "something" not available from ham radio.


2) With regard to the multiple-choice comments, I absolutely appreciate any SWL's QSL card--I have sent them to amateurs in the past, myself! SWL's are to be respected for the dedicated radio hobbyists they are. Compared to many hams I've encountered, an SWL often knows as much or even more about things like propagation, gray-line, seasonal rises and falls, the solar cycle, proper DXing techniques, etc.

I personally have met an an active amateur, involved in ARES and community service work, who had never tuned an HF-band signal in his entire life! At least, when meeting a known SWL, I can reasonably assume he/she knows his/her way around a receiver!


I stress this point, because two of the multiples are worded in such a way that implies that we hams may be "bothered" or inconvenienced to "tolerate" SWLs; one is even worded as if SWL's aren't "interested" in radiocommunications! Gimme a break!


If we as amateurs condescend to SWL's instead of respecting them not only for their "interest", but for their often-considerable radio skills, we're truly a doomed and ignorant lot!


Danny
N8YV
25 yrs + in radio!
Posted by N8YV on 2002-06-15

TV SWLing

I was a type of a SWL before becoming a ham-I was into broadcast TV dxing. This taught me alot about VHF/UHF propogation which I have ultimately used in operating above 50 MHZ. It also taught me alot about the different cities in the midwestern USA. Also did a little AM radio DXing. Don't really listen to Short wave bands today-except for the ham bands of course. Still facinated by TV dxing, although I haven't done much lately, with all the TVs in the house on cable. Need to get a broadcast TV set up somewhere again. It is amazing the amount of tropo you experience on UHF tv most summer mornings-and then run to the 432 rig, and nothing!


Posted by NE0P on 2002-06-15

SWL and QSL

I too started out as an HF SWL in the mid 50s, with a Hallicrafters S38E, stepped up to a NC183D with sideband slicer, and later used a HQ180 for both hamming and SWLing. We need to encourage SWLs whenever possible, but not by providing QSL cards when the listener doesnt provide proof of hearing us. Simply getting a card, saying he heard me talk to so and so, at xx freq and yy time, is NOT proof he heard me. He needs to tell me a bit more, like some of the items I said during the QSO- RS report. weather, qth, etc. This may seem hard A.., but I dont send QSLs to hams unless they give me the proper info, and they are in my logs, and I dont expect them to do so either. We need to ensure we help our local SWLs with both operating advice, and hardware help such as how to tune, build antennas, propogation advice, etc. I have gotten dozens out Scouts into ham radio, via SWLing, and the Radio Merit Badge, and dozens more by simply demostrating Ham Radio at Troop meeting, Camporees, and other activities.
If you get a poor QSL, send it back, with a good explanation of why and what they should include on the report. Dont ignore them.
Posted by N7DC on 2002-06-15

Road to Ham Radio

I started out as a BCB DXer, moved up to SWL, then into Amateur Radio. Often return to my roots by SWLing or BDC DXing while I'm doing paper work in the shack.

I sure miss the STRONG SW signals from BBC.
Posted by K3YD on 2002-06-14

ooPs!

I meant BCB DXing.
Posted by K3YD on 2002-06-14

BCB/SWL'ing

BCB DX'ing and SWL'ing were very traditional entry points into amateur radio in the '50's and '60's, and for myself as well. I still engage in it on a random and casual basis to this day.
Posted by WA4DOU on 2002-06-14

SWLing

Considering the changes in ham radio, with the frequency cops, bad QRM, and a lot of people who do nothing more than blather about their heath, and play with the audio on
a radio; I HAVE returned to the SWL side of the hobby. Having been an BCB and SWL since the early 60's, there are still a lot of good things to hear. Being a hard core DXer at heart, both ham and SWL; one of the greatest satisfactions in this hobby is getting another QSL from an another 'new one' - be it a ham, or a broadcaster. Many of the better DXers on the ham bands got started as a SWL. We should do all we can to preserve this fine hobby.
Posted by W4MGY on 2002-06-14

SWLing

Even now, after eleven years as a ham, I still enjoy SWL. I have a Yaesu FRG100B in my bedroom on a 70 foot dipole...it does the job. I like going to sleep listening to the foreign broadcasts, or spinning the dial on a late weekend night. It's still a load of fun, and beats the hell out of listening to people exchanging reports on their visits to the MD!
Posted by K2KOH on 2002-06-14

The joys of UTEs/SWL

I still from time to time fire up the Drake R-8 and go "prowling in the mud" for whatever is out there. My favorites include USAF STRATCOMM and Coast Guard intercepts.

I guess the neatest thing was when I got a QSL from an SWL in England from a contact made during last year's RTTY QSO party. There ARE people out there listening to us!

Another neat thing is when you can ID BC stations by their interval signals! Like another poster, I do miss the BBC though....
Posted by KE4MOB on 2002-06-14

SWLing: Alive & Kicking

The Knight Kit Ocean Hopper and the 2000 ohm headset introduced me to SWLing(1958) and was my passport to a ham ticket(1969). I even had one of the Popular Electronics SWL "tickets".

Digetal readouts, sensitive and selective receivers, and a ton of listening aids have taken a lot of the guess work out of SWLing.
Nonetheless, it is still exciting to hear stations from around the world; especially, the lower power ones.

SWLers are often technical wizards that put many hams to shame. I still enjoy answering SWLers and try to encourage them to expand their enjoyment of the shortwave hobby.

The obituary for SW has been revised so many times it simply proves the staying power of the hobby.

I too lament the BBC cutbacks. (The nightly diatribe on Radio Moscow will never be forgotten.)

SWLing Lives!!!!


Posted by KE5GK on 2002-06-14

Encourage them

I started as an SWL, in the most modest way imaginable: Using a 5-tube bedside table radio and loopstick antenna.

It was great fun and I became licensed as a Novice about a year or so after beginning my SWL'ing. I do believe this is the perfect path to ham radio, and one that encourages experimentation and propagation theory study. After SWL'ing for a year, I didn't need to learn the answers to most of the Novice exam questions, I already had them...the result of research relating to SWL'ing!

I don't bother anymore, since CNN et al. bring me "the world" in a more complete way than BCB DX'ing does. But the memories are terrific.

WB2WIK/6


Posted by WB2WIK on 2002-06-14

SWL

I like many started way back in the late 50's with a tube SW
radio and progressed from there.The 1958 solar cycle HF
propagation was something else :)

One wonders just how many SWL's are out there.How does
one estimate their numbers ?
World events often cause a surge in scanner and SW Radio
sales.

I still enjoy BCB.The BBC relays from Asia and Africa boom
in here along with Radio DW,Radio Nederland and many
others.

I must disagree with WB2WIK re CNN.CNN put's out IT'S
OWN view and perspective of the World ( just like ANY other
foreign broadcast entity :) ).

73 and Aloha !

KH6/G3SEA




Posted by G3SEA on 2002-06-14

SWLing

Hi all,

I didn't start through SWLing; I started for digital and experimentation purposes. I became more interested after listening to 2 meter repeaters. I own a shortwave radio; but all I ever use it for is synchronizing my clocks to WWV! :-)

73
kb9wwl
Posted by KB9WWL on 2002-06-14

I began as a SWL!

Very good question!I started with a simple Montgomery Ward Multi-band receiver and my six transistor AM pocket radio. Both provided many hours of listening to long distance AM stations and Shortwave broadcast stations as BBC, VOA, Radio Canada Intl, Radio Moscow(in its hey day), Radio Sweden, Radio Prague and many other stations. Later I upgraded to a surplus R-174 receiver after reading about the review in an issue of CQ.
About ten years ago I finally purchased a used ICOM R71A and had the 1.8Khz filter installed. A true Utility Listeners Dream receiver. Presently upgrading to Transworld and SGC for additional receiving of Utility Stations.
I have to agree with another writer that sales of shortwave receivers follows international events. That is a good thing demonstrating that many people just can not get enough reliable news(beyond state side broadcasts of TV and domestic radio).
The hams I have met who grew from the SWL background tend to have the most knowledge about radio communications.
Tend not to hang out on two meter CB repeaters but are true Listener Junkies and listen full spectrum(from VLF to Satellites and beyond). I begin every morning listening to Radio Australia, Voice of America and the Beeb(BBC). Along with National Public Radio in the car.
I think of myself as a Shortwave Listener with a Ham License. And very proud of it!
Posted by WD8MGO on 2002-06-14