Short Wave Listener
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
A sister hobby to amateur radio where the operator only uses a receiver to monitor HF transmissions. Also commonly known by the abbreviation SWL.
Medium quality shortwave units tend to be relatively inexpensive and easily accessible. With good radio propagation listening to remote countries' programs can be quite entertaining.
The Internet caused many broadcasters to stop their HF transmissions and begin broadcasting over the net. BBC World in USA has stopped transmission, generating many protests. Most of the prominent broadcasters are scaling back their shortwave transmissions or completely terminating them, but especially in Africa shortwave is still very common and active. Many expatriates all around the world listen to shortwave transmissions to keep in touch, even after the advent of Internet-based news and publications.
Shortwave listeners also listen to ham radio operators and many Hams will reply QSL cards from SWLs. Not all but some commercial radios also reply to QSL cards.fr:Short Wave Listener
