Let's hear

[VE3LXL]

Quote[/b] (N2RJ @ Oct. 25 2007,10:28)]Sunday I ran a pileup or Europeans. When I was done, my email box had about 3 or 4 SWL reports in it.

When I was a kid I collected QSL cards from mediumwave and shortwave broadcast stations. I remember how much I looked forward to coming home from school because of the chances that there'd be mail for me from some radio station. Now that I'm a ham, it's amateur QSLs I get. Anyway, last week I got my first reception report from an SWL who heard me in the Pennsylvania QSO Party. It was really nice being on the other end of the SWL QSL business. The report was actually on eQSL but I was happy enough with the report that I mailed the guy a paper card too.

[K8JD]

I started my radio career as a Teen-aged SWL/BCL. When I started listening to hams I decided to start studying for a license. 46 years later I still do a little SWLing ...Too bad the marine signals are all digi now, I liked listening to the cw and findiing out where the old ones were located...now I have a much better reciever in my TS440s and even can listen to the beacons below 500 kHz !

[KL7AJ]

Thanks, everyone. Keep all your best stories coming in...I'm going to include them in the Opus chapter, "From DC to Daylight."

eric

[K3VR]

I get cards from SWL's once in a while. I even got a letter with a marriage proposal from a girl in Poland in the early 80's. I think I have it in a shoebox someplace. Short Wave was more interesting during the cold war. Many exciting exchanges of propaganda and saber rattling. Now it's mostly colloidal silver, bowel health, and Jesus loves you so send me $10.

[KC7MRQ]

Quote[/b] (kl7aj @ Oct. 15 2007,07:40)]

Quote[/b] (wb6mmj @ Oct. 15 2007,14:30)]I got upset with the dropping of the code requirement and decided to build a key`er paddle so I can get back on CW.

Hey, that's really cool. I need some more shots like this for Chapter Four of the Opus....."That Dadburned Code"

eric

More pics for you...

[KC2PBJ]

My first electronics kit was the rocket ship crystal radio sold by Lafayette. Used to lay in bed, ground to the radiator, and alligator clipped to the storm window. Listened to Gene Sheppard on the old WOR 710 in NYC. Accidently discovered winter evening medium band DX and I was hooked at the age of 14. A used Hallicrafters S38B followed shortly thereafter.

[K7MH]

Hey WB6MMJ!
If that is made of Plexiglas and it was made by Vibroplex.
It would be a Plexiplex!
If it is made of lexan, it could be a Lexaplex!
If it was made in Texas it could be a Texalexaplex!
If it was delivered in a taxi to the Texas-Mexico border....
Say THAT one 5 times fast!
Nice work!

[W4INF]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XbLdBkqV31o

Heres a video of MY HB Iambic key, ran via software keyer. I wanted to get on CW with an Iambic key really really bad and had no money for it at the time, so I built one, like you guys... had fun and learned a lot too...

Andrew

[VE7NOT]

I do some swling still nowadays doing air band on 5MHz alot and some 90, 49 and 31m listening (I like Radio Netherlands) Also maritime and commercial on 4 and 5 MHz is cool. As you can see I mostly listen at night.

Since I have a high noise level I am limited. but have been proudly given the call (unofficially) of VE7009 for and SWL callsign from Steve (he gives out canadian and US (i think) swl callsigns since they are not offical here)

What amazes me is, as hams, we have the good beams, wires, verticals for swl or scanner listening and alot just don't care what happens outside the ham bands....

We often have the best antennas yet are not SWLing (or scanning)

I think every ham should shut off the TX from their rig and vow a month of non TX.. After that they will see that swling and scanning as almost as challenging as hamming.

[N4CYA]

I first got interested in Amateur Radio back when I was 21 year's of age and never really had the time to study & get ready for for it. About two year's I bought the Technician License Book study hard and 6 months ago I went to the local testing place took the test and here I am licensed!

My first ham radio was a Icom V-8000 single band radio with a Comet 2/440 Dual Band Antenna then couple months past I had a offer from a new guy that is wanting to get into ham radio so I sold him the radio and bought myself a Kenwood Tm-V708a dual band radio and enjoyed having that radio. Now I'm working on Icom Ic-ID800 Mobile Radio.

I enjoy the new guys & girls that are wanting to get into this hobby and show them the ropes of what Ham Radio is and give them my best advice, give examples of what radio does what and how and whatever else they would like to know