SWL – The Shortwave Radio Listener

Short wave listener (SWL) — listening in on radio contacts, confirming them via QSL cards, becoming an active member of the USKA with an HE9 call sign.

Even today, being a short wave listener remains a great way to get started in the world of amateur radio. Among radio amateurs, this is known as SWL — short for ‘short wave listener (SWL).

A shortwave radio listener monitors radio contacts made by radio amateurs on shortwave (SW) and ultra-shortwave (VHF) in various modes — such as voice in FM and SSB, telegraphy (CW) or digital modes like RTTY and BPSK.

The radio listener confirms the contacts they have heard with a QSL card, similar in design to that of a radio amateur. Radio amateurs confirm SWLs’ hearing reports with their own QSL card. The USKA handles the exchange, provided the sender is a member. Radio listeners are active members of the USKA with the same rights and obligations as members holding a transmitting licence.

Radio listeners have a call sign — a sequence of letters and numbers that is unique worldwide. Radio listener call signs in Switzerland begin with ‘HE9’, followed by three freely chosen letters. The call sign is allocated by the USKA and is used for addressing QSL cards and for identification purposes for diplomas. No examination is required.

Get started straight away — WebSDR in your browser

Using your computer, you have free worldwide access to radio receivers: software-controlled shortwave receivers accessible via the internet. A home computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone is all you need — no licence, no installation required. Multiple users can listen to different frequencies at the same time.

A current list of portals can be found at websdr.org. Select a band, a frequency and a mode — and you’ll be listening to contacts from all over the world in no time. Enter your name followed by ‘SWL’ as your username (e.g. ‘David SWL’).

You can look up the call signs of stations you hear on qrz.com to see who they belong to. Many radio amateurs also use WebSDR to check propagation conditions or to listen to their own signals remotely.

Applying for an HE9 call sign

An HE9xxx call sign is applied for via the USKA membership application form. The three letters of the suffix can be chosen on the application form itself. An HE9 call sign is only allocated in conjunction with USKA membership — this entitles the holder to professional services (QSL service, HBradio, Antenna Commission). The call sign expires upon termination of membership.

More on USKA membership: Why become a member?

Abbreviations

  • SWL – short wave listener (SWL)
  • FM – Frequency Modulation
  • SSB – Single Side Band
  • CW – Continuous Wave (Morse code)
  • RTTY – Radio Teletype
  • QSL card – Personal confirmation card showing the date, time, frequency and mode of the contact