WHY ???
To be an amateur radio operator, you need to have an authorization from your government.
You need to pass an exam, which is very have in many countries of the world to work DX on SW HAM bands (except in belgium, UK, USA )
You need expensive equipment and large antennas; in many poor countries, amateur radio is impossible because salaries are very low.
You need a room for your HAM radio equipment and land for your big antennas. Computers and screens.
In some places you can't have big antennas for amateur radio.
Lightning can strike your antenna and start a fire in your radio shack.
If you use phone mode (to talk in SSB) you can't do it if your family is near you, especially at night.
Listen with headphones
You need to pay taxes to your government every year.
Send QSL cards can be very expensive.
For an SWL, which stands for shortwave listener, a radio listener who specifically tunes into shortwave radio frequencies:
No need to pass an exam (except in rare countries it's ok to listen to the radio stations in AM mode on MW and Shortwave; it's also ok to listen to amateur radio in different modes)
Equipment is not expensive; with even a $10 radio receiver, you can listen to MW and SW.
If you like to listen to SSB HAM radio operators, you need around 90 US dollars to buy a radio receiver.
If you have more money you can have a good radio receiver and a long wire antenna to catch DX stations in AM or SSB, CW etc. You can make your antenna for a cheap price.
You can listen anywhere in your home with headphones if you use a small portable radio. You can listen also outside, in a park, etc.
If you have a big and expensive radio receiver, you must have a small place to be quiet with no noise from family. Also use headphones.
Be careful also with lightning if your antenna is out of your home.
They are cheap loop antennas that can be used indoors or outdoors.
If you listen to a radio station, you can send a reception report to receive an electronic QSL card.
You don't need to pay taxes to the government just to listen.
If you have a computer and internet connection, you can listen to AM radio stations or amateur radio operators. This is KIWI or WEB SDR. It's FREE!!!
Some programs look like amateur radio but are open to everybody, even if you are not an amateur radio operator with a call sign, such as online platforms that allow users to stream live radio broadcasts or participate in discussions without needing a license. You need a computer, internet, and a microphone like a headset to talk with people all over the world via the internet and VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), which allows for voice communication over the internet. Look HamSphere on GOOGLE
Some people prefer to be SWL (shortwave listeners) even if they are intelligent enough to pass the exam, as they enjoy the experience of listening to radio broadcasts from around the world without the need for complex equipment or licenses.
So I think SWL is a wonderful hobby.
Yes, you can also try to be an amateur radio operator! Why not !
73 de Frank SWL F14368 also FØDUW radioactive since 1981
You can find a lot of information for SWL on my 5 blogs
https://chinaradiosswl.blogspot.com/
https://icomjapan.blogspot.com/
https://webkiwisdrswl.blogspot.com/
https://swlradiosonsw.blogspot.com/
https://mwlistener.blogspot.com/
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