WEBSDRSWL: The history of radio receiver manufacturer brands

WEBSDRSWL: The history of radio receiver manufacturer brands: BARLOW WALDEY https://icomjapan.blogspot.com/search/label/BARLOW%20WALDEY https://icomjapan.blogspot.com/2023/06/history-of-cadillac-radios-...

SWL contest project for 2027

I'm already thinking about the 2027 SWL contest! This year, the focus will be on listening to amateur radio bands from 10 to 160 meters using SSB.

There will be a winter segment in January and February 2027 covering the 40, 80, and 160-meter bands, as conditions on these bands are better in winter. Listening on the 160 meter will receive more points. I will explain this later.

The summer segment will cover the 10, 15, and 20-meter bands in SSB during July and August 2027. The goal, of course, will be to hear as many DXCC entities as possible. Listening on the 10 meter (28 MHz) will give more points. I will explain this later.

You can choose to participate in just one contest or in both the winter and summer events. For the summer contest, IOTA (Islands on the Air) listed islands will be accepted in the log, though this is optional. Consequently, there will be three awards: one for the winter contest, one for the summer contest, and one for the summer contest that also includes IOTA island groups.

The rules for the winter contest will be published in November 2026, and those for the summer contest in May 2027. 

The aim is simply to enjoy listening for DXCC entities and IOTA islands. If you have no prior experience with amateur radio listening, everything will be explained to you.

Beginners how to easily listen to radio amateurs bands ?

https://chinaradiosswl.blogspot.com/2026/04/beginners-how-to-easily-listen-to-radio.html

There are fewer and fewer AM radio stations to listen to on shortwave these days. However, on the HF bands using Single Sideband (SSB), there are 340 DXCC entities and 1,200 IOTA-listed island groups to discover! You can also receive some beautiful QSL cards. 

Even if you don't speak English, you only need to learn a few very short phrases. Amateur radio operators often keep their QSOs (contacts) very brief in order to reach as many stations as possible. 

Back in the 90s, after listening to AM broadcast stations (BCL), I started listening to amateur radio bands and IOTA stations myself. I have confirmed 250 DXCC entities and 330 IOTA islands via paper QSL cards.

There you have it—I hope these contests interest you. 73 from Frank (SWL F14368), organizer of the SWL CONTESTs since 2023.

This contest will be open exclusively to SWLs. However, a licensed radio amateur may participate as an SWL.

I was thinking of organizing an IOTA contest in 2026 but it was cancelled

IOTA Island Group Listings

https://chinaradiosswl.blogspot.com/2025/05/iota-island-group-listings.html

VK9XY DXpedition to Christmas Island in November 2026

 … coming soon: the VK9XY DXpedition to Christmas Island, led by young operators …

From November 16 to December 4, the VK9XY DXpedition—themed "The Next Generation Takes the Helm"—is taking place,

organized by the Pacific Islands DXpedition Group (PIDXG) and the "Youth on the Air" (YOTA) program.

A statement from the team reads: "Throughout our recent DXpeditions, the role of young operators has steadily grown;

for the first time, the veterans are acting solely as a support crew, while the team on the island consists

entirely of eight operators under the age of 25, led by team leader Max N4ML."

Seasoned DXers Glenn W0GJ and Gregg W6IZT are joining the team as on-site advisors

and mentors. Confirmed members also include Connor W4IPC, Tyler NT1S, Lukas LY7J,

and Urgent 7Q6UJ. Gregg W6IZT notes, "My role is not to get in the way; these young operators have earned the right

to take the helm. Glenn and I are here to guide the team through the planning process,

not to direct operations."

The setup includes four on-site stations, plus two remote stations and one station operating via QO-100. The team will

also participate in the CQWW CW contest. The Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) is funding the two

remote stations (NexGenRiB2); thanks to a Starlink connection, these will allow 30 to 40 additional

young operators around the world to take control (using CW keys and microphones) of the

VK9XY station.

Whether on the island or across the globe, this activation is led by youth for youth; it perfectly

embodies the organizers' mission: "to enable the next generation of amateur radio operators to participate in DXpeditions." QSL via MØOXO (Charles Wilmott). See the website:

vk9xy2026.com.

Source F5PSI Gaby

Example of QSL card

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Island

Propagation was good for the island on the air contest 2026

I was happy to listen to 68 island groups from all the continents during the IOTA contest. I was very active in listening to IOTA bands in the 90s to get my IOTA award 300. At this time there is no cluster, computer, or QRM. I had a Kenwood R5000 receiver and a 20-meter-long wire at 25 meters above the ground in my home. In my parents' house, the receiver was an Icom ICR 70 with a CB antenna, a 5/8 wave, on the roof of a Parisian's house at 15 meters above the ground. This Antron 99 was good for 10 to 20 meters. I think IOTA was more popular in the 90s; I don't listen to many French islands during the 2026 IOTA contest. We have a lot of IOTA groups (22). Also, we have a lot of French DXCC entities include Antactica and IOTA all over the world.

This is the IOTA groups i listen to during the weekend on 10, 15, 20, and 40 meter.

Maybe in 2027 i will organize a SWL contest during the summer to listen DXCC entities and IOTA groups

Good DX and 73

My SWL DX EXPEDITION on IOTA OC-042

China radios broadcast on 1389 frequencies in many...

ICOMJAPAN: China radios broadcast on 1389 frequencies in many...: China radios broadcast on 1389 frequencies in many languages all over the world !!!  From 45 transmitters sites and more of 60 languages I j...

ICOMJAPAN: Shortwave radio stations are in decline in 2026 ?

ICOMJAPAN: Shortwave radio stations are in decline in 2026 ?:   Shortwave Bulletin # 2110 Editor:Thomas Nilsson I started to listen to SW radio stations in 1981 and it was wonderful: lots of countries, ...

Propagation on SW by NOAA

 

Revue RADIOAMATEURS FRANCE Juillet Aout 2026 en PDF

 https://www.radioamateurs-france.fr/wp-content/uploads/n4-juillet-aout-2026-bis.pdf

Merci à cette revue de parler du SWL contest 2026

WEBSDRSWL: French pirate radio stations on SW in the past

WEBSDRSWL: French pirate radio stations on SW in the past:   From the late 1970s onwards, numerous pirate radio stations, commonly known as free radio stations, appeared on the French FM band.   Defy...

ICOMJAPAN: When i was a DJ on Radio ELVIRA Medium wave Nether...

ICOMJAPAN: When i was a DJ on Radio ELVIRA Medium wave Nether...:   DJ on LPAM radio in The Netherlands. Radio Elvira 1485 kHz https://audio.com/franck-fzeroduw

https://audio.com/franck-fzeroduw/audio/frankie66666

ICOMJAPAN: RIP Radio Wave Internationale 1983-2026 and Philip...

ICOMJAPAN: RIP Radio Wave Internationale 1983-2026 and Philip...:   RWI was one of the best french pirate radio station

Thank you to the The SWLing post

 

https://swling.com/blog/

The History of China's Amateur Radio

ICOMJAPAN: The History of China's Amateur Radio:  https://www.ailunce.com/blog/Tag/Amateur%20Radio%20Competition

LAZADA Singapore radio receivers

WEBSDRSWL: LAZADA Singapore radio receivers:   https://www.lazada.sg/tag/radio-portable/?_keyori=ss&catalog_redirect_tag=true&clickTrackInfo=matchType--1__srcQuery--radio%20port...

New TECSUN PL 520 radio receiver AM FM SSB on LW MW and SW

 Look on Anon-CO

https://www.anon-co.com/

For Europe and UK

https://www.anon-co-eu.com/

https://www.anon-co.com/product/tecsun-pl520-radio-usa   $83.99 only

https://radiojayallen.com/tecsun-pl-520-multiband-radio/

Merci a radioamateurs-france RAF en PDF

 

https://www.radioamateurs-france.fr/wp-content/uploads/n3-MAI-JUIN-2026.pdf

https://www.radioamateurs-france.fr/wp-content/uploads/n3-MAI-JUIN-2026.pdf