How to get started as a BCL or SWL

How to get started as a BCL or SWL

Over the past four years, I have written numerous articles explaining what anyone interested in radio communications—such as medium-wave or shortwave stations, or listening to amateur radio—needs to know. I hope the links to these articles will help you get started with this fantastic hobby.

Equipment needed for listening:

Radio receivers:

https://chinaradiosswl.blogspot.com/2025/03/qodosen-radios-have-new-website-for-dx.html?spref=bl

https://icomjapan.blogspot.com/2026/08/where-to-order-your-next-radio-receiver.html?spref=bl

https://icomjapan.blogspot.com/2026/09/how-to-choose-right-radio-receiver.html

Antennas:

https://icomjapan.blogspot.com/2023/07/how-to-make-very-serious-antenna-for.html

https://icomjapan.blogspot.com/2023/06/antennas-for-listening-to-medium-wave.html

https://chinaradiosswl.blogspot.com/2023/06/loop-shortwave-antennas-for-swl-not-to.html

https://chinaradiosswl.blogspot.com/2023/05/a-super-cheap-super-easy-very-effective.html

https://chinaradiosswl.blogspot.com/2024/07/antenna-for-listeners-of-mw-and-sw.html

Beginners to listen to amateur radio bands on SW

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

https://chinaradiosswl.blogspot.com/2025/04/how-to-easily-listen-to-radio-amateurs.html

https://chinaradiosswl.blogspot.com/2026/09/us-amateur-radio-bands-160-meter-to-10.html

https://webkiwisdrswl.blogspot.com/2025/04/propagation-for-amateur-radio-operators.html

https://chinaradiosswl.blogspot.com/2026/02/iota-pota-sota-gma-cota-wwf-fauna-jota.html

Beginners to listen to AM radio stations on MW and SW

https://chinaradiosswl.blogspot.com/2026/04/bc-a26-comprehensive-shortwave.html

https://webkiwisdrswl.blogspot.com/2026/08/small-shortwave-stations-in-europe-mw-sw.html?spref=bl

https://webkiwisdrswl.blogspot.com/2023/05/shortwave-listeners-clubs-in-world.html

https://webkiwisdrswl.blogspot.com/

https://webkiwisdrswl.blogspot.com/2023/12/free-frequencies-guides-for-listeners.html

Listen with a computer to the world for FREE

https://icomjapan.blogspot.com/2023/12/listen-world-for-free-on-your-computer.html

How to participate in a BCL or SWL contest?

https://chinaradiosswl.blogspot.com/2025/04/how-to-easily-participate-in-ssb-swl.html

Free books in PDF or magazines for SWL or BCL

https://icomjapan.blogspot.com/2023/05/free-in-pdf-ham-radio-handbook-by-w6pnf.html

https://icomjapan.blogspot.com/2023/08/all-popular-communications-and.html

You can find much information for SWL and BCL on my three blogs:

For SWL (shortwave listeners) of amateur radio bands:

https://chinaradiosswl.blogspot.com/

For broadcasting listeners (BCL) AM radio stations on MW and SW:

https://webkiwisdrswl.blogspot.com/

For radio equipment, history of famous radio receiver brands, etc :

https://icomjapan.blogspot.com/

I hope these articles will help you to start to be listeners of broadcasting radio stations or amateur radio bands.

Listening to AM radio stations is simpler for a beginner, but listening to amateur radio operators is an incredible hobby. Many DXCC entities, IOTA, etc

Good DX and 73 de Frank SWL F-14368 also FØDUW near Paris France, listener since 1980

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