Old SWL QSL cards
Many of you probably started out as a shortwave listener. I started listening to international broadcasts with an old Deforest-Crosley radio in one of those big old wooden cabinets. Probably with my ear to the speaker I listened to the overseas service of the BBC. I have one of its QSL cards.
I graduated to a Hallicrafters receiver (can’t remember which model) which I purchased for $60 in probably 1963. With a long wire antenna strung between two telephone poles in my parent’s backyard I was able to listen to some really interesting broadcasters. Below I show three of them: Czechoslovakia, Ghana, and the Congo. I received the Czech QSL card five years before they were invaded by the Warsaw Pact.
I had a big collection of those as well from back in the early 70’s. Unfortunately I didn’t hold on to any of them. I wish I had now.
They’re special. Collected as a kid. Simpler times.
Glenn – I have a Deforest-Crosley radio from the 1930s if you want to borrow it for SWLing. It uses three O1A tubes. ha!
73
Alan
VE7UBA
Thanks for the generous offer, Alan. However, SWL isn’t as much fun these days. More fun trying log QRP FT8 contacts 13K away in the southern hemisphere.