Wow, some folk are setting high goals for SWL reports. As a QRP'er with limited antennas mostly working CW and only one of a vast number of English (G) stations, a very common country, I'd love to get some SWL reports! As for requiring the callsign of both stations, that would be difficult if calling CQ. If I ever got any SWL reports, personally I'd be happy to confirm unless there's something obviously wrong. There's always going to be an element of trust in this and there will always be a few who abuse it, so I'm not going to penalise the good guys.

Actually, I did get a nice report via email from an Italian amateur last week. When I asked why he didn't call me, he replied that his CW speed wasn't up to it as yet (I told him he should call at whatever speed he was comfortable with!). What a nice guy; I'm going to send him a QSL card when I get my new ones back from the printers.

Alan, good luck with getting your licence!

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G3ZOD Graham Smith

I got a great SWL report just recently... I'd been calling CQ for some time and getting no response on a mostly quiet band anyway. I refreshed my in-box and a DX SWL had reported in. That let me know that I was at least radiating :)

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VE3OIJ P. Darin Cowan

As a relatively new ham operator,I appreciate all SWL reports I receive,and I always reply to them aswell.
In a way they are helping me by letting me know how far my 10w licence is getting me.
So if any SWL's here me on PSK31 then please send me the reports.

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M6CMG Mick Goodhand

Hello all again.
The issue of whether or not to reply to a SWL , is entirely up to you.
I have just received my eDX award plaque and also this week received my IRTS 80m Counties Contest award from the IRTS President. My final score was 14500 points which earned me 1st place in the SWL section of the contest.
I have on a number of occasions sent QSL`s to stations who were calling CQ on a band and getting no reply so they knew that they were Q5 and R 9++.
I have had conversations with swl`s here in Ireland and they all say the same thing and i quote

"IT SEEMS THAT SWL REPORTS NO MATTER HOW GOOD OR BAD ARE GENERALLY NOT RECOGNISED BY AMATEURS , AND THAT SOME AND I STRESS THAT SOME WOULD NOT GIVE A SWL THE TIME OF DAY LET ALONE A QSL. " END QUOTE.

The majority of SWL`s are decent people who are interested in radio and who will in the future become amateur operators.
When I send a QSL I specify the QRZ of the station heard , the QRZ of the station in QSO with him/her , the band, the mode, r/s date and time. I also add that i am swl only.

So in future when you get a SWL report just stand back and think, Is he/she trying to get that award and are you the last DXCC that he/she needs.
Is he/she studying for their licence .

I can understand the TRUST issue involved (I can hear you but you can`t hear me)
99% of SWL`s don`t spot on clusters they scan the bands and hunt , may be for hours , weeks even months to get that DXCC.

As I said before the final courtesy of a QSO is a QSL, but because SWL`s cant talk back , please spare a thought for them.
Regards and good DX to all.
73`s

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EI1571 Alan Buckley