ISWL

Back in the 1960s I first joined the International Short Wave League. 

It produces a magazine called "Monitor" which is probably unique in that it supports both amateur radio (RX and TX) and broadcast band listeners. 

They are currently offering a generous package to attract old members back.

See https://www.iswl.org.uk/ .

ISWL

Way back in the 1960s, and again much later, I was a member of the International Short Wave League (ISWL). In the 1960s it was quite a large international organisation producing a monthly magazine called "Monitor".  At that time, years before I was a licenced amateur, it had a tapesponding section and I exchanged tapes with an SWL in N.W. USA near Seattle. This continued for several years. I do not know what happened to him.

I think the ISWL still exists (just) but when I left for the second time many years ago it was down to a few hundred members. The ISWL was unique in that it catered for broadcast listeners as well as amateurs.

If it still exists, I would expect it has very few members left. If anyone knows how it is today, please let me now. I left for the second time as it ceased to meet my needs. The website still exists, but it looks the same as it did many years ago.

See http://www.iswl.org.uk/

ISWL

Twice I was a member of the International Short Wave League. Once in the 1960s and I rejoined many years later. I left again after several years as it no longer seemed to reflect my interests.

Back in the 1960s it was quite strong. In later years, it was much weaker and I had the feeling it was dying out. I see it is still around today. When I eventually left, having contributed many articles for the club journal "Monitor", not even an email to say, "sorry you are leaving". I guess this would have been about 2011, although I cannot remember.

If anyone knows how many members of the ISWL there are today, I'd love to know. It would not surprise me if there are less than 100 members left. When I left for the second time, I seem to recall there were about 300 members.

ISWL?

When I was first interested in amateur radio and shortwave listening the International Shortwave League (ISWL) was a strong and important organisation. I left at the end of the 1960s when I was a poor student but re-joined years later. I wrote quite a few articles for their monthly journal "Monitor" and submitted reports most months.  Some years ago I left again as it was no longer for me.

At the end, when I left, I think there was just a core membership of a few hundred. When I left, I heard nothing - no sadness I was leaving, no thanks for being an active member - nothing. This surprised me.

I wonder how the ISWL is today? Unless they have managed to attract and keep a lot of new, younger, members I suspect this is now, mainly, an OAP club of dying old men. This would be sad as it was once vibrant and very international.

ISWL Callsigns

Southgate News has details of ISWL callsigns in December. Anyone know how many members ISWL has now? I left a few years ago.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2016/november/iswl_callsigns_for_december.htm#.WD8M24XXL4g

ISWL (International Short Wave League)

Back in the 1960s, when the ISWL was thriving, I joined. Subsequently I left and rejoined some years ago. After a few years, I left again. When I left there were about 200 members only. I have no idea of membership numbers now, but I''d be surprised if it was more than 150 and probably far fewer?

Sadly, ISWL was no longer "for me". When I  left a few years ago not one email was received saying they were sorry I was going. I was surprised. Every month I had contributed a log, as well as several articles.

My feeling is this is now a very small group that is on the way out. Back in the 1950s and 1960s it was a very strong, international group. No longer do I feel this is true, sadly.

If you are considering joining, then my recommendation is join GQRP Club instead. I have never been disappointed.

See http://www.iswl.org.uk/ .

ISWL

For many years back in the 1960s I was an ISWL member. Years later I rejoined for a few years but left way before my stroke. I was saddened that no-one contacted me to persuade me to stay.  Although a friendly bunch, it was no longer for me.

At one time the ISWL had members from all over the world but when I left it was a shadow of its old self with not many members. I contributed to their magazine Monitor most months, but it had passed its "sell-by date". I am not sure how many members it now has but I'd be surprised if the number was much over 150.

See http://www.iswl.org.uk/ .

This is a warning to us all. As radio amateurs (on average) get older we can expect several magazines to go. 20 years from now we might lose pages (or worse) in SPRAT, QST, and RadCom amongst others. Some well known advertisers/dealers may go out of business, there will be less revenue from adverts and a dwindling market for new products. I have said this before, but I fear for the future of our hobby unless we can attract and keep a younger generation.

ISWL

Back in the 1960s, when in its heyday, I was a keen member of the International Shortwave League (ISWL). In those days its membership was measured in thousands from all over the world.

A few years ago I rejoined and enjoyed the monthly magazine called Monitor. I contributed a few articles too. Sadly, membership has been declining steadily and now, I believe, the membership numbers fewer than 300 people. The club keeps going as a result of the dedicated hard work by its voluntary staff who put together the magazine each month.

This last year I have started to take the magazine as a .pdf copy. It really isn't the same as a paper magazine you can take to bed and flick through. I find the pdf version much less satisfying.

After some thought, I've decided not to renew my subs this time as it is surely now only a matter of time before the ISWL folds. It served its purpose in its day, but those days have passed. This last month a final coffin nail was the closure of the ISWL QSL bureau, one of the last to process broadcast QSLs as well as amateur ones. 

The ISWL

Many here will not be aware of the International Short Wave League (ISWL) but at one time this was THE club to belong to if you were interested in shortwave amateur and broadcast listening and transmitting. At one time it had a great number of members from all over the world.

Today the ISWL is still going strong, albeit not as large as it once was, but they produce a good A5 full colour magazine packed with articles and news every month called Monitor. Unlike most amateur magazines, this has good coverage of shortwave broadcast news and reports as well as lots for SWLs and radio amateurs with monthly RX and SWL reports. The ISWL offers a number of other benefits to its members and you may like to consider membership. The magazine has few adverts and is a real amateur/SWL magazine, rather than a shamateur magazine for those with deep pockets. Like the GQRP club, the ISWL is run totally by volunteers. I like its ethos.
 
Membership is £18 a year for the paper magazine version but just £12 if you take the magazine electronically.

International Short Wave League (ISWL)

It's the 65th anniversary of the ISWL this year. The ISWL is an international club for radio amateurs, shortwave listeners and broadcast band listeners from all over the world. They run a very wide range of contests covering all aspects of the hobby for both listeners and transmitting stations. Every month they produce a magazine filled with articles, reports and news items of interest. Subscription is just £20 a year and good value for a magazine running to around 60 pages every issue every month.  For more details about joining this International Short Wave League see www.iswl.org.uk/.  Also, look out for the club's special callsign GB65ISWL during the year ahead.