Path: utzoo!attcan!telly!lethe!torsqnt!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ncar!announce-newgroups
From: rshapiro@bbn.com (Richard Shapiro)
Newsgroups: news.announce.newgroups
Subject: Call for discussion:  REC.SWL
Message-ID: <45927@bbn.COM>
Date: 21 Sep 89 21:00:05 GMT
Sender: woods@ncar.ucar.edu
Reply-To: rshapiro@bbn.com
Followup-To: news.groups
Lines: 43
Approved: woods@ncar.ucar.edu (Greg Woods)




I would like to propose a new group with the tentative name "rec.swl". 

Purpose: to discuss issues of interest to short wave listeners, i.e.
those who are interested in listening to programs on the shortwave
broadcast bands; also to discuss issues of interest to dx'ers working
other broadcast bands (vhf, mw, tv).

Topics might include (but would not be limited to):
 
 announcements of programs of interest
 program schedule listings
 time & frequency changes
 magazine & journal recommendations
 receiver and antenna reviews and recommendations
 dx'ing tips
 news of pirate and clandestine stations


The obvious question is: why not use rec.ham-radio for this? The
answer (or an answer): rec.ham-radio is *heavily* dominated by topics
of exclusive interest to hams (i.e. amateur radio broadcasters), and
while many hams are also swl's, relatively few swl's are hams. For
this reason, rec.ham-radio holds little appeal for typical swl's. They
don't read rec.ham-radio, and in consequence they don't post there
either. This lack of participation by swl's in rec.ham-radio should
NOT be construed as proving that there isn't interest in this subject.
After considerable discussion with other swl's, I've come to the
conclusion that rec.ham-radio is not the appropriate forum, and that
another, separate group should be created. While there would be some
overlap between the two groups (and thus cross-posting) I believe it
would be minimal. 

Since may swl's are also interested in non-shortwave broadcast bands
(specifically medium wave, vhf-fm, and television), I would also like
this group to include articles about dx'ing these bands (articles
about programs on these bands should go elsewhere, however).  For this
reason, the name 'rec.swl' might not be the best one.  Other
suggestions are welcome.  Possibly  "rec.broadcast-dx"?

Comments?