Does Shortwave Radio have a Future?

 

A recent Op-Ed piece in Radioworld.Com raised the question of Shortwave Radio having a future.  The author, Ruxandra Obreja is unabashedly chairman of Digital Radio Mondiale giving us no surprise that she argues in favor of shortwave radio continuing, altho with some modifications
to the form those transmissions will take.

The fact that I am writing this BLOG and referencing her stance means that overall I am in agreement with her points, altho admittedly I know very little about Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM).  I am a person who was introduced to shortwave broadcasting at the age of 12 (mid 60's) when most countries were represented on the 3 - 30 mhz shortwave spectrum.  Today, the [so-called] "countries list" has been reduced by over 60 percent.

Being that my current main shortwave receiver is the venerable Icom-R71 (mine being a late model) internet searching regarding ideas for my R-71 I happened across VR2MXQ's AF thru SHF Blog (Steve's Blog), with some useful information about this legendary Icom receiver.  Receivers such
as the classic R-71 are not obsolete in the world of DRM, altho they will need some modification
to be properly compatible.

Of course Amateur Radio will remain; cellphones and internet are not a replacement for unfettered/uncensored radio communications; especially during mother nature disasters,
such as the recent devastations encountered in the Caribbean during 2017 - 2018.

Even IF all of the major SW broadcasters were to disappear tomorrow, at the very least, the Pirate broadcast window (approx. 6.900 - 6.975) would continue to bring us their "brand" of independent programming.

Another vital part of shortwave broadcasting are the time and frequency standard services such as: WWV/WWVH, CHU, JJY and other stations around the world, many of which operate on frequency harmonics of 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20 & 25 Mhz; altho CHU can be found on 3.330, 7.850 and 14.670.

A few years back WWV took a survey asking whether we thought the Space-WX forecasts were unnecessary as most people (underscore MOST) have access to the internet.  In my reply to their survey I pointed out that during TRUE emergency operations (where there may be NO internet access), receiving the Space-WX forecast updates every 4 hours may well be our only access
to such data.  When I run Field Day with W6SW atop Mt. Abel, there is rarely access to a cell
tower that far up and out from civilization.

Today, Space-WX forecasts (at 0:18 & 0:45 mins past the hour) are still with us.  Additionally,
the proposed shutdown of WWV/WWVH and other NIST services as was lobbied for during the 2019 government shutdown period has not only been averted, even MORE funding has been provided for these services - GO Figure.  I guess somebody in Washington IS listening once
in awhile after all.

Thanks to POOR USA involvement with shortwave broadcasting during the last 30+ years, it is easy to conclude that the use of shortwaves is also not happening around the globe.  While it is true that many countries have ceased shortwave broadcasting - as has happened with the CBC in Canada,
the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) and Radio Nederland - other countries have increased their number of broadcast hours.

If CRI (China Radio International) or Radio Japan interests you, they are easily found throughout
the HF spectrum.  During contest weekends I often cannot wait for the 09:00z sign-on for Radio New Zealand (RNZ) on 5.940.  Also recently heard on 49-meters were a number of Caribbean / S-America stations playing a lot of interesting music.

While Popular Communications magazine is no longer with us, at least CQ magazine runs a monthly column known as "The Listening Post" which documents some of the latest happenings in the world of Shortwave Listening.  There are a number of useful websites for finding what frequencies and time-of-day various countries can be heard on the shortwave spectrum.  While it is true that the number of actual stations has reduced, it is arguable that today's program content is often better than ever.

Here are some URL's I have found interesting and/or useful:

• [X] AmericanRadioHistory.Com
• [X] ShortWave.Info
• [X] C.Crane's Shortwave Frequency List
• [X] Japanese shortwave frequencies
• [X] Prime Time Shortwave Broadcasts
• [X] Shortwave schedules around the world
• [X] Shortwave Pirates

The above list is but a handful of websites I have found useful for finding things/stations to listen to throughout the shortwave spectrum.  If you expand beyond shortwave broadcasting per se', there is an abundance of clandestine and utility stations using HF frequencies that you can listen to; whether or not you understand WHAT it is you are listening to is another situation altogether.

The variety of radio equipment that can receive shortwave broadcasts is staggering.  Many SWL'ers (shortwave listeners) enjoy using 50 - 75 year old receivers to comb the shortwaves.  Others such as myself enjoy older (yet classical) receiving equipment, such as my nearly 30 year old ICOM R-71A.  Most amateur transceivers made in the last 35+ years have the capability of "General Coverage" reception.  My 20 yr-old Yaesu FT-1000mp is an EXCELLENT shortwave receiver; easily on par

with the Icom R-71.  The Yaesu's built-in DSP takes listening to the next level; although the R-71 works well into external DSP units.

In the last 20+ years we have been blessed with the emergence of - SDR - Software Defined Radios operating all over the world.  One of my favorites is the Dutch shortwave receiver at the University of Twente ([CLICK HERE] to hear it.)  Anyone who thinks the shortwaves are "DEAD" should listen to this or other SDR receivers around the globe.

The shortwave spectrum is truly alive and well, and loaded with interesting things to listen to.

When was the last time YOU scanned the shortwave spectrum?
If not recently, I can truly say, that you are TRULY missing out.

So what are you waiting for?.......