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Shortwave radio’s golden era spanned much of the 20th century, offering a unique portal to the world for listeners in New York, Moscow, Nairobi, Sydney, and beyond. Across cities and small towns, in apartments, rural villages, and sometimes even in secret, people would gather around radios, scanning for distant voices carrying news, culture, and perspectives. At a time when mainstream information channels were local or national at best, shortwave created a truly global media experience.

 

The Golden Era: News, Culture, and Education Across Borders

From the 1930s onward, international broadcasters leveraged shortwave to reach listeners worldwide, providing a flow of uncensored information and cultural exchange. In New York, listeners might tune into the BBC World Service for news from London, a fresh perspective on events shaping Europe and the world. Elsewhere, Radio Moscow (now Voice of Russia) broadcast to millions, offering the Soviet perspective to audiences from East Asia to the Americas. In Africa, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation began shortwave broadcasts in the 1950s, connecting people in remote areas to national news and global events. Meanwhile, in places like Eastern Europe, where media was tightly controlled, Radio Free Europe and Voice of America offered a rare opportunity to hear voices and viewpoints forbidden by local governments.

 

People would sit in living rooms or lean over rooftop antenna setups, adjusting dials to pick up broadcasts from Deutsche Welle in Germany, Radio Australia, or Radio Netherlands Worldwide. For many, tuning into Radio Havana Cuba or Radio Cairo was an educational and cultural experience—one that helped shape views of distant lands and ideologies. These broadcasts were often paired with music and language courses, enticing listeners with stories of far-off places while subtly sharing political or cultural messages.

 

Shortwave broadcasting reached every corner of the globe, connecting people from vastly different backgrounds. During times of political tension, such as the Cold War, it became a powerful tool for ideological influence. While the BBC aimed to promote British cultural diplomacy and impartial news, Radio Moscow and Voice of America promoted their respective ideologies, each vying for influence in regions like Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe.

 

Decline in the Age of the Internet

With the advent of the internet, satellite TV, and other digital platforms, shortwave’s influence began to fade in the 1990s. Major international broadcasters shifted focus, directing funds toward newer forms of media. The BBC, for instance, significantly reduced its shortwave services, redirecting resources to digital platforms that could target specific demographics and offer interactive content. Stations like Radio Netherlands Worldwide and Radio Canada International eventually closed their shortwave services altogether.

Shortwave was also expensive. The infrastructure, transmitters, and energy required to reach far-off regions became less justifiable as internet and mobile networks expanded. By the early 2000s, many countries had scaled back or eliminated their shortwave operations, relying instead on the internet to reach global audiences. Yet, even in decline, shortwave retained a loyal following of enthusiasts and people in areas still beyond the reach of reliable internet access.

The Lasting Relevance of Shortwave Radio

Despite its diminished presence, shortwave continues to play an essential role where digital networks are inaccessible, censored, or unreliable. In countries with strict media restrictions, such as North Korea, Eritrea, and parts of the Middle East, shortwave remains a rare source of independent news. During natural disasters or political upheavals that compromise infrastructure, shortwave can provide life-saving information. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2010 Haiti earthquake both highlighted shortwave’s unique utility, with international broadcasters like Voice of America quickly organising broadcasts to deliver crucial updates.

 

Shortwave’s enduring role is also evident in humanitarian and emergency contexts. Radio stations like BBC World Service and Radio Free Asia still maintain shortwave services specifically to reach audiences in countries where free press is restricted or where internet access is a luxury. For these regions, shortwave remains a lifeline to the outside world, delivering news, health information, and educational programming.

Shortwave’s Global Reach in the 21st Century

  1. Crisis Resilience: Shortwave is invaluable in emergency situations, often remaining operable when other infrastructure fails. During the recent conflict in Ukraine, for instance, international broadcasters revived shortwave services to provide reliable information to those affected by disruptions to local communications.

 

  1. Remote Accessibility:** Shortwave broadcasts reach places where other media cannot, making it a reliable means of access for people in rural or economically disadvantaged areas. In parts of South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia, shortwave serves as a bridge to the broader world.

 

  1. Independence from Local Control:** Shortwave bypasses local government controls, allowing individuals in restricted environments to access information. In Iran, China, and Saudi Arabia, where government restrictions on media are common, listeners often rely on international shortwave broadcasts to gain alternative perspectives.

 

  1. A Diverse Global Community:** Shortwave radio fosters a distinctive global listening community. From enthusiasts across the United States to hobbyists in Japan, shortwave brings people together over vast distances and shared curiosity.

 

The Future of Shortwave Radio

 

Though shortwave may never regain its former dominance, it remains a crucial asset. The medium is also evolving, with digital shortwave technology promising clearer sound and more efficient broadcasting. Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) offers improved signal quality, and broadcasters are exploring ways to combine digital shortwave with new media. As technology advances, shortwave might even see a resurgence in areas where internet access remains unreliable or heavily monitored.

Shortwave radio’s enduring presence in international broadcasting reflects its ability to adapt, even as technology has reshaped media landscapes. For people in remote regions or repressive societies, shortwave is still a vital source of information and connection. While the future of international broadcasting may look very different, shortwave remains a powerful symbol of radio’s legacy in fostering global understanding, offering a voice across boundaries, and supporting people when and where it matters most.

We came across a story this month that reminded us of the importance of being educated in radio communication and a reminder of what a resourceful,  knowledgeable, and helpful community amateur radio operators are.

On September 7, 2022, a boat named  SV Nereida traveling from ​​Cape Flattery, the northwesternmost point of the USA to San Francisco, California became disabled after 2 days of 35 knot winds and storms. 

81 year old Jan Socrates, an experienced sailor who has sailed around the world without assistance, and in fact has been the oldest person to do so, found herself very low on power and her onboard radio equipment marginally operational. But her knowledge of amateur meant she knew how to get her message out to a community who could help!

Amateur operators in New Mexico, California, and Canada, and members of Group 7.155 heard her requests for assistance.

One such person who heard her request and in fact was able to contact Socrates on 40 metres was Gil Gray, N2GG. “Her power was extremely low, and she was unable to communicate on 14.300 MHz to notify the monitoring group on that frequency,” said Gray. “She needed help with wind and sea conditions, and tidal data for San Francisco Bay,” he added.

Q5 copy was almost impossible due to the low-power output on the HF radio which would typically be Q2 or Q3. Thankfully several software-defined radio (SDR) operators were on hand  in California, Utah, and Maui, Hawaii, who were able to glean enough copy to understand her situation and answer questions for her navigation.

Another stroke of luck was that several of these radio operators were also experienced sailors and helped guide Socrates through periodic contact with weather and wind reports.

Their last contact was on Monday, September 12, at 11:00 AM (MSDT). By this time, Socrates was sailing with only the forward sail on her 38-foot sloop. Thankfully, a “following wind” kept her moving without a mainsail. 

As the Golden Gate Bridge appeared within sight, Socrates was able to use the tidal information passed on by amateur radio operators to make it safely to Berkeley Marina in San Francisco Bay.

“I wouldn’t call it a rescue,” said Socrates, “just good amateur radio assistance — and I’m grateful for their help.”

This is actually one of 3 events in September in which amateur radio was able to provide emergency assistance.

If you would like to learn more about Jan Socrates’ travels, take a look at her Facebook page.

Do you know somebody who loves to travel and who would benefit from knowledge of shortwave? Send them this article, and indeed a link to this website as we have lots in interesting shortwave news, links, and resources, as well as the best range of shortwave radios available in Australia.

Adapted from the original article that can be found on https://www.arrl.org/news/

 

 

Unbeknown to many, MIAMI based broadcaster WRMI, one of the largest shortwave radio operations in the world, has a huge shortwave antenna array in a paddock north of Lake Okeechobee in Central Florida. This shortwave broadcaster is able to beam high power signals to Europe, when it is needed most!!

As we know, shortwave was mostly used during the world wars as a means of communication and propaganda distribution. Many countries including U.S. Services like the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe have scaled back shortwave services due to the rise in TV and internet services. However, since the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has shut down journalism as we know it, meaning those sources have been either blocked or heavily filtered. Shortwave radio is now the only way the Russian population can access unbiased reporting of the current conflict.

 As the crisis unfolds in Russia and Ukraine you will see more and more people tune in once again to their shortwave radios to access unfiltered news and events.

Russia is “attempting to pass a law making journalism essentially illegal, imposing a 15-year criminal penalty” according to Kate Neiswender, one of the teams organising funding for news programming for Russian audiences.

Neiswender and fellow former journalists formed a fundraiser to beam news into Russia, where state-controlled media, at best, does not tell the true story of the invasion and many Russian citizens have no clue about the severity of the invasion.

Link below to donate.

Funding for shortwave to Ukraine

So, back to this massive shortwave radio antenna in a Florida paddock… The general manager of Miami-based WRMI, Jeff White says “We have 14, 100,000-watt transmitters and 23 antennas beaming to all parts of the world,”

Why is it important? Thanks to funding it is currently providing much needed unfiltered information and news of the invasion, beamed over in Russian, Ukrainian and even in English with no censorship.

There is also no shortage of shortwave radios and radio listeners in Russia so this can be accessed fairly easily.

This highlights the importance of shortwave radio in the modern age.

Click here if you are interested in contributing to the fundraising efforts to keep uncensored news flowing into Russia and Ukraine.

Information source thanks to https://miami.cbslocal.com/ WRMI