Post 449494 by iona@radiosocial.org
 (DIR) More posts by iona@radiosocial.org
 (DIR) Post #446202 by iona@radiosocial.org
       2018-10-09T10:41:23Z
       
       1 likes, 3 repeats
       
       According to something I read last night, four countries re-activated shortwave radio broadcasts in the past six months.We're constantly told it's in decline, that the internet is the way forward for international broadcasting, but perhaps increased levels of world tension have concentrated a few minds.Websites can be blocked, local radio relays in foreign capitals can be turned off (eg the BBC in Hong Kong recently) but shortwave crosses borders.
       
 (DIR) Post #446497 by vfrmedia@social.tchncs.de
       2018-10-09T11:55:58Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @iona which countries and frequencies are these?TBH I've neglected my HF monitoring (usually utilities and the occasional amateur traffic) due to QRM, but broadcasters tend to get through even when I don't have time to set up any elaborate antennas..
       
 (DIR) Post #446498 by iona@radiosocial.org
       2018-10-09T12:32:11Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @vfrmedia Indonesia, Nepal, PNG and Peru. The Peruvian, Indonesian and PNG stations are in the tropical bands and designed for an audience in the immediate region, while Nepal is resuming its full international service.
       
 (DIR) Post #446499 by vfrmedia@social.tchncs.de
       2018-10-09T12:43:06Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @iona that makes sense, I've noticed portable radios from in Malaysia made in late 90s retain HF bands and have good reception (I have one here, but need to restring the dial cord as its way off). mobile audio streaming isn't feasible in rural areas (due to costs/availability of networks/devices), even here in Europe there are plenty of "not spots" (commercial/tech realities may even be more of a reason than global tensions, though resilience in extreme weather might also be a factor)
       
 (DIR) Post #446500 by artsyhonker@mastodon.art
       2018-10-09T12:53:43Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @iona @vfrmedia radio is way lower power than e.g. smartphones, too, I think? Though I think some "feature phones" have radio receivers and aren't horrible power hogs. I remember when I was a kid I had a walkman-alike with a radio in it. I would listen to cassettes until the batteries were too low, then FM radio, then AM radio. The batteries lasted *weeks and weeks* on AM.
       
 (DIR) Post #446501 by PhotonQyv@mastodon.xyz
       2018-10-09T13:10:28Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @artsyhonkerWhen I was younger my dad sorted out a nice crystal set for me to use. My nan walked in one night while I was listening to it on some headphones and suggested I turned it off to save the battery.What battery? I asked...Those were the days (;*@iona @vfrmedia
       
 (DIR) Post #449457 by ieure@mastodon.social
       2018-10-09T16:55:51Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @iona I miss hearing the BBC, but have been listening to Radio New Zealand nightly on 7425.
       
 (DIR) Post #449494 by iona@radiosocial.org
       2018-10-09T16:59:00Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @ieure Where are you based? RNZ is a really tough catch here in the UK simply because it's just so far away. You need good equipment to pull in the signal and even then it's not really listenable as a programme, sadly.The main thing on shortwave is CRI on seemingly every channel. In the gaps between CRI, quite interesting stuff makes it up from African countries.
       
 (DIR) Post #449715 by ieure@mastodon.social
       2018-10-09T17:15:16Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @iona I'm in Portland, Oregon, 10,000km away from the transmitter.  It comes in strong on a whip antenna or the small wire I have strung on my ceiling.  I typically listen on a Tecsun PL880.