I love my shortwave radios. I just don't listen to them for
''broadcast'' style content any more. I'm enjoying listening to the
Utes, the Pirates and AMDX. I just don't need to get my news through
a flanger any more.

On Mon, 26 Apr 2004 21:28:39 -0400, Dan wrote:

On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 00:50:45 GMT, "Frank Dresser"
wrote:

Money is the real issue, not shortwave or the technology of program
distribution. Don't expect all of the current shortwave broadcasters to be
available in the future.

Indeed. But if truly no one is listening, then there won't be either
shortwave broadcasting *or* internet/satellite broadcasting.

International broadcasters will stick around if they have the funding. I
suppose they can have fundraisers like the US public broadcasters.

But since satellite/internet is paid for with subscriptions and/or
commercials, these have a better chance of surviving.

AM modulation and shortwave radio need never be obselete. If the
international broadcasters abandon the SW bands, I'm sure the void will be
filled with radio hobbyists.

Technically, it's already obsolete. If/When more major broadcasters
completely abandon shortwave (BBC, Netherlands, Canada, VOA, WBCQ,
Cuba, Russia, etc.) then it will be obsolete *to me*. Unless "radio
hobbyists" have interesting programming (something more than just
playing 70's classic rock), then count me as not interested.

It just means I get to buy all new computers and radios!

That assumes somebody will want to pay for international broadcasting in a
new form. Since international broadcasting is a form of public diplomacy,
some countries will continue with it. I wouldn't bet they all will,
however.

Agreed. The truly BIG names (BBC, VOA, etc.) probably will. The
rest can just go internet/satellite/cable. People might actually
listen when it's not fading and noisy, and it's easy to find.
Already, internet is the only way I listen to Australia and sometimes
BBC.

Yes, it will be a sad day when I no longer tune a shortwave radio *at
all*. But it will be no worse than when I packed up my TRS-80
computer with 2, 180K floppy drives, 5 meg hard drive and 48K RAM. I
still have TRS-80's, and still break them out once a year or so.

I can see me breaking out a shortwave radio once a year and spinning
the knob, to see if (A) it still works and (B) to see if there's
"anybody out there". Will probably happen in about 10 years.

Dan

Drake R8, Radio Shack DX-440,
Grundig S650, S700, S800, YB400, YB550PE
Degen DE1102, Kaito KA1102
Hallicrafters S-120 (1962)
Zenith black dial 5 tube Tombstone (1937)
E. H. Scott 23 tube Imperial Allwave in Tasman cabinet (1936)