There's no way streaming audio on the Internet can replace shortwave. For
one thing, shortwave is broadcast. That's the reason it exists. Anybody can
pick it up, free of charge, even with a very inexpensive radio. If a major
catastrophe should happen, anywhere in the world, there's always shortwave
radio to fall back on. Shortwave is always there. The internet is more of a
narrow cast thing to an elite audience with the wherewithall to have a good
computer and a fast, reliable internet connection from an ISP that doesn't
charge if a certain amount of usage is exceeded. So you want to listen to
radio out in the boondocks or out in the yard? You can do that easily with a
broadcast receiver. How the heck do you do that using the internet without
an elaborate wireless router system and a good laptop computer if at home,
or at all if away from civilizaition? There's just too much technological
overhead. Even if you do have access, anyone spending a few hours using the
Internet knows how frustrating it can be. Digital wants your butt at home in
front of a computer desk, no matter whether it's digital photography, the
Internet, or whatever. It's the very antithesis of why shortwave exists in
the first place.

Pierre


"Richard" wrote in message
...

Ah!, But you are presuming all have access to the Internet, and many
staions - like VOA, BBC, etc are aimed at second and third world internet
access is poor at best.

This will be the great break on the Internet replacing short wave