"Doug Smith W9WI" wrote in
message ...

I've my doubts the Internet will be a real
viable replacement for all
shortwave anytime in the near future.

For those broadcasts intended to reach a
country's citizens abroad, yes,
the Internet is probably a more economic
solution. Likewise, for those
intended to reach an audience of foreigners in a
developed country.

SNIP

Computers may be cheap, but they're still a LOT
more expensive than a
cheap radio. In isolated areas a reliable
Internet connection with
adequate bandwidth might be an even bigger
problem. (heck, at my
location - within 30 miles of Nashville -
internet audio is problematic
due to my connection) I don't think the
Internet will in the near
future replace shortwave for reaching audiences
in sparsely-populated
and poor countries.

But how about WorldSpace satellite radio? They
have a couple of dozen channels with coverage of
Africa and Asia and much of Europe. They even
carry different services on the various spot beams
from a single satellite. I gather they rent some
space to national broadcasters. Their receivers
aren't dirt cheap, but well within the means of
many people in the third world. I gather that they
are NOT doing well financially, however. They have
a web site www.worldspace.com . There was some
initial relationship between them and XM, but
WorldSpace's partial foreign ownership killed that
from what I heard..

bob w3otc

R J Carpenter wrote:
But how about WorldSpace satellite radio? They
have a couple of dozen channels with coverage of
Africa and Asia and much of Europe. They even
carry different services on the various spot beams
from a single satellite. I gather they rent some
space to national broadcasters. Their receivers
aren't dirt cheap, but well within the means of
many people in the third world. I gather that they
are NOT doing well financially, however. They have
a web site www.worldspace.com . There was some
initial relationship between them and XM, but
WorldSpace's partial foreign ownership killed that
from what I heard..

I can see LEO satellites as a possible eventual replacement for shortwave.

But it's going to be pretty tough to get the costs low enough (both on
the transmitting side and the receiving side) to make it fly in poorer
countries. (I'm not familiar with WorldSpace's pricing) I've my doubts
that any scheme that involves monthly subscription charges will work.
--
Doug Smith W9WI
Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66
http://www.w9wi.com

"R J Carpenter" wrote in news:co477k$som$1
@xuxa.iecc.com:


But how about WorldSpace satellite radio? They
have a couple of dozen channels with coverage of
Africa and Asia and much of Europe. They even
carry different services on the various spot beams
from a single satellite. I gather they rent some
space to national broadcasters. Their receivers
aren't dirt cheap, but well within the means of
many people in the third world. I gather that they
are NOT doing well financially, however. They have
a web site www.worldspace.com . There was some
initial relationship between them and XM, but
WorldSpace's partial foreign ownership killed that
from what I heard..

I don't believe you can "see" the Worldspace satellites from North
America, and even if you could, it's probably impossible to get one
activated unless you have a european address.

I realize the reception quality on satellite radio is much better than
that on shortwave, but is replacing a free service with a subscription
service really a sensible way to go (unless you own stock in the
satellite company!)?

--
Larry Weil
Lake Wobegone, NH