With my recent purchase of a DX-394, I have again taken an interest in
SWL.

Upon seeing stations going to Internet only broadcasting, are we
seeing a trend where SW radios will become obsolete?

TMT

Too_Many_Tools wrote:

With my recent purchase of a DX-394, I have again taken an interest in
SWL.

Upon seeing stations going to Internet only broadcasting, are we
seeing a trend where SW radios will become obsolete?

Nah, always something of interest out there.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

dxAce wrote:

Nah, always something of interest out there.

dxAce
Michigan
USA


Every working day for truck drivers, there is "onderweg" on rnw.nl.

Analogue shutdown will be postponed to 2020, and then to ..


PS: hourly shortwave schedules he
--
--
What's on Shortwave guide: choose an hour, go!
http://shortwave.tk
700+ Radio Stations on SW http://swstations.tk
300+ languages on SW http://radiolanguages.tk

As someone who has worked in the international broadcasting field for more than 30 years, it's my opinion that shortwave, used for international broadcasting, will indeed pass away.

It's certainly no joy for me to say that, as I was one of those group of kids who grew up with SW in his veins -- and in fact, I still have the addiction even in these days of rapid decline for SW.

But there is just no way that ANYONE in coming years will choose SW over other broadcast media. And the promise of DRM has faded as well.

As a Perseus owner, I have to say that even SDR (Software Defined Radios), in so far as they are used to receive shortwave broadcasts, are already becoming pretty much useless given rapidly declining number of broadcasts available -- perhaps Amateur Radio Operators and intelligence agencies will continue to find SDR useful.

I predict it will pretty much be WIFI/Internet delivery, leaving those of us who cut our teeth with DX-160's, SONYs and Hammarlunds, riding what remains of SWBC until the end.

Sorry to be such a downer, but that's the reality. On the bright side, just think of how many great radios will be available for a song!

dxace1 wrote:

As someone who has worked in the international broadcasting field for
more than 30 years, it's my opinion that shortwave, used for
international broadcasting, will indeed pass away.

It's certainly no joy for me to say that, as I was one of those group
of kids who grew up with SW in his veins -- and in fact, I still have
the addiction even in these days of rapid decline for SW.

But there is just no way that ANYONE in coming years will choose SW
over other broadcast media. And the promise of DRM has faded as well.

As a Perseus owner, I have to say that even SDR (Software Defined
Radios), in so far as they are used to receive shortwave broadcasts,
are already becoming pretty much useless given rapidly declining number
of broadcasts available -- perhaps Amateur Radio Operators and
intelligence agencies will continue to find SDR useful.

I predict it will pretty much be WIFI/Internet delivery, leaving those
of us who cut our teeth with DX-160's, SONYs and Hammarlunds, riding
what remains of SWBC until the end.

Sorry to be such a downer, but that's the reality. On the bright side,
just think of how many great radios will be available for a song!

And ride it to the end we shall!

From one Djibouti traveller to another, good to hear from you!

dxAce (2)

On Nov 22, 7:48�pm, dxace1 wrote:
As someone who has worked in the international broadcasting field for
more than 30 years, it's my opinion that shortwave, used for
international broadcasting, will indeed pass away.

It's certainly no joy for me to say that, as I was one of those group
of kids who grew up with SW in his veins -- and in fact, I still have
the addiction even in these days of rapid decline for SW.

But there is just no way that ANYONE in coming years will choose SW
over other broadcast media. �And the promise of DRM has faded as well.

As a Perseus owner, I have to say that even SDR (Software Defined
Radios), in so far as they are used to receive shortwave broadcasts,
are already becoming pretty much useless given rapidly declining number
of broadcasts available -- perhaps Amateur Radio Operators and
intelligence agencies will continue to find SDR useful.

I predict it will pretty much be WIFI/Internet delivery, leaving those
of us who cut our teeth with DX-160's, SONYs and Hammarlunds, riding
what remains of SWBC until the end.

Sorry to be such a downer, but that's the reality. �On the bright side,
just think of how many great radios will be available for a song!

--
dxace1

"And the promise of DRM has faded as well."

"Death of Digital Radio Mondiale in 2008 as well?"

"From both formal and informal discussions among participants at the
HFCC, it is now clear that the proposed DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale)
system, that would have converted analogue Shortwave to digital, FM
like quality reception would hardly be implemented if ever on a large
scale, beyond the current experimental stage."

http://tinyurl.com/b6z5lr

Thank goodness - there are a lot less running DRM, only a couple:

http://home.centurytel.net/danielsampson/america.txt

Bob Dobbs wrote:

dxace1 wrote:
On the bright side,
just think of how many great radios will be available for a song!

How 'great' is a box that lights up, makes static sounds, and little else?

Bob, it would be somewhat of an improvement for you, would it not?

Bob Dobbs wrote:

dxAce wrote:


Bob Dobbs wrote:

dxace1 wrote:
On the bright side,
just think of how many great radios will be available for a song!

How 'great' is a box that lights up, makes static sounds, and little else?

Bob, it would be somewhat of an improvement for you, would it not?


I've got some rather decent SW radio equipment
so I don't know what you're referring to,
but that's not an unusual result of your babble.

Sorry, I thought you were still operating that 23 channel box.

Apologies.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

On 11/22/09 11:23 , Too_Many_Tools wrote:
With my recent purchase of a DX-394, I have again taken an interest in
SWL.

Upon seeing stations going to Internet only broadcasting, are we
seeing a trend where SW radios will become obsolete?

TMT


The big guns have all abandoned SW to developed countries. BBC
still broadcasts to africa. DW, RNW and the others have moved to
satellite and internet distribution.


But as politics in the world heat up, SW will become an
important element of communcations again once tensions reach the
point where walls start going up. Internet streams can be censored.
Satellite radio can be shut off. That leaves terrestrial radio.
500,000 watts can't stopped at national boarders.

The Cold War was the reason for the pervasion of SW broadcasts.
Of course, there were jamming attempts. Some more successful than
others. But, the messages got where they were intended through radio
beamed in from out of country.

The technology isn't dead. It may be dormant, now. But it's not
dead. And when communications are down, Radio is one of the few
technologies that can be brought to bear quickly, and competently.
With organized traffic nets in every state.

So, no, SW radios are not obsolete. Nor will they be for some
years, yet.

On Nov 22, 11:51*am, "D. Peter Maus"
wrote:
On 11/22/09 11:23 , Too_Many_Tools wrote:

With my recent purchase of a DX-394, I have again taken an interest in
SWL.

Upon seeing stations going to Internet only broadcasting, are we
seeing a trend where SW radios will become obsolete?

TMT

* *The big guns have all abandoned SW to developed countries. BBC
still broadcasts to africa. DW, RNW and the others have moved to
satellite and internet distribution.

* * But as politics in the world heat up, SW will become an
important element of communcations again once tensions reach the
point where walls start going up. Internet streams can be censored.
Satellite radio can be shut off. That leaves terrestrial radio.
500,000 watts can't stopped at national boarders.

* * The Cold War was the reason for the pervasion of SW broadcasts.
Of course, there were jamming attempts. Some more successful than
others. But, the messages got where they were intended through radio
beamed in from out of country.

* * The technology isn't dead. It may be dormant, now. But it's not
dead. And when communications are down, Radio is one of the few
technologies that can be brought to bear quickly, and competently.
With organized traffic nets in every state.

* *So, no, SW radios are not obsolete. Nor will they be for some
years, yet.

Good comments.

Do you think frequencies will be reallotted for other purposes?

Unused spectrum is valuable in today's wireless world.

TMT