"dave" wrote in message
...
Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:

Things have also changed with shortwave broadcasting. Between the
internet,
satellite delivery of broadcast material, and paid subscriptions (NPR
pays
the BBC to give you BBC news) stations are abandoning North America.


Actually, Bill and Melinda Gates; and Medtronic; pay PRI to distribute the
BBC World Service in N. Am.

I listen at vpr.org

Much nicer than all that swishy shortwave.

A lot of amateurs don't own a microphone, and use digital modes to talk
around the world on less power than a TV set. You'll need something more
stable than a Yacht Boy to decode that.

You're completely wrong. The amount of people using QRP and CW
is nowhere near those using SSB. No one uses AM apart from on 160m,
the rest is SSB. You can use programs with a PC soundcard to decode
data modes - even CW which isn't used much now. The requirement to
get a full Class A licence in the UK and other countries does away with
the need to do a morse test. Shame it wasn't sooner as I had to learn it.
There is also DRM about on SW.