Does shortwave radio still exist in today's time? Do any countries
still broadcast to the U.S.?

I can get all those countries I listened to in the 1990's on podcasts
now on itunes. I wouldn't mind a new
shortwave to play around with but... I think the fun factor would fade
quickly. It's not old technology, it's really
really really old technology.

I read Passport to World Band Radio closed shop. Sad but, sign of the
times.

On Nov 9, 11:58*pm, "Von Fourche"
wrote:
* * Does shortwave radio still exist in today's time? *Do any countries
still broadcast to the U.S.?

* * I can get all those countries I listened to in the 1990's on podcasts
now on itunes. *I wouldn't mind a new
shortwave to play around with but... * I think the fun factor would fade
quickly. *It's not old technology, it's really
really really old technology.

* I read Passport to World Band Radio closed shop. *Sad but, sign of the
times.

Passport became a victim of several negative trends: poor sales/
circulation of printed periodicals/books everywhere due to IT, poor /
inferior propagation time period , general interest of SW hobby
nowhere near it was just 10 years ago . Plus the current
globaleconomic crisis . Plus loss of interest in manufacture of
good / decent hardware . Most of the current production is a myriad of
extremely low-end portables from PRC . But, we have to remember, that
SW is the only mass medium in the world that cannot be shut down /
controlled 100% by anyone . Other than nature itself !

On Nov 9, 8:58*pm, "Von Fourche"
wrote:
* * Does shortwave radio still exist in today's time? *Do any countries
still broadcast to the U.S.?

Yes and yes, though it's declining, it's not yet obsolete. There still
is no acceptable substitute which can reach populations whose
governments don't allow certain views to be broadcast domestically.

And even when there is, the ionosphere and the laws of physics will
remain. *Some* use will continue to be mad of the ability to bounce
signals off the ionosphere (free of any satellite transponder rental
charges). It's just too convenient to be ignored. It may be a very
different mix of uses than what exists today, but (absent a total
collapse of technological society) I really don't see shortwave being
completely abandoned.

* * I can get all those countries I listened to in the 1990's on podcasts
now on itunes. *I wouldn't mind a new
shortwave to play around with but... * I think the fun factor would fade
quickly. *It's not old technology, it's really
really really old technology.

It's not even 100 years old! How can it be considered "old", yet alone
"really old"? Stone knives and axes, now there's a really really old
technology!

* I read Passport to World Band Radio closed shop. *Sad but, sign of the
times.

One publication going out of business does not mean shortwave has
completely disappeared.

--
David Barts
Portland, OR