For serious international broadcasting, yes. Quite dead.

But Ute monitoring is still fun as is listening to the Nut Job Network
on domestic HF.

The international powerhouses have (or soon will) migrate totally to
internet and satellite.

see wrn.org

On Sat, 13 Sep 2003 02:12:24 GMT, Jason
wrote:

Hello all

For a long time I have been interested in Shortwave listening, and I
have noticed on the internet that Digital radio is becoming more
prevalent. Before I go out and invest some money on a quality reciever,
is it safe to assume it is a hobby I can enjoy for years to come, or
will Shortwave be replaced in 5 years by more modern technology?

Thanks for any input,

JM Doiron

And cut off most of the world. I don't think so.
"David" wrote in message
...
The international powerhouses have (or soon will) migrate totally to
internet and satellite.

I was talking about where I live.

I really don't see any sophisticated world power advancing their
culture via an 80 year old low-fi platform listened to almost
exclusively by expatriates and gruff hobbyists, in a country with
100,000,000 internet users and 400 channel cable and satellite
systems, not to mention XM and Sirius.

On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 20:59:36 GMT, "CW"
wrote:

And cut off most of the world. I don't think so.
"David" wrote in message
.. .
The international powerhouses have (or soon will) migrate totally to
internet and satellite.

"David" wrote in message
...
I was talking about where I live.

I really don't see any sophisticated world power advancing their
culture via an 80 year old low-fi platform listened to almost
exclusively by expatriates and gruff hobbyists, in a country with
100,000,000 internet users and 400 channel cable and satellite
systems, not to mention XM and Sirius.


I heard a guest on a radio program advocating a greater role for US public
diplomacy. As an example, he praised a program which set up public
libraries in various countries. That's pretty old technology!

I don't know if there's any value in for another first world broadcaster to
broadcast to the US. Consider Radio Exterior Espana. The Spanish
government made the effort to become a first line broadcaster for a few
years. Then, it really diminished a couple of years ago. I guess REE is
still around, but it's not nearly the same. Did it make any difference?
Did anyone think more or less of Spain when their SW service was high or low
profile? Did it have the slightest effect on tourism? Exports? I suppose
somebody could ask the people in the Spanish government who make these
decisions. Or we could see that the decision speaks for itself.

However, thousands of FM transmitters have been installed in third world
countries over the last 20 years. Buying time on these stations is an
attractive alternative to SW, for the countries which still are interested
in radio broadcasting.

Frank Dresser

Yes, but libraries today lend videos and provides internet access.

On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 18:08:06 GMT, "Frank Dresser"
wrote:


"David" wrote in message
.. .
I was talking about where I live.

I really don't see any sophisticated world power advancing their
culture via an 80 year old low-fi platform listened to almost
exclusively by expatriates and gruff hobbyists, in a country with
100,000,000 internet users and 400 channel cable and satellite
systems, not to mention XM and Sirius.


I heard a guest on a radio program advocating a greater role for US public
diplomacy. As an example, he praised a program which set up public
libraries in various countries. That's pretty old technology!

I don't know if there's any value in for another first world broadcaster to
broadcast to the US. Consider Radio Exterior Espana. The Spanish
government made the effort to become a first line broadcaster for a few
years. Then, it really diminished a couple of years ago. I guess REE is
still around, but it's not nearly the same. Did it make any difference?
Did anyone think more or less of Spain when their SW service was high or low
profile? Did it have the slightest effect on tourism? Exports? I suppose
somebody could ask the people in the Spanish government who make these
decisions. Or we could see that the decision speaks for itself.

However, thousands of FM transmitters have been installed in third world
countries over the last 20 years. Buying time on these stations is an
attractive alternative to SW, for the countries which still are interested
in radio broadcasting.

Frank Dresser

"David" wrote in message
...
Yes, but libraries today lend videos and provides internet access.

Not these libraires. The guy who was interviewed said he was setting them
up in a single room with some bookshelves, etc. I don't remember if he got
specific about what he put on the shelves, but I can't imagine there was
much more than an encyclopedia, some donated books and State Department
handouts. He said such libraries could be kept going for the cost of one
big diplomatic party.

His point wasn't about the libraries, but public diplomacy. He believed
there should be more diplomatic outreach to everyday people in foriegn
countres. He also mentioned such approaches as buying radio time on local
stations. And I'll agree with that. There's alot of FM in around the world
now, and if that's what the people are listening to, that's where we should
put the programming. Interesting programming would be nice, too. SW is
most useful as for getting into closed societies and as a backup to our
other broadcast operations.

Frank Dresser

David wrote in message . ..

Yes, but libraries today lend videos and provides internet access.


It's 2 a.m. The libraries are closed. Shortwave isn't.

These days, I think the first four notes of the Dragnet theme would be more
apropos -- Y (Why?) instead of V (Victory!).

Bill, K5BY