tommyknocker wrote:

I was just thinking about this today. Has anybody noticed that shortwave
radio has really declined over the past five years or so? We've lost BBC
and Deutsche Welle transmissions to North America, we've lost several
smaller European broadcasters entirely, other stations have drastically
cut back. Are transmitting facilities really going on the blink so soon
after the end of the cold war? Or has everybody jumped on the BBC's
bandwagon and concluded that satellite and internet broadcasting has
replaced shortwave? Any thoughts?


I'm not happy when I hear another major broadcaster is going to cut back
or stop broadcasting to the USA, but I think shortwave will be around
for a very long time.

In certain parts of the world, internet connections are scarce. Some
parts of the USA don't have affordable access to high speed connections.

While the internet is competition in some respects, it's also a great
resource for information to help you get more enjoyment out of the SW
hobby.

It may just be positive thinking, but it seems we've had somewhat of an
uptick in the number of pirate stations over the last couple years.

The other thing to consider is back when the hobby started, the number
of signals was probably a small fraction of what we have to choose from
today.

Of course one thing you can do to help promote the hobby is get the
better radios you're not using into the hands of kids.

"tommyknocker" wrote in message
...

It seems that the "new media" is all about the "digital consumer"
getting exactly what he or she wants and nothing else. The downside to
this is that one can filter out (or have filtered out for them) all the
information one does not want to hear, so one's worldview is shaped
according to one's preconceived notions. This makes the digital consumer
think that everybody agrees with them, or that the only people who
matter are the people who agree with them.

I agree with you, but I don't think that aspect of human nature has changed
since the SWBC boom in the 1960s. Since TV at least, SWLing has not been
overly popular in the U.S. I doubt that many people formed political
opinions based on what they heard on the SW bands. Those who did probably
still seek out alternative sources for new on the Internet or elsewhere.

The Richard Clarke book is a case in point. Although it is selling well, it
is not changing many peoples' minds about the role of the government before
and after 9/11. People who were inclined to think the government failed find
support in the book, but people who think the government is doing a fine job
don't believe it.

I do miss the old days, though. There was nothing so enervating as listening
to R. Tirana, when Albania hated everybody. And the jazz on R. Moscow was
superb. You know what kinds of Americans they were trying to entice. I also
miss the CW on the marine bands; "reading the mail" was a pleasant
diversion, and you could pretend you were on a rocking ship somewhere far
away.

"PM"

Shortwave is, to our dismay, on the way out. Anyone
who uses as hope the fact that some areas of the world
are still in "need" of shortwave is ignoring the great
potential of internet and satellite for reaching these
same places. Stations are not going to continue to
pay to support shortwave transmission means just
to reach the remotest folks in villages in Africa and
Asia simply because these people are still "thirsting"
for free and objective information. After all, solar
powered internet is already a reality in many places,
as is solar and other alternative powered sat TV.
Hard for many of us (including those of us working in
international broadcasting) to swallow, but it's the
truth...

From: "Mark S. Holden"
Reply-To:
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
Date: Mon, 05 Apr 2004 00:19:15 -0400
Subject: Shortwave's decline over past five years

tommyknocker wrote:

I was just thinking about this today. Has anybody noticed that shortwave
radio has really declined over the past five years or so? We've lost BBC
and Deutsche Welle transmissions to North America, we've lost several
smaller European broadcasters entirely, other stations have drastically
cut back. Are transmitting facilities really going on the blink so soon
after the end of the cold war? Or has everybody jumped on the BBC's
bandwagon and concluded that satellite and internet broadcasting has
replaced shortwave? Any thoughts?


I'm not happy when I hear another major broadcaster is going to cut back
or stop broadcasting to the USA, but I think shortwave will be around
for a very long time.

In certain parts of the world, internet connections are scarce. Some
parts of the USA don't have affordable access to high speed connections.

While the internet is competition in some respects, it's also a great
resource for information to help you get more enjoyment out of the SW
hobby.

It may just be positive thinking, but it seems we've had somewhat of an
uptick in the number of pirate stations over the last couple years.

The other thing to consider is back when the hobby started, the number
of signals was probably a small fraction of what we have to choose from
today.

Of course one thing you can do to help promote the hobby is get the
better radios you're not using into the hands of kids.

"Brian Denley" wrote in message
news:hW4cc.75611$w54.433850@attbi_s01...

Except that the US domestic stations are almost all religious
fundamentalists.


Technically, they're aren't necessarly fundamentalists, but they are
evangalists. But there's a wide gulf between the views of such
fundamentalists as James Lloyd and George W. Gentry.


About as interesting as static.

I'm interested in religious views. I know learning religion from SW radio
is like learning physics from Warner Brothers cartoons. And it can be just
as entertaining.

But there's much more than evangelists. Conspiratorialists, Health food
pushers, Gold Bugs, Con Artists, Free Thinkers.

I long for the days of
the big guns of the cold war: Radio Moscow, BBC, Radio Sofia, etc.

--
Brian Denley


Ultimately, there's a chance something wonderful may happen if the old line
international broadcasters go away. The international broadcast bands will
be nearly empty, and they won't be refilled any faster than the other
currently underutilixed SW bands. Hobby broadcasters could start
broadcasting, and the governments might not even care if there's no
international broadcasting to be interfered with.

Frank Dresser

There are several problems with Internet and satellite "shortwave:"

* Limited listener access.
* Impractical surfing for every broadcaster in a given time period.
* Limited originators of broadcasts.
* Etc.

On the other hand, the number of people who can listen to shortwave is the
number of receivers in the readable signal area times the number of people
listening to the receivers. Or something like that.

Certainly shortwave broadcasting should continue to serve third world
countries.

I wish Venezuela had a government shortwave station on the air.

Bill, K5BY

TK,

The Decline is 'actually' a "Transfer-of-Services" via new Technologies.
Better more efficent direct distribution at a lower cost via:

* The Internet / WWW - 24/7 Anytime Programming on Demand.
{Multi-Media Platforms to market the message.}

* Direct Satellite Radio and TV Programming
{TV being the preferred Media for Getting the Message Across
in both Live Pictures, Still Images, Actual Sounds and Words.}

* Offering FREE "Program Content" for 'in-country' Distribution
[Re-Broadcasting] on the AM and FM Radio Bands.
(Because most household have a 'standard' AM/FM Radio and
only many be 1-in-5 to 1-in-25 have a Shortwave Radio.
The Audience 'potential' is increased 400% to 2000% using this
method in third world countries with uniformally consistance
reception results (NO SW Signal Fading). Plus the 'demographics'
of this Expanded Audience are "Better Representation" of the
target nations general population as a whole.

TBL: As an Internataional Media (Message Delivery System)
Shortwave Broadcasting is NO Longer the 'biggest band' for the Buck.
[Today there are now 'better' Message Delivery Systems to be used.]


jm2cw ~ RHF
..
..
= = = tommyknocker wrote in message
= = = ...
I was just thinking about this today. Has anybody noticed that shortwave
radio has really declined over the past five years or so? We've lost BBC
and Deutsche Welle transmissions to North America, we've lost several
smaller European broadcasters entirely, other stations have drastically
cut back. Are transmitting facilities really going on the blink so soon
after the end of the cold war? Or has everybody jumped on the BBC's
bandwagon and concluded that satellite and internet broadcasting has
replaced shortwave? Any thoughts?

..

In article , "Mark S. Holden"
writes:



I'm not happy when I hear another major broadcaster is going to cut back
or stop broadcasting to the USA, but I think shortwave will be around
for a very long time.

In certain parts of the world, internet connections are scarce.

No, you've got it all wrong..
In MOST of the world, internet connections are non existant..
Even if you have an internet connection, you can't move your computer to teh
next room
I find computers fun, but no replacement for radio / shortwave radio..

Some
parts of the USA don't have affordable access to high speed connections.

The average U.S. family makes $50,000 / Year..
- Food, housing,clothing, medical care, transportation,
High speed Internet access.. .

( Quick ! ! which one doesn't fit ? )

Dan

In article ,
(Diverd4777) wrote:

In article , Dan
writes:

But yes, satellite and internet are going to replace shortwave. It's
inevitable.

- Possibly in 50 - 100 years..

No, more like 10 - 15 years.

Dan

Drake R8, Radio Shack DX-440,
Grundig Satellit 650, Satellit 700, YB400
Tecsun PL-230 (YB550PE), Kaito KA1102
Hallicraters S-120 (1962)
Zenith black dial 5 tube Tombstone (1937)
E. H. Scott 23 tube Imperial Allwave in Tasman cabinet (1936)

In article hW4cc.75611$w54.433850@attbi_s01,
"Brian Denley" wrote:

Frank Dresser wrote:

But there's good news. There's less interference, and US domestic SW
is dominated by entertaining -- um -- characters. Not only do these
characters want to be on SW, but they're willing to pay for it with
their own money.

As I see it, SW radio has never been better.

Frank Dresser

Except that the US domestic stations are almost all religious
fundamentalists. About as interesting as static. I long for the days of
the big guns of the cold war: Radio Moscow, BBC, Radio Sofia, etc.

Yeah. Radio Moscow on the old Cuba relay on 11840 calling us "running
dog capitalists" was fun. Now VOR has commercials!

Dan

Drake R8, Radio Shack DX-440,
Grundig Satellit 650, Satellit 700, YB400
Tecsun PL-230 (YB550PE), Kaito KA1102
Hallicraters S-120 (1962)
Zenith black dial 5 tube Tombstone (1937)
E. H. Scott 23 tube Imperial Allwave in Tasman cabinet (1936)

Our local Cable and PBS each carry BBC
and Deutsche Welle every evening. (digital cable
service carries BBCWorld 24/7) Shortwave is obsolete.
Unfortunatly.

Not entirely obsolete. Having recently visited Cuba (legally as a working
journalist), I listen to Radio Havana almost every night. Got a chance to
meet three of the folks working there during my stay in Havana. Fascinating
country. Wonderful people. All they need is a little freedom and
opportunity.