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Shortwave's decline over past five years
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 ,
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? Well, BBC is still available on 5975. I'm listening to it right now, 20 over 9 here. But yes, satellite and internet are going to replace shortwave. It's inevitable. BBC is available on many cable TV systems already. Noisy, static filled, fading, garbled shortwave is about as interesting to today's digital satellite TV watching, MP3 player toting, cable modem equipped PC "digital consumer" as smoke signals were to us 40 years ago. I myself sometimes stream BBC over my cable modem. It's the only way I listen to Australia. It may seem a sad state of affairs to us, but the day is surely coming when all you will hear on a shortwave radio is static. 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) |
I can go back a little further than 5 years when the tropical bands were
loaded with small stations and it was challenging to hear numerous SW broadcasters on the 120, 90, 75 and 60 meter bands which many of them are gone now. I assume the cost to maintain a station and the falling world economy has driven many SW broadcasters under -- Remove NOSPAM to reply "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 , Dan
writes: But yes, satellite and internet are going to replace shortwave. It's inevitable. - Possibly in 50 - 100 years.. |
In article k.net,
"gil" wrote: I can go back a little further than 5 years when the tropical bands were loaded with small stations and it was challenging to hear numerous SW broadcasters on the 120, 90, 75 and 60 meter bands which many of them are gone now. I assume the cost to maintain a station and the falling world economy has driven many SW broadcasters under I don't think "the falling world economy" has anything to do with it. Back 5 or 10 years the world economy was roaring. No, what happened was the internet and satellites. It's simply easier and cheaper to reach greater numbers of people with a higher quality signal over the net than thru the air. It's actually a win-win situation. Today's listener doesn't want to fiddle with knobs and antennas just to hear the news or Top of the Pops, any more than he wants to fiddle with knobs and antennas to watch CNN. It's simply expected to be there when you turn on the TV, from anywhere on earth. 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) |
"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? It's not just the changes in the media (transmitters, satellites, the internet), there's also less message (programs cut, languages dropped). There's less news/propaganda money as money gets tighter. 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 |
"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? Yes. Our local Cable and PBS each carry BBC and Deutsche Welle every evening. (digital cable service carries BBCWorld 24/7) Shortwave is obsolete. Unfortunatly. |
Dan wrote:
In article , 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? Well, BBC is still available on 5975. I'm listening to it right now, 20 over 9 here. But yes, satellite and internet are going to replace shortwave. It's inevitable. BBC is available on many cable TV systems already. Noisy, static filled, fading, garbled shortwave is about as interesting to today's digital satellite TV watching, MP3 player toting, cable modem equipped PC "digital consumer" as smoke signals were to us 40 years ago. I myself sometimes stream BBC over my cable modem. It's the only way I listen to Australia. It may seem a sad state of affairs to us, but the day is surely coming when all you will hear on a shortwave radio is static. 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. For people who are already inclined to philosophical extremism this makes them more extreme, and it makes the rest extreme. This means that reasoned, informed discourse in society-fed by a diversity of sources-is probably a thing of the past, something that is disturbing for the future of democracy and of international relations. Fox News and Al Jazeera are two good examples-one is watched by American policy makers to the exclusion of anything else, and the other is watched by those who wish to overthrow the West to the exclusion of anything else. Thus, they think that only they are right and demand that everybody else agree with them-or else. 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) |
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. -- Brian Denley http://home.comcast.net/~b.denley/index.html |
"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? I have finally pretty much given up the hobby after being at it since the Sixties. I still have a portable hanging around. I use XM at home and in my car now for great mostly uninterrupted music and the news programming is pretty good too. I used to love to tropical band DX but those are mostly gone now or at least nothing much new is showing up. I have many fond memories of DXpeditions and all the new catches I got. If you like a vast wasteland of idiots then American shortwave is still running large but I was never much of a program person. It's sad, I really loved the hobby. Greg |
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" |
"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 $50,000 / Year.. - Food, housing,clothing, medical care, transportation, High speed Internet access.. . ( Quick ! ! which one doesn't fit ? ) Dan |
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In article hW4cc.75611$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. |
On Mon, 05 Apr 2004 13:27:56 GMT, "LewBob"
wrote: 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. Oh is that all. Just a "little freedom and opportunity". |
Frank Dresser wrote:
It's not just the changes in the media (transmitters, satellites, the internet), there's also less message (programs cut, languages dropped). There's less news/propaganda money as money gets tighter. 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 I find it hard to see Bro. Stair and his contemporaries as good news. -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
Dan wrote:
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 Joe Adamov was singing a different tune in those days. -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
The BBC is available on both XM and Sirius. Sirius also carries the
World Radio Network. Operating a 250 kW transmitter for the benefit of a few thousand hobbyists makes no economic sense. On Sun, 04 Apr 2004 18:38:10 -0700, 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? |
More like ''now''.
On Mon, 05 Apr 2004 08:39:52 -0400, Dan wrote: 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) |
grenner wrote:
I have finally pretty much given up the hobby after being at it since the Sixties. I still have a portable hanging around. I use XM at home and in my car now for great mostly uninterrupted music and the news programming is pretty good too. I used to love to tropical band DX but those are mostly gone now or at least nothing much new is showing up. I have many fond memories of DXpeditions and all the new catches I got. If you like a vast wasteland of idiots then American shortwave is still running large but I was never much of a program person. It's sad, I really loved the hobby. Greg Giving up on shortwave now seems rather premature to me. There is still plenty to hear. Maybe you were never a real program listener though. -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
Somewhat the same situation is going on now in photography, with the growing
popularity of digital. However, I think the same arguments against can be made as with shortwave. If it's digital, it's somewhat exclusive to those who can pay, and it requires a fairly steep investment in equipment that is rapidly superceded. It might be better in performance, but to keep up with it, the user pretty much becomes a slave to the technology. Shortwave, on the other hand, just needs a cheap receiver, and it's free for the taking. Just like an expensive digital camera gives you the picture but takes all the fun out of actually taking it, satellite radio is good, and just a button press away, but is there any fun in it? Where's the fun in listening to "radio" on the internet? Hopefully, radio will not become like TV, where the good programming is only available to those who can and are willing to pay for satellite or digital cable services. Personally, I find this trend profoundly disturbing... entertainment for the affluent. By the way, as has already happened twice to me in the five years, when the power goes out, so does all that digital junk. But radio still works as long as you have batteries on hand. Broadcast radio got me through 7 days of no electricity. There was no TV, no cells phones, no internet. It seems to me that if shortwave and ordinary broadcast radio did not exist at this time, we would have to invent it, because you can't rely on anything digital being there when you need it. During the power failure in the east last summer, I was on my way somewhere in the car. I couldn't make it because, with no traffic lights, it was gridlock everywhere. Cellphones were out too. But AM radio was on, and within less than half an hour, anyone with an AM radio could know what was going on. Was it a big terrorist attack? No, just a power failure. But I knew that because as I was sitting in the gridlock, the radio in my car worked fine. I never thought about it much before the two big power failures that affected me directly, but I like broadcast AM and shortwave just as it is. I want to wrap this up by saying that, in terms of things that you can actually listen to, I find shortwave is better now than it has ever been. I don't see a decline at all. If anything, it's the opposite. "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? |
"Mark S. Holden" wrote in message ... 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. The internet isn't much of a factor in the third world, but there's been a large number of FM transmitters installed in the third world, and the propaganda broadcasters such as the VOA are buying time on them. Right now, I'm sure local FM is the most prominent substitute for SW. Frank Dresser |
"starman" wrote in message ... I find it hard to see Bro. Stair and his contemporaries as good news. I'm sure Brother Stair and his ilk are responsible for whatever new interest shortwave radio has developed in the last few years. Beyond that, the Prophet is always wrong, and the news doesn't get any better than that!! Frank Dresser |
All this hang wringing, sky is falling, end of the world view of
Shortwave Radio is hard to believe. There is more to listen to on Shortwave Radio today, than at any other time in current history. No I don't listen to the BBC's or CBC's or other propaganda tools for big governments. I listen to Pirate Broadcasters, who give pure, unedited, opinions and views, you won't find on the mega-watt mouthpieces. The best production, the best variety, the best programs that you will hear on Shortwave, are on the pirate bands. Yes, you will have to put some effort into hearing the Pirates, but the payoff is far superior to anything the government mouthpieces have to offer. Europe has dozens of Pirates in the 6200-6300khz range. Please you Euro-pirates, post some freqs here. Here's a chance to grab some listeners who hadn't thought of Pirates over BBC. US Pirates are found on 6925-6950-6955-6975khz on weeknights and weekends. So stop your bellyaching about the loss of mega-watt government propaganda mouthpieces and start listening to some honest, unedited, radio, that out shines the commercials boys by a mile. THERE IS PLENTY TO LISTEN TO ON SHORTWAVE! The pirates in North America and Europe do a far better job of entertaining than all the big government approved crap that pollutes the airwaves. You can find current logs on Pirate catches at: www.frn.net/vines/ Go to the "LOGS" section. |
In article
. rogers.com, "Pierre L" wrote: Somewhat the same situation is going on now in photography, with the growing popularity of digital. However, I think the same arguments against can be made as with shortwave. If it's digital, it's somewhat exclusive to those who can pay, and it requires a fairly steep investment in equipment that is rapidly superceded. It might be better in performance, but to keep up with it, the user pretty much becomes a slave to the technology. Shortwave, on the other hand, just needs a cheap receiver, and it's free for the taking. Just like an expensive digital camera gives you the picture but takes all the fun out of actually taking it, satellite radio is good, and just a button press away, but is there any fun in it? Where's the fun in listening to "radio" on the internet? How does an expensive digital camera take all the fun out of taking pictures? You can still fiddle with exposure and focus and f-stops and all the other things that serious photographers want/need. 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 ,
David wrote: More like ''now''. Good point. Stations *are* disappearing "now". 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) |
The 40 years of the Cold War was the time of the greatest number of SW
stations on the air. The propaganda war raged constantly until the fall of the Iron Curtain. The war is pretty much over and the need for the propaganda organs is just not there. Voice of Russia is still on the air with a (usually) strong signal and is much less strident than the old Radio Moscow. It is worth a listen for an alternate perspective. I too, miss the "Golden Days". Gone is the thumping Latin beat on RRadio RRhumbos, a station that introduced me to S.American music. Too much has gone , I suspect forever. (Sniff, sniff--tear on cheek.) Bob |
"Bob" wrote in message om... The 40 years of the Cold War was the time of the greatest number of SW stations on the air. The propaganda war raged constantly until the fall of the Iron Curtain. The war is pretty much over and the need for the propaganda organs is just not there. Voice of Russia is still on the air with a (usually) strong signal and is much less strident than the old Radio Moscow. It is worth a listen for an alternate perspective. I too, miss the "Golden Days". Gone is the thumping Latin beat on RRadio RRhumbos, a station that introduced me to S.American music. Too much has gone , I suspect forever. (Sniff, sniff--tear on cheek.) Bob Well, I don't miss the golden days of stations packed in sholder to sholder, utility transmitters on SW broadcast bands, high power jammers and the Soviet woodpecker. I'll agree about the tropical band stations, though. Most of 'em are gone, and I did like hearing them. Frank Dresser Frank Dresser |
Dan wrote:
snip How does an expensive digital camera take all the fun out of taking pictures? You can still fiddle with exposure and focus and f-stops and all the other things that serious photographers want/need. Dan Many of the low to mid priced digital cameras are PHD (Push Here Dummy) cameras with little if any manual control options. Digital SLR's and better compact ones usually seem to include manual over ride options. |
It's like a camera that could only use one single brand of film.
"Dan" wrote in message ... How does an expensive digital camera take all the fun out of taking pictures? You can still fiddle with exposure and focus and f-stops and all the other things that serious photographers want/need. 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) |
Dan wrote:
Yeah. Radio Moscow on the old Cuba relay on 11840 calling us "running dog capitalists" was fun. Now VOR has commercials! Not to forget Radio Peking and Radio Tirana! Art Harris |
"Dan" wrote in message ... In article k.net, "gil" wrote: I can go back a little further than 5 years when the tropical bands were loaded with small stations and it was challenging to hear numerous SW broadcasters on the 120, 90, 75 and 60 meter bands which many of them are gone now. I assume the cost to maintain a station and the falling world economy has driven many SW broadcasters under I don't think "the falling world economy" has anything to do with it. Back 5 or 10 years the world economy was roaring. No, what happened was the internet and satellites. It's simply easier and cheaper to reach greater numbers of people with a higher quality signal over the net than thru the air. It's actually a win-win situation. But the broadcasters he's talking about aren't on the 'net or satellites. They've just gone away, so it's not like one medium has stolen from another. The Eurpoean majors--certainly that's the case--but not the little guys AFAIK. Today's listener doesn't want to fiddle with knobs and antennas just to hear the news or Top of the Pops, any more than he wants to fiddle with knobs and antennas to watch CNN. It's simply expected to be there when you turn on the TV, from anywhere on earth. I don't think yesterday's listener wanted to do that either by and large--which is why SW was essentially a "fringe" hobby then as well. I think both generations have/had a very high percentage of individuals who wanted to use the dominant, "easy" technology. It's just a different technology today. I'd be very interested to know how many individuals gravitated to SW -solely- because they couldn't get the content elsewhere, opposed to being attracted to both the content and the radio itself. IMO, to the extent SW may be suffering today, it's because interest in radio as hardware has diminished relative to other "techie" hardware, rather than the content necessarily being available elsewhere. |
This is a time of change throughout the broadcasting industry. My local
small-town police force, who I thought would be broadcasting VHF forever, skipped right by trunking, and now our entire town's communications is handled through Nextel. As a former newsperson, this breaks my heart, especially when I have several scanners that won't be a whole lot of use to me from now on. Of course, digital television is on its way. I thought that might take 10 to 20 years, but stations are really putting out the programming and consumers are really buying the receivers. It truly won't be long until analog televisions will be useless without a converter box and companies are basically giving away analog tvs right now. It disturbs me that the Eton E1, successor to the Grundig Satellit 800, is now XM and DAB ready. But why shouldn't it be? If digital is truly taking over the airwaves (and it is), why shouldn't the receiver makers build the newest technology into their newest products? I guess I'm just a child of the 20th Century who somehow has made it into the 21st century. Or in the immortal words of ELO's Jeff Lynne (circa 1980): "Things ain't how you thought they were Nothing have you planned So pick up your penny and your suitcase You're not a 21st century man." |
"Frank Dresser" wrote in message 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 You may have something there Frank. Lets hope. I cant see the short-wave medium going away. There's always someone going to use it. -- 73 Brian ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die. Brian's Radio Universe http://webpages.charter.net/brianehill/ |
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