Post #1194214
2026-01-25 17:39 UTC
Replies (6)
-
@FediThing@social.chinwag.org 2026-01-26 09:54
p.p.p.s. Just to add, these are really really easy to use. They work exactly like normal radios, the only difference is they can receive international radio stations. You can get cheap shortwave radios that just have a dial and you just turn the dial to browse the stations. It's as simple as it gets. There are also more complex models with a digital display, presets etc. Some people take shortwave very seriously as a hobby and will buy very advanced models and accessories to try to receive as many stations as possible, which is fine but you don't need to do all that. The basic radio is good enough for most people's needs.
-
@vfrmedia@social.tchncs.de 2026-01-25 19:45
@FediThing Perhaps the sets using a single 18650 lithium rechargeable which is also replaceable are also OK as this is a well known and relatively easy size to get as its widely used in torches and vapes (albeit not always as easy to get in a local shop)
-
@davewordnerd@masto.ai 2026-01-25 21:20
@FediThing I was just looking at SW radios recently. I think you’ve convinced me to buy one.
-
@gcvsa@mstdn.plus 2026-01-25 21:23
@FediThing Actually, older radios are better, because they are easier to repair. Electrolytic capacitors are the least durable components, and will need replacement. Modern surface-mounted printed circuit boards are often unrepairable.
-
@funkylab@mastodon.social 2026-01-25 21:25
@FediThing That's exactly the point why stations are shutting down! It's 100 year old technology. Operating transmitters is extremely power intense for the reach you get (in people actively listening). You're really making a point opposing reality: Deutsche Welle shut SW down; so did most other European public broadcasters. Just too much power to reach far too few ears. BBC had to (costly!) reactivate transmitters after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
-
@wbpeckham@techhub.social 2026-01-26 16:37
@FediThing I found one that's AM, FM, and shortwave for about $10. It's about $20 if you add weather radio Either of these will run on AA batteries and fit in your pocket. I wish I had the old one that I had in my 20s because it was a cabinet about three feet tall with seven knobs and a wire coil antenna that was most of the bottom of the cabinet and the rest was a huge speaker. On the back, there was a connection for a long wire antenna if you had to go DX. (DX = long range) no transistors, just 7 vacuum tubes, and everything except portable, but I really miss it.