Post #1194216

2026-01-26 10:57 UTC

p.p.p.p.s. I think some people are misunderstanding my point? I realise that shortwave news services have mostly shut down, but the reason they shut down was the wide availability of a free global internet. The scenario I am suggesting buying a shortwave for is where a country's access to the free global internet is cut off, as we can see in repressive regimes such as Iran, North Korea etc. If more countries do this, if "iron curtains" on the internet become more common, then shortwave services might restart as a way of evading such blocks. But the shortwave option will only work if we buy the receivers to listen to them.

Replies (2)

@FediThing@social.chinwag.org 2026-01-26 12:28

p.p.p.p.p.s. People replying that any kind of shortwave reactivation would never happen can have a look at this example from 2022 in response to the invasion of Ukraine: https://theconversation.com/shortwave-radio-in-ukraine-why-revisiting-old-school-technology-makes-sense-in-a-war-178575 "...the BBC announced that it was resuming the broadcasting of the BBC World Service via shortwave radio for four hours per day. It said that this was to ensure that people in parts of Russia and Ukraine can access its news service." "In a world with near-ubiquitous adoption of mobile phones, the use of early 20th century radio technology might seem unusual. But it makes sense for a number of practical reasons."

Open ##1194217
@knowprose@mastodon.social 2026-01-26 11:14

@FediThing you are correct. To censor protesting, as has happened recently in #Iran, and historically #China, internet is cut. It is a real issue around the world and this is a real mitigation/solution, as is HAM radio. However, HAM in some places can get you killed. A shortwave receiver is just a receiver. #ice might be using proprietary #meshnetworks.

Open ##1194246