Post #1194240
2026-01-25 21:25 UTC
@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.
Replies (1)
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@FediThing@social.chinwag.org 2026-01-26 10:52
@funkylab With all due respect, I think you're misunderstanding my point? Shortwave services are shutting down because the internet is easier and higher quality and open. I'm suggesting buying shortwave receivers in case of a future scenario where the free internet is no longer available, if there's an Iran-style shutdown or something similar. If "iron curtains" appear on the internet, then shortwave would be a relatively cheap and easy way of evading such blocks, and countries might restart their shortwave services in order to do this. Buying a receiver and putting it in storage is a tiny cost with a potentially huge benefit.