Post #165501

2026-01-25 16:39 UTC

This is going to sound a bit weird, but it might be a good idea to purchase a shortwave radio if you haven't got one already. They're quite cheap and small, you can buy one and store it long term just in case. Shortwave is the only way to receive news and information internationally without relying on the internet or satellite. It might be a useful fallback to receive news from the outside world if your country's media and internet are ever restricted or closed down. If you've never used one, it's like a normal radio but the frequencies reach around the world. Every country used to have its own station. #Radio #ShortwaveRadio

Replies (12)

@mral@mastodon.sdf.org 2026-01-25 16:58

@FediThing@social.chinwag.org that is a very good idea. thanks, I had one as a kid. The added benefit is that you get to hear a view of our world from outside our world and that is useful even before democracy dies. It might even help to prevent a total collapse or speed the recovery.

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@raymaccarthy@mastodon.ie 2026-01-25 17:44

@FediThing@social.chinwag.org Sadly most of the West has abandoned SW. Romania & China are on it in English Approximately 4MHz to 9 MHz after dark and above 7 MHz during daylight. Upper 15 MHz to 25 MHz varies with solar conditions.

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@katzenberger@tldr.nettime.org 2026-01-25 17:13

@FediThing@social.chinwag.org See https://shortwave.live/ for an up-to-date overview of available radio stations, worldwide. #Radio #ShortwaveRadio

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@FediThing@social.chinwag.org 2026-01-25 17:01

p.s. If you do get one, try to get one that runs on AA batteries. AA batteries are very easy to find, and as a standard size they future-proof the radio. Take the batteries out if you're storing the radio long term, as they may leak if you leave them in for years. Don't get one with a built-in battery, because they deteriorate over time and are difficult to replace.

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@SnowyCA@social.vivaldi.net 2026-01-25 16:44

@FediThing It's not a weird suggestion, it's a wise one

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@bonkers@nerdculture.de 2026-01-25 16:45

@FediThing yeah, but transmission needs quite a lot of infrastructure and energy, so many stations have shut down. But the air is still pretty active. You may catch some quite interesting stuff from Africa, or some radio shows from Middle East or Asia in languages where you can't understand a word, but it's still fascinating to listen to :)

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@xavier_hm@sunny.garden 2026-01-25 16:59

@FediThing interesting, I've never heard of it before. Is it independent news or existing orgs on an additional frequency? Sounds so niche I'd worry about credibility if it's all sources you can't research/vouch.

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@alisynthesis@io.waxandleather.com 2026-01-25 17:15

@FediThing I've been meaning to do this for a couple of years, and this was the final reminder I needed. Just ordered one from C. Crane. Thanks!

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@fdrc_ff@www.foxyhole.io 2026-01-25 17:29

@FediThing@social.chinwag.org These are the times we are living in I guess

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@ajroach42@retro.social 2026-01-25 17:41

@FediThing This is good advice.

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@raymaccarthy@mastodon.ie 2026-01-25 17:59

@FediThing Most countries did. However Ireland, despite being one of the earliest Domestic MW broadcasters and the large Irish Disporia only had an experimental transmission about 1948. There was and is Shannon Air Radio, but it's only met reports for aircraft. Night time allows MW to travel, so till the 1960s UK listeners got popular music from R. Normandie & R. Luxembourg at night (US Broadcast band) and in 1950 American Armed Forces Radio. We used to get daytime LW UK, FR & DE in Ireland.

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@samir@m.fedica.com 2026-01-25 18:02

@FediThing shortwave can be jammed I grew up in a dictatorship and we had no access to outside news, including shortwave

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