Radio transmissions using wavelengths between 10 m and 100 m
"Shortwave" redirects here. For other uses, see Shortwave (disambiguation).
Grundig Satellit 400 solid-state, digital shortwave receiver, c. 1986[1]
Shortwave radio is radio transmission using radio frequencies in the shortwave bands (SW). There is no official definition of the band range, but it always includes all of the high frequency band (HF), which extends from 3 to 30 MHz (100 to 10 meters); above the medium frequency band (MF), to the bottom of the VHF band.
Radio waves in the shortwave band can be reflected or refracted from a layer of electrically charged atoms in the atmosphere called the ionosphere. Therefore, short waves directed at an angle into the sky can be reflected back to Earth at great distances, beyond the horizon. This is called skywave or "skip" propagation. Thus shortwave radio can be used for communication over very long distances, in contrast to radio waves of higher frequency, which travel in straight lines (line-of-sight propagation) and are limited by the visual horizon, about 64 km (40 miles).
Tesla Máj 623A, Short-long-medium wave tube receiver from Czechoslovakia, c. 1956/57
Shortwave broadcasts of radio programs played an important role in the early days of radio history. In World War II it was used as a propaganda tool for an international audience. The heyday of international shortwave broadcasting was during the Cold War between 1960 and 1980.
With the wide implementation of other technologies for the distribution of radio programs, such as satellite radio and cable broadcasting as well as IP-based transmissions, shortwave broadcasting lost importance. Initiatives for the digitization of broadcasting did not bear fruit either, and so as of 2024[update], few broadcasters continue to broadcast programs on shortwave.
However, shortwave remains important in war zones, such as in the Russo-Ukrainian war, and shortwave broadcasts can be transmitted over thousands of miles from a single transmitter, making it difficult for government authorities to censor them. Shortwave radio is also often used by aircraft.
^Cite error: The named reference SWRad_GS400 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Shortwaveradio is radio transmission using radio frequencies in the shortwave bands (SW). There is no official definition of the band range, but it always...
This is a List of shortwaveradio broadcasters updated on Mar 21, 2024: International broadcasting List of American shortwave broadcasters List of European...
Shortwave listening, or SWLing, is the hobby of listening to shortwaveradio broadcasts located on frequencies between 1700 kHz and 30 MHz (30 000 kHz)...
low-power communications on the shortwave bands but has been losing favor in place of newer digital modes such as FT8. Radio over IP, or RoIP, is similar...
A shortwaveradio receiver is a radio receiver that can receive one or more shortwave bands, between 1.6 and 30 MHz. A shortwaveradio receiver often receives...
started shortwave broadcasts aimed at the Philippines, which at the time were under American control. The station was used as a counterpoint to Radio Tokyo...
Shortwave broadcasting in the United States allows private ownership of commercial and non-commercial shortwave stations that are not relays of existing...
radio host. Jurasek reviews fast food, frozen meals, and energy drinks on his YouTube channel TheReportOfTheWeek, and hosts a radio show on shortwave...
Shortwave bands are frequency allocations for use within the shortwaveradio spectrum (the upper medium frequency [MF] band and all of the high frequency...
Problems playing this file? See media help. A numbers station is a shortwaveradio station characterized by broadcasts of formatted numbers, which are...
claimed that more listeners listened to RNW podcasts than listened on shortwaveradio. On 24 June 2011, the Dutch government announced a 70% cut to RNW's...
major part of the shortwave band of frequencies, so communication at these frequencies is often called shortwaveradio. Because radio waves in this band...
It broadcasts radio news, speech and discussions in more than 40 languages to many parts of the world on analogue and digital shortwave platforms, internet...
was well known within the militia movement for his anti-government shortwaveradio program. Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh was reportedly a fan...
community radio, student-run campus radio stations, and hospital radio stations can be found throughout the world. Many stations broadcast on shortwave bands...
The Dutch began conducting experiments in the shortwave frequencies in 1925 from Eindhoven. The radio station PCJJ began the first international broadcasting...
1939, Radio Moscow was broadcasting (on mediumwave and shortwave) in English, French, Indonesian, German, Italian and Arabic. During the 1930s, Radio Moscow...
radio stations, referring in some way to the technology of shortwaveradios, long distances, but in this case the means of propagation of the radio edition...
long-distance shortwave (high frequency) radio communication – between 3 and 30 MHz – is a result of skywave propagation. Since the early 1920s amateur radio operators...
by Family Radio, Says Teachings 'Not Scriptural'". Christian Post. Retrieved 30 December 2018. "Shortwave Central: WYFR to close all shortwave services"...
and Ici Musique (international radio service Radio Canada International historically transmitted via shortwaveradio, but since 2012 its content is only...
Amateur ShortwaveRadio is a live album by Over the Rhine, released in 1999, compiled by Linford Detweiler to mark the 10th anniversary of the band's...
broadcasting on shortwave from powerful transmitters in Sackville, New Brunswick. "In its heyday", said Radio World magazine, "Radio Canada International...
stations released by Irdial-Discs beginning in 1997. Numbers stations are shortwaveradio stations believed to be operated by government agencies to communicate...
Before World War II, all American shortwaveradio stations were in private hands. Privately controlled shortwave networks included the National Broadcasting...
Kolkata's shortwave service. 'Akashavani' was also used in the context of radio by M. V. Gopalaswami in 1936 after setting up India's first private radio station...
streams which include Israel Radio. Unofficial Persian Israel Radio website. Links to audio, shortwave frequencies, etc. Radio frequencies for IBA networks...
(also known as "AM band") transmissions, but also on the longwave and shortwaveradio bands. The earliest experimental AM transmissions began in the early...
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