Shortwave listening
[1] Listeners range from casual users seeking international news and entertainment programming, to hobbyists immersed in the technical aspects of long-distance radio reception and sending and collecting official confirmations (QSL cards) that document their reception of remote broadcasts (DXing).
In some developing countries, shortwave listening enables remote communities to obtain regional programming traditionally provided by local medium wave AM broadcasters.
Audiences discovered that international programming was available on the shortwave bands of many consumer radio receivers, and a number of magazines and listener clubs catering to the practice arose as a result.
With the advent of the Internet, many international broadcasters have scaled back or terminated their shortwave transmissions in favor of web-based program distribution, while others are moving from traditional analog to digital broadcasting modes in order to allow more efficient delivery of shortwave programming.
The number of organized shortwave listening clubs has diminished along with printed magazines devoted to the hobby; however, many enthusiasts continue to exchange information and news on the web.
United States shortwave broadcasters began transmitting popular radio programs in an attempt to attract foreign audiences.
The Voice of America (or VOA) began broadcasting in 1942, after the U.S. entry into World War II using the Yankee Doodle musical theme.
Established in 1939, the Chinese 35 kilowatt shortwave station XGOY broadcast programming aimed at listening-restricted Japan.
It, and other Canadian shortwave stations, began broadcasting Northern Messenger in 1933, a mailbag show which allowed people to communicate personal messages to listeners in remote outposts in the Far North.
[9] Throughout World War II, CBS captured Allied and enemy shortwave communications from more than 60 international stations via secretly located receivers.
[10] Shortwave listeners notified families of prisoners of war when studio announcers at stations in Axis powers countries, such as Germany and Japan, read prisoner-written messages.
Shirer that the International Red Cross was the only reliable source of information on prisoners, and expressed concern at receiving six or seven letters a week requesting transcripts of German broadcasts in which service members may have been mentioned: New Zealand shortwave listeners reported POW voices broadcast over Radio Peking during the Korean War.
Some electronics retailers even reported a "run" on portable shortwave receivers due to the increased interest at the time.
[1] Listeners often obtain QSL cards (which confirm contact) from ham operators, broadcasters or utility stations as trophies of the hobby.
[18] Some humanitarian organizations like Ears to Our World distribute portable, self-powered shortwave radios to less developed parts of the globe, enabling people in remote, impoverished parts of the world to get educational programming, local and international news, emergency information and music.
[15] Radios for shortwave reception generally have higher performance than those intended for the local mediumwave, longwave or FM broadcast band, since dependable reception of shortwave signals requires a radio with increased sensitivity, selectivity, dynamic range and frequency stability.
Serious hobbyists may use expensive (shortwave) communications receivers and outdoor antenna located away from electrical noise sources, such as a dipole made from wire and insulators.
A DRM broadcast rivals FM mono quality and can also send graphic images and web pages via a separate information channel.
[24] While radio hobbyists report that the number of shortwave listening clubs has diminished and printed magazines devoted to the hobby are few, enthusiasts such as Glenn Hauser and others continue to populate web sites, and originate podcasts dedicated to the pursuit.
