Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 12 replies
  • Subscribers 13 subscribers
  • Views 2123 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

Why no shortwave band on radios?

Arran Cameron
I have lost count of the number of transistor (and IC) radios and Hi-Fis that have passed through my hands over the years. Some were high build quality but others were complete junk. What is common between them are that relatively few models have the facility to receive shortwave broadcasts. They only have LW, MW, and VHF bands.


Notable examples from the heyday of the transistor radio with a shortwave band include the Hacker Super Sovereign RP75, GEC G820, and Grundig Yacht Boy, but these were all top of the range models. Commercially available models of radios with a shortwave band at an affordable price to the average person were limited although there was the option of constructing one yourself or modifying an existing LW / MW radio.


What is the reason why so few transistor radios and Hi-Fi tuners had a shortwave band?
Parents
  • 0
    I have a similar experience to Denis. Following on from the family mains radio dating from the 1950s I bought my first 'transistor radio' in about 1972/3 which had LW/MW/VHS and about six shortwave bands. I still remember the joy of searching the SW bands and coming across Radio Trrane, then searching my Atlas to find out where the broadcast was from. Later, about 1980, in the Merchant Navy I bought a Sony digitally tuned radio (PLL) which had only FM and AM, with the AM ranging continuously from 150kHz to (I think) 29999 kHz, which came with a book of all the SW frequencies used worldwide. That travelled with me on all my ships and enabled me to listen to radio transmissions from all corners of the globe. After I left the sea went with me to South Korea before it gave up the ghost in the late 1990s, at which point I bought a much smaller Sony AM/FM radio with similar capabilities that I still have. However I do not listen to the radio so much now - perhaps when I retire in a few years I will have the opportunity to start investigating the Short Wave bands again, by which time the may all be shut down.....
Reply
  • 0
    I have a similar experience to Denis. Following on from the family mains radio dating from the 1950s I bought my first 'transistor radio' in about 1972/3 which had LW/MW/VHS and about six shortwave bands. I still remember the joy of searching the SW bands and coming across Radio Trrane, then searching my Atlas to find out where the broadcast was from. Later, about 1980, in the Merchant Navy I bought a Sony digitally tuned radio (PLL) which had only FM and AM, with the AM ranging continuously from 150kHz to (I think) 29999 kHz, which came with a book of all the SW frequencies used worldwide. That travelled with me on all my ships and enabled me to listen to radio transmissions from all corners of the globe. After I left the sea went with me to South Korea before it gave up the ghost in the late 1990s, at which point I bought a much smaller Sony AM/FM radio with similar capabilities that I still have. However I do not listen to the radio so much now - perhaps when I retire in a few years I will have the opportunity to start investigating the Short Wave bands again, by which time the may all be shut down.....
Children
No Data

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines