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?
