@FediThing They can also be critical and life-saving during disasters when infrastructure like electricity or Internet may fail and may not be restored for days or even weeks. While it does pay to have non-grid ways to charge phones, it also pays to have another way to pick up emergency broadcasts and relevant local news (especially since mobile internet is just as vulnerable to disaster as anything else, plus networks can rapidly become so congested that they're useless anyway). I've seen several models that include a hand crank as well to power it if needed, or have solar panels for trickle charging if conditions permit. I keep thinking I should look into one even though I'm in suburbia so I can get familiar with how to use it if I ever need to.

@FediThing SWL is good practice for eventually getting into amateur radio as well.

In a city I strongly recommend getting a mag loop antenna to be able to block out local interference. And be aware that a lot of household devices produce interference that will swamp the entire band and even AM broadcast if they're near the antenna. In my case, it was a custom keyboard and a wireless phone charger.

In a rural area, a long wire antenna will work fine. But wherever you are it's unlikely the built-in antenna on the radio will be useful for shortwave.

@FediThing

There's a short-wave radio club in my area. Each member has an antenna to send and receive. The club has erected a tall repeater tower that allows world-wide reach. They pay for its maintenance by renting space to the local cable company.

The members chat with others around the world. They have an arrangement with local emergency responders to help disperse information and pass along calls for assistance during storms, power failures and other emergencies.

#radio #shortwave

@FediThing

I grew up listening to shortwave radio. I learned how to make antennas too. The proper length of antenna and electrically shortening or lengthening it with a capacitor or inductor. I would also learn how to take a #balun and make covert directional and #yagi antennas, something that might be very important if signals are jammed during a total fascist takeover. Cable, connectors, and makeshift insulators and RF iron cores, stocking up on these DIY antenna parts might be quite useful during the dark days ahead. Also, learning #MorseCode never goes out of style.

@FediThing This is good advice.

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.