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Comment by tdeck | Hacker News Reader

> Shortwave radios are also cheap and widespread, so it's easy to get one anywhere in the world

I always hear this in discussions about number stations, but I don't think this is true in the US. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a general consumer "shortwave radio". Unless the regular AM band counts, which seems to be medium wave.

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The term for shortwave radios targeting the general consumer market is "world band radio". They look like a standard portable AM/FM radio except they'll also pick up long wave, medium wave, short wave, and maybe weather band. They're more of a niche in the US now that internet streaming is a thing, but you should still be able to get one at most electronics stores. Of course like most niche products, you'll get much better selection and pricing online.

I'm in the US. At least half of the people I know own shortwave radios, although most don't think of them as "shortwave radios". They're more often called "world radios" or some other such synonym. I could run out to a consumer electronics store right now and buy one.

The younger people I know tend to own such a radio in the form of the Baofeng UV-5R or the like.

A Baofeng UV-5R cannot receive shortwave, it's in the VHF/UHF range for receive/transmit and can receive commercial FM broadcast.

Ah, true. My mistake.

It's interesting because I wasn't aware of these "world radios" either. Maybe because I'm 34 and they lost popularity before I came of age? I have a ham radio license but I wouldn't consider those radios to be aimed at the ordinary consumer.

I used to have little battery powered AM/FM/Shortwave/weather radio lost it a couple house moveings ago. Kept it around for the emergacy weather radio during flood events and other extreme weather when internet/power isnt reliable. Should probably pick up a replacement come to think of it.

def a niche consumer item these days. but pretty easy to make your own.

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