I get the impression that shortwave is a relic of the pre-internet age. But I wonder what’s the least implausible scenario that would make the medium attractive again.
I would think the proliferation of censorship at a digital level could push some people to it. Honestly, I’m brand new to the shortwave world and this is part of the reason I’m here.
What do you even need to do shortwave broadcast? What sort of license?
Least implausible is probably the collapse of civilization, but I could also see a Carrington event do it as well.
Interestingly the question is more or less equivilent to the same things that would have people need to talk to each other again via voice.
So I figure a prerequisite is it requires that the internet no longer be available, or that large enough groups of people can’t access it
As one of the comments mentioned, I think it has a lot to do with how much you need one to many voice communication.
With today’s world, data communication seems more necessary, and something like meshtastic, while currently quite limited in scope, might be something worth looking into.
Add to that the capability of Meshtastic to do basic encryption and a device entry fee of <$15. Limited scope doesnt matter as much if it’s widespread enough.
As far as I know radio transmissions cannot be tied to a single device like cell signals are. They can be listened in on easier. It’s also harder to shutdown those networks since it depends on individual devices and not a corporate controlled network. So it’s a niche use.
