The NW7US Beacon

Big Dog to Little Dog:

“They say that SOPA will end our ability to watching Kitty Videos!”

(Source: thefluffingtonpost)

I am the 1%

I watch the Sun, both night and day, and listen for faint whispers of Human Communications…

And I cast my voice and my thoughts out to the world by way of the Ionosphere, sharing and educating about shortwave radio, space weather, and the propagation of radio signals — the freedom of Human Communication.

I #OccupyShortwave

Help me reach the 99%

… the 99% who are not connected by the Ionosphere and the Sun … the 99% who are not YET Amateur Radio Operators and who are not yet shortwave radio-enabled …

I’m the 1% … educating and enabling THAT 99% … to communicate … outside of the establishment…

One of my shortwave radio (and fellow amateur radio) acquaintances, a fellow who blogs over at Shortwave America, Tweeted some sentiment along the lines of wanting to have our own ‘movement’ to change the world, at least the world of shortwave radio.  A type of “occupy shortwave” where we could stem the tide against the eroding away of shortwave relevance in a communications world tied together by fiber optics, satellite links, and instant gratification.

As he wrote:

Early on in the evening of November 6th, 2011, after watching a fast decline in amateur radio use, shortwave broadcast, and growing fatigue by members of the radio community on both ends of the spectrum, hastag #OccupyShortwave started showing up on twitter. Before a complete hour could elapse, pirate operators started showing up on 6945Khz and then the famed NW7US almost immediately joined the quickly-growing movement.

Why occupy shortwave? To bring about a new growth, awareness, and popularity to both the amateur radio and shortwave / HF radio communities. Members of the movement want to get the message through that there is more than just studying a license manual and going to class, and earning a license. There is more than being an SWL who sits at the radio receiver spinning a dial, chasing QSL cards and free swag from shortwave stations and amateur operators.

#OccupyShortwave members are the 1% trying to reach the 99% who are not yet amateur operators or SWL’s. There is a whole lot of science and learning involved in radio. There is truly something for everyone, whether it be those of you who are math geniuses who love electronic component level work, those of you who like to enjoy the science of antenna feedlines, antennas, power supplies, and radio propagation which in turn gets you into space weather, or those of you who like to engineer sound, learn about geography and culture, radio / satellite communications, maritime radio operations, etc.

Communicate outside the establishment, become a convert from the 99% to the 1% who educate and enable people to become involved in radio. Radio involvement could be an avocation for you, or a career. It could be a volunteer experience on the weekends or during times of distress, it could be whatever experience you are looking to have; but you have to actually take that initiative. Together, if we all get “radio active”, we CAN be the 99% instead of the 1% who are hardly noticed or cared about anymore.

Together, we can put radio on the map again! #OccupyShortwave on FACEBOOK and Twitter. The Internet is only a tool, a promotion medium. The Internet relies upon an infrastructure that can always have the plug pulled. Occupying shortwave and amateur radio lawfully, means that we all get behind the mic in the studio or in our shacks and fire up the bands according to license class privilege to make a difference!

WE WILL Occupy!

My friend is on to something.  The shortwave radio slice, starting from just above the AM Broadcast band (say, 1800 KHz) up to 30 MHz, is still a critical slice of the radio spectrum.  You will find it occupied by trans-continental air traffic control (pilots aboard airliners flying over the oceans, talking with ground control about their flight plans, for instance), Arctic fishing vessels, Military air traffic, Amateur Radio operators, science expeditions, ships navigating rough seas, sailing vessels seeking the help of a coast guard because pirates have started the chase… and so much more.  Shortwave radio is not just the spectrum of International Broadcasters like the Voice of America or the BBC.  It even gives voice to clandestine and pirate broadcasters…

Shortwave radio is not dead.  Shortwave radio is viable.  But, International Shortwave Broadcasting is becoming more and more challenged because of the current World Economy.  More and more International Broadcasting stations are cutting back or even going off the air permanently because they simply do not have a budget to continue broadcasting.

But, perhaps Shortwave Radio is not dying.  Perhaps Shortwave Radio just needs to become a priority again, to the masses.

I believe we must each do our part. We must reach out to each other, assisting, educating, encouraging. We who are part of the 1% must help expand our ranks, because freedom to communicate using technology must remain a skill and an option for all peoples. And, this mode of communication is possible by way of the Ionosphere, without the need for satellites, cables, fiber optics, or any other infrastructure, but with only radio waves with the help of the Ionosphere under the influence of the Sun.

#OccupyShortwave

Feel free to visit my shortwave page: http://swl.hfradio.org

#OccupyShortwave