Voice of Russia Antenna site in Wachenbrunn, Germany (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
It appears the Voice of Russia will cease shortwave radio service on January 1st, 2014. According to this article on RiaNovosti, the shortwave service is closing due to “funding cuts.”
I have listened to the Voice of Russia since they were known as Radio Moscow in the Cold War era. But they’ve been around much longer than the Cold War, indeed, they’ve been on the air since 1922 with their first transmitter station (RV-1) in the Moscow region.
Needless to say, I’m sad to see them leave the shortwave spectrum.
This makes me sad, I am 23 and I love shortwave radio. VOR was my station was VOR, got my QSL card.
well however sad it is theres nothing we can do about it. its called moving with the times technology…internet radio….cheaper to run….better sound quality…if you said to a kid look heres a big old walkie talkie use this instead of the mobile then he would throw it at you….its very sad but we either move with the times and stop moaning about it or just stay sad…ok stick with ham radio as this will never close down. nore cb radio…something we have control over and the goverments don’t need to stop as its no use to them….nore does it cost them a penny….
what exactly is going on?, and what can be done to fix whatever the problem is? I’ve been listening to the Voice of Russia via radio in New Jersey USA for the past 4 years, since when I first came across it by accident. IT HAS BEEN A HUGE PLEASURE, it was a most joyous discovery (I can’t stand the freaking talking heads with their mind boggling stupidity and the freaking publicity elsewhere — AND I was now learning a lot of new, refreshing, intelligent stuff). However, starting approximately on Monday Sept 30 or Tuesday October 1st, 2013, the radio dial went crazy with something else that is of no interest to me whatsoever. I have no internet at home. I’ve searched and searched the radio dials — nothing. I’m writing this on October 6, 2013. Where is the correct dial now for my area?
I am 64 and have been a swl since the age of 7. I listened to Joe Adamov on a free energy crystal radio that I built myself and what a thrill it was! The kids today have no clue. If the internet goes down SW radio can still do the job. I am also an Extra class ham and love radiotelegraphy with hand operated straight keys and bugs. I also did military comms so I love radio in all it’s forms. When Katrina hit only ham radio got through because of interoperability. Same for 9/11, Haiti, and the Asian tsunami. The younger folks think they know it all. So sad but it is called progress! VY 73s de WA1UFO
ESTOY EXTRAÑADO CON ESTA NOTICIA. PORQUE SE VA UNA EMISORA TAN POTENTE E INFORMATIVA? A DIARIO LA ESCUCHO EN ESPECIAL LOS PROGRAMAS EN ESPAÑOL. OJALÁ RECONSIDEREN ESA DECISIÓN. DESDE HONDURAS CENTRO AMERICA, LES SALUDO.
Estoy de acuerdo y, supongo, hay alguna posibilidad de reconsideración. Técnicamente, VOR no ha anunciado el cierre. Creo que van a cerrar a finales de año como VOR no ha negado la noticia.
-Tomas
Hello everyone. I’ve written to VoR’s English section and they denied the rumored cancellation on shortwave broadcasting. Maybe they are going to cancel Russial-language broadcasts only?
Did they give any other details regarding this? Would you mind sharing–I would love to post this and clarify.
Thanks for your comment!
Yes, of couse I can share this letter. In fact, I have received two letters, so I’ll paste the most interesting parts… 🙂
“Unfortunately, so far we have no official information as regards the cancellation of shortwave broadcasting. However, we cannot rule out such a scenario for the future, since currently the VOR is speedily introducing modern day technologies of radio and internet broadcasting.”
“Thank you very much for your letter and for your concern about the presumable cancellation of shortwave broadcasting by the Voice of Russia. As I said earlier, so far we have received no official information in this regard, however, we keep receiving letters from concerned listeners. Thank you very much for your support.”
I hope this will be helpful.
Thank you, Dominik! I just posted your quotes.
Best,
Thomas
THESE ARE VERY SAD NEWS.
I USED AS A CHILD LISTEN TO RADIO MOSCOW, LATE AT NIGHT , IT WAS SO EXCITING, AND REMEMBER GETTING A QSL CARD FROM THE STATION. IT WAS SO MAGIC LISTENING TO A STATION SO FAR AWAY FOR ME..
Sad indeed. I was listening to Radio Moscow since mid fifties as an SWL, obtained QSL cards from them too. I can never forget their theme tune “Midnight in Moscow”.
They use to spend more money and more energy running all the jamming transmitters in the 50s 60s 70s and 80s than the entire budget of Radio Moscow. Alas poor Boris.
Good point!
It’s a really sad situation. Here in Portugal our SW broadcaster ceased their service long time ago. What will they do with the shortwave spectrum ? Put PLC on it ??
And I still miss hearing Portugal on the SW bands. I’m not sure what they’ll do with the open areas on the AM spectrum. My guess is that more digital modes, that can take advantage of the long-distance nature of HF, will appear and eat up wide swatches of spectrum (since no one is on the air to oppose it).
A best-case scenario would be that the amateur radio allocations widen.
-Thomas
I like others have been listening to Russian shortwave called one name or another since the early 60’s also. It’s a real shame that all these broadcasts from abroad will not be available to enjoy as they have been for years. I’m afraid that once the bean counters take control there aren’t enough reasons or petitions to keep the stations alive. And maybe I’m old school but I consider SWL’ing and Ham radio a hobby and listening to radio on the internet isn’t a replacement..
I’m with you, Ed. Shortwave radio has a dynamic that Internet radio simply lacks. I love Internet radio, but mainly use it to listen to local stations throughout the world–ones that have never been broadcast internationally. Shortwave radio has more character and doesn’t require a connection to the Internet. Can’t beat that! 🙂
-Thomas
Like Ed, I’m old school, going back to the 1950s with shortwave listening. TIme and technology marches on. I miss tuning shortwave, but face it: we’re dinosaurs.
Sad! What are we going ot do with all this empty bandwidth when the rest of all these AM stations squander?
Not surprising. VOR had two problems. Funding cuts. Also RT audience is much bigger and had more up to date programming.
Sad indeed. One by one my favorite SW radio stations are being dismantled. Deutsche Welle in Juelich and Kigali, Radio Netherlands in Hilversum and now “Goworit Moskva” – I listened to the latter since the early 50-ties.
Is there an email address or website where comments/suggestions may be posted? Like you, I’ve been a Radio Moscow/Voice of Russia listener from the mid-1960’s. I really hate to see them leave shortwave.
Hi, Steve,
I would use the [email protected] email address. I believe it would get routed correctly and have the most visibility.
-Thomas
people of russia will certainly oppose this
People in Russia don’t care. Most people in Russia see VOR as a burocratic Russian government department where money is wasted.
The mentality of younger people today is that shortwave is a total waste of time. This is the opinion I got after speaking with some Eastern European colleagues in my work place. Also, governments are going to do whatever they feel like, in spite of the best supported petitions out there.
It is true that most people under 40 have never been exposed to shortwave radio; at least here in the States. I do a lot of presentations on radio to non-radio groups. When I ask how many people are familiar with shortwave radio–in a crowd of 100–perhaps 5 will raise their hands.
Ironically, I’ve always believed it was a medium of communication ahead of its time.
-Thomas