{"id":24827,"date":"2017-03-26T07:42:22","date_gmt":"2017-03-26T11:42:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=24827"},"modified":"2017-03-26T07:42:22","modified_gmt":"2017-03-26T11:42:22","slug":"abc-news-portrait-of-a-devoted-shortwave-radio-listener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/abc-news-portrait-of-a-devoted-shortwave-radio-listener\/","title":{"rendered":"ABC News: Portrait of a devoted shortwave radio listener"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(Source: ABC News<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\n

Saying goodbye to Radio Australia on the shortwave after 37 years<\/h3>\n

Kevin De Reus has lived in the same 24-kilometre-radius his whole life.<\/p>\n

Born and raised in Iowa in the US, Kevin now calls his grandfather’s farm \u2014 just 12 kilometres from where he grew up in central Des Moines \u2014 home.<\/p>\n

He is married, has five children and has worked at the same company for 20 years.<\/p>\n

And while he admits he has not travelled much in his 52 years, it hasn’t stopped Kevin from listening to the news from Australia since 1980 \u2014 with the help of a shortwave radio.<\/p>\n

Listening from the other side of the world<\/h3>\n

Even half a world away, he says the broadcast was one of the clearest of the stations he listened to.<\/p>\n

“Radio Australia always held a special place in my heart just because it was in the South Pacific and I didn’t know much about that area \u2014 and the signal was always good from that part of the world,” he says.
\n“Most recently, over the last two to three years as I was listening in the morning hours here on 9.580, the signal was so good. It really was about the only English broadcaster at that time of the day that had news and information.<\/p>\n

“Most mornings I would get up and turn on the shortwave radio at 7:00am (local time) and listen to the news from Australia and then I would drive to work.<\/p>\n

“So many of the stations just aren’t on the air anymore. BBC doesn’t broadcast to North America anymore. I can’t even hardly hear the Voice of America in English anymore to tell you the truth. So Australia had the strongest signal.<\/p>\n

“That’s why it was hard for me to hear [Radio Australia] was going to go off the air.”[…]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click here to continue reading the full article on ABC News.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

I believe\u00a0Kevin De Reus did a fine job explaining the appeal of being a shortwave radio listener.<\/p>\n

Though I gather a lot of international news these days with a WiFi radio<\/a> (especially since Radio Australia left the shortwaves), I still prefer listening to shortwave.<\/p>\n

It’s just how I’m wired.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Source: ABC News) Saying goodbye to Radio Australia on the shortwave after 37 years Kevin De Reus has lived in the same 24-kilometre-radius his whole life. Born and raised in Iowa in the US, Kevin now calls his grandfather’s farm \u2014 just 12 kilometres from where he grew up in central Des Moines \u2014 home. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,43,5],"tags":[2924,6052,1920,2796,34,4082,4655,84],"class_list":["post-24827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","category-swlers","tag-abc-cuts","tag-kevin-de-reus","tag-radio-australia-cuts","tag-radio-australia-shortwave","tag-shortwave","tag-shortwave-radio","tag-why-shortwave","tag-why-shortwave-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-6sr","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":23822,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/radio-australia-shortwave-services-silenced-like-listening-to-our-old-aunt-passing-away\/","url_meta":{"origin":24827,"position":0},"title":"Radio Australia shortwave services silenced: “Like listening to our old aunt passing away”","author":"Thomas","date":"January 31, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dura, who shares the following report via ABC News 24 on Twitter: The ABC has shut down its shortwave radio service to remote parts of Northern Australia and the Pacific. @MaddocksThomas reports pic.twitter.com\/VPD3deSR9Z \u2014 ABC News 24 (@ABCNews24) January 31, 2017 Click here\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/End-of-Radio-Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23801,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/radio-australias-final-day-broadcasting-on-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":24827,"position":1},"title":"Radio Australia’s final day broadcasting on shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"January 30, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"As I write this post, I'm listening to Radio Australia on 9,580 and 12,065 kHz. Other than the sports reports and weather, world news is chock-full of stories--many of which are quite sad. This will likely be the last morning I listen to Radio Australia on shortwave. SWLing Post contributor,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Titan-SDR-Radio-Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Titan-SDR-Radio-Australia.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Titan-SDR-Radio-Australia.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Titan-SDR-Radio-Australia.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22691,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/12\/pacific-beat-abc-decision-to-halt-shortwave-broadcasts-criticised\/","url_meta":{"origin":24827,"position":2},"title":"Pacific Beat: ABC decision to halt shortwave broadcasts criticised","author":"Thomas","date":"December 6, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: ABC News) ABC decision to halt shortwave broadcasts criticised A decision by the ABC to halt shortwave broadcasts early next year has been criticised by a former manager of Radio Australia. The shortwave transmissions to Asia and the Pacific will cease from January 31st next year, as alternatives such\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Radio-Australia-Banner","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/Radio-Australia-Banner.jpeg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23863,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/rnz-thousands-in-solomon-islands-affected-by-abc-shortwave-cut\/","url_meta":{"origin":24827,"position":3},"title":"RNZ: ‘Thousands’ in Solomon Islands affected by ABC shortwave cut","author":"Thomas","date":"February 1, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio New Zealand via London Shortwave) The ABC ends its short-wave service to the region from 1pm Solomon Islands time and says it will focus on FM and online services. Ruth Liloqula said people from Choiseul to Malaita and as far south east as Tikopia tuned in to the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/ECSS-PL-660.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/ECSS-PL-660.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/ECSS-PL-660.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/ECSS-PL-660.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23610,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/abc-rural-interviews-garry-cratt-about-decision-to-end-shortwave-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":24827,"position":4},"title":"ABC Rural interviews Garry Cratt about decision to end shortwave service","author":"Thomas","date":"January 23, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, who shares the following announcement from a\u00a0Tecsun Radios Australia\u00a0email newsletter: Tecsun Radios Australia owner Garry Cratt was interviewed by ABC Rural this week about the ABC\u2019s decision to end their shortwave radio transmission after almost 80 years. https:\/\/youtu.be\/PySh8DNX6mE Click here to listen\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/ABCRadioFront-QSL-001-1024x635.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/ABCRadioFront-QSL-001-1024x635.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/ABCRadioFront-QSL-001-1024x635.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/ABCRadioFront-QSL-001-1024x635.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22689,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/12\/radio-australia-to-end-shortwave-broadcast-service-on-january-31-2017\/","url_meta":{"origin":24827,"position":5},"title":"Radio Australia to end shortwave broadcast service on January 31, 2017","author":"Thomas","date":"December 5, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Like many SWLing Post readers, I'm a huge fan of Radio Australia's service on 9,580 kHz. For ages, listening to their news headlines over shortwave has been a part of my morning routine. I've been listening to Radio Australia since I was 8 years old. I'm going to miss this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"radio-dial","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Radio-Dial-2-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Radio-Dial-2-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Radio-Dial-2-1024x576.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24827"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24827\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}