{"id":66130,"date":"2026-05-22T09:22:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T13:22:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=66130"},"modified":"2026-05-22T09:22:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T13:22:26","slug":"canadas-chu-will-go-silent-on-shortwave-on-june-22-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/canadas-chu-will-go-silent-on-shortwave-on-june-22-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada\u2019s CHU Will Go Silent on Shortwave on June 22, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

CHU’s QSL card used in the 1980s, depicting Sir Sanford Fleming, father of uniform time zones.<\/p><\/div>\n

I was saddened to learn this morning (from multiple readers) that Canada\u2019s venerable shortwave time station, CHU, may soon fall silent.<\/p>\n

According to a notice posted by Canada\u2019s National Research Council,<\/a> CHU\u2019s shortwave broadcasts are scheduled to end on June 22, 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For many listeners outside of the shortwave community, this may seem like an insignificant footnote in a world dominated by smartphones, GPS timing, and internet-connected everything. But for those of us who have spent decades tuning the HF spectrum, stations like CHU and WWV are far more than the typical gov’t\/utility broadcasts.<\/p>\n

They are constants.<\/p>\n

When I tune to CHU or WWV, I\u2019m not simply checking propagation conditions or listening for a time tick. I\u2019m reconnecting with something deeply familiar\u2014something that has changed very little since the very first days I turned on a shortwave radio as a child. Their steady pulses and calm voice announcements have always been there in the background of the hobby: reliable reference points amid an ever-changing radio landscape.<\/p>\n

In many ways, they are the sonic equivalent of \u201call things held constant\u201d on the shortwaves.<\/p>\n

A year ago, we experienced an unexpected loss of both power and<\/em> mobile internet service in my neighborhood. The timing was unusual enough that the very first thing I did was tune to CHU. The moment I heard its steady, metronomic broadcast, I knew instantly that what I was experiencing wasn\u2019t some larger, global outage\u2014just a freak local loss of both services at the same time.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

A WWV Time Code Generator<\/p><\/div>\n

This news feels especially discouraging, coming so soon after Canada discontinued much of its weather radio service earlier this year<\/a>. One can\u2019t help but wonder how many legacy public-service broadcasts remain vulnerable simply because they no longer fit modern cost-benefit calculations.<\/p>\n

In the United States, we narrowly avoided losing WWV nearly a decade ago when funding for the station was threatened<\/a>. Thankfully, enough support emerged to keep it alive. I sincerely hope we never lose WWV\u2014or NOAA Weather Radio, for that matter. These systems still serve practical purposes, especially during emergencies and outages<\/em><\/strong>, but they also represent something more difficult to quantify: continuity.<\/p>\n

Services like CHU also remind us that resilient communications infrastructure still matters.<\/strong> A simple shortwave time station can provide a reliable point of reference completely independent of local internet providers, cellular networks, and modern digital systems. In an age when so much depends on fragile, interconnected infrastructure, there is real value in maintaining at least a few systems that remain accessible with nothing more than a basic radio receiver.<\/p>\n

If CHU truly does go silent next month, the shortwaves will feel just a little emptier.<\/p>\n

And for many of us, that steady Canadian voice and ticking seconds will be deeply missed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I was saddened to learn this morning (from multiple readers) that Canada\u2019s venerable shortwave time station, CHU, may soon fall silent. According to a notice posted by Canada\u2019s National Research Council, CHU\u2019s shortwave broadcasts are scheduled to end on June 22, 2026. For many listeners outside of the shortwave community, this may seem like an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_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},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3,9589],"tags":[15,13,4560],"class_list":["post-66130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-utility","tag-canada","tag-chu","tag-chu-canada"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-hcC","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":42,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2008\/12\/canadas-shortwave-time-station-chu-is-moving\/","url_meta":{"origin":66130,"position":0},"title":"Canada’s shortwave time station, CHU, is moving","author":"Thomas","date":"December 11, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release from the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada: Time to change your shortwave radio dial After seventy years of broadcasting Canada's official time, NRC's shortwave station CHU will move the transmission frequency for the 7335 KHz transmitter to 7850 KHz. The change goes into effect on 01 January\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CHU's QSL card used in the 1980s depicting Sir Sanford Fleming, father of uniform times zones.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/12\/atomic_fleming-181x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16378,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/12\/thats-time-station-chu-in-the-empire-strikes-back\/","url_meta":{"origin":66130,"position":1},"title":"Time station CHU in The Empire Strikes Back","author":"Thomas","date":"December 21, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Earlier today, I published a post noting that I thought I heard the time station WWV in a scene of The Empire Strikes Back. SWLing Post reader, RadioGeek, quickly corrected me: that's Canadian time station CHU's data pips I'm hearing, not circa-1980s WWV. \u00a0Cool! Listen for yourself Here's the clip\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art"","block_context":{"text":"Art","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/art-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fullscreen capture 12202015 40448 AM","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Fullscreen-capture-12202015-40448-AM.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Fullscreen-capture-12202015-40448-AM.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Fullscreen-capture-12202015-40448-AM.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46929,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/12\/radio-waves-new-siriusxm-satellite-tour-of-chu-icom-id-52-delay-and-grants-prototype-broadcast-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":66130,"position":2},"title":"Radio Waves: New SiriusXM Satellite, Tour of CHU, Icom ID-52 Delay, and Grant’s Prototype Broadcast Receiver","author":"Thomas","date":"December 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0readers.\u00a0 To that end:\u00a0Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Kenwood-R-2000-Dial.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Kenwood-R-2000-Dial.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Kenwood-R-2000-Dial.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Kenwood-R-2000-Dial.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":59182,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/rac-canadian-amateurs-invited-to-participate-in-solar-eclipse-project\/","url_meta":{"origin":66130,"position":3},"title":"RAC: Canadian Amateurs Invited to Participate in Solar Eclipse Project","author":"Thomas","date":"March 9, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard, who shares the following announcement from the RAC: Contribute to Eclipse Science and History: Research Propagation with Your Receiver! March 5, 2024 \u2013\u00a0 The Case Amateur Radio Club W8EDU of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio is excited to invite Canadian Amateurs\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/eclipse-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/eclipse-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/eclipse-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/eclipse-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/eclipse-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/eclipse-1.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":52730,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/05\/jock-explores-the-world-of-time-stations-and-beacons\/","url_meta":{"origin":66130,"position":4},"title":"Jock says, “It\u2019s about time…and beacons!”","author":"Thomas","date":"May 15, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Jock Elliott, who shares the following guest post: It\u2019s about time . . . and beacons By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Shortwave time stations can be incredibly useful for shortwave listeners, not just for checking the time, but also for finding out what\u2019s going on with radio signal\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\/2022\/05\/IBPLocations.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/IBPLocations.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/IBPLocations.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/IBPLocations.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4702,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/10\/rci-action-stop-cbc-from-dismantling-our-transmitters-to-the-world\/","url_meta":{"origin":66130,"position":5},"title":"RCI Action: Stop CBC from dismantling our transmitters to the world","author":"Thomas","date":"October 17, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"October 31st is quickly approaching and the CBC has requested that the remaining employees at Radio Canada Internationals Sackville transmission site begin dismantling antennas and transmitters that are not currently being used for their remaining three broadcaster clients (NHK, KBS and the Voice of Vietnam) and the CBC North Quebec\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\/2012\/06\/SackvilleCurtainAntennas-200x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66130","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=66130"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66131,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66130\/revisions\/66131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}