Shortwave Radio

Shortwave radio refers to radio transmission through shortwave frequencies used for long-distance communication. It became a standard means of transmission during the 1920s and was used for broadcasting and for communications that until then had been exclusively done through transoceanic cables and long-wave wireless services. Later, it was used for broadcasting (which will be the focus of this entry), amateur radio, and communication to ships, aircrafts, and remote regions without wired communication. By allowing for long-distance transmissions that surpassed national borders, shortwave caused radio to become the first global electronic mass medium, reaching its apex during World War II and the Cold War. It is also popular due to its usage by pirate radio stations and is still used to circumvent state control over information ...