Shortwave radio

Why I Still Use Shortwave Radio – And You Should Too

In an age where everything’s online, some folks ask me why I still mess with shortwave radio. The answer is simple: when the grid goes down, the airwaves are still up.

Shortwave radio isn’t just for hobbyists. It’s a powerful tool for intelligence gathering, emergency communication, and staying informed when the world goes sideways. Whether we’re talking about a global conflict, a cyberattack that knocks out the internet, or a natural disaster that wipes out local infrastructure—shortwave gives you a lifeline.

I use shortwave for monitoring world events in real time, tracking regional instability, and teaching others how to stay informed without relying on tech that can be turned off at the flick of a switch.

Here’s how I use it—and why you might want to start too.

🔍 Intelligence Gathering and Strategic Use

Shortwave lets you listen in on real broadcasts from across the world—state-run, independent, or even pirate. That means hearing how different governments are spinning a situation, what kind of alerts or propaganda they’re pushing, and sometimes even coded messages between operatives. Yes, I’m talking about numbers stations—those weird broadcasts of robotic voices reading off strings of numbers. If you’ve never heard one, they’re creepy but fascinating.

If you’re serious about being situationally aware during conflict or crisis, this kind of open-source monitoring is invaluable.

🌪️ Disaster Use and Emergency Resilience

If the grid goes down, your smartphone becomes a paperweight. Satellites can be jammed. Cell towers can be fried. But shortwave? If you’ve got a good antenna and a battery-powered receiver, you’re still in the fight.

Here’s what shortwave gives you in a disaster:

• Unfiltered news from multiple countries.

• Official emergency alerts.

• Long-distance weather reports (like hurricane tracking from NOAA).

• Global time syncs for navigation and ops coordination.

And when paired with a PACE (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency) communication plan, it becomes a rock-solid backup.

📡 My Go-To English-Language Broadcast Stations (with UTC Times)

These are stations I keep in my rotation. Times are in UTC—adjust for your local time zone:

BBC World Service

• 5875 kHz: 04:59–06:00

• 9410 kHz: 05:00–07:00

• 9440 kHz: 22:00–23:00

• 9510 kHz: 00:00–02:00

• 9915 kHz: 06:00–07:00

• 11645 kHz: 23:00–00:00

• 11955 kHz: 02:00–03:00

• 12095 kHz: Various (00:00–02:00, 04:00–05:00, 15:00–17:30)

Voice of America (VOA)

 – Africa Service (English)

• 03:00–04:00: 4930, 6080, 15580 kHz

• 04:00–04:30: adds 4960

• 06:00–07:00: adds 9550

• 14:00–17:30: 4930, 7455, 15580, 17885, 17895 depending on the day

Voice of Korea (North Korea)

• 04:00–04:57: 11735, 13760, 15180 kHz

• 13:00–13:57 & 15:00–15:57: 9435, 11710 kHz (North America)

• 16:00–16:57: 9890, 11645 kHz

• 19:00–19:57: 9875, 11635 kHz

Radyo Pilipinas (Philippines)

• 02:00–03:30: 9475, 15640, 17820 kHz

🏴 Pirate Stations – The Wild West of the Airwaves

Pirate shortwave stations are unlicensed broadcasters operating outside government control. They’re unpredictable, sometimes weird, and often very real.

These are most active weekends and holidays, mostly on:

• 6200–6400 kHz

• 6900–7000 kHz (especially 6925 kHz USB/AM)

Some of the better-known pirates in English:

• North America: Amphetamine Radio, Radio Free Whatever, X‑Ray Radio, YHWH

• Europe: Alfa Lima, Radio Spaceshuttle, Weekend Music Radio, Mustang Radio, Jolly Roger Radio

Why listen to pirates? Aside from the novelty, some relay suppressed or alternative views you won’t hear elsewhere. Plus, in a collapse scenario, unlicensed broadcasters might become some of the only voices on the air.

🛠️ How to Get Started

1. Buy a shortwave radio with single sideband (SSB) if possible.

2. Use UTC for your logs – it avoids confusion across time zones.

3. Keep extra power: batteries, solar panel, or crank generator.

4. Track what you hear: Build a notebook or digital log of active frequencies and times.

5. Stay active: Practice tuning during calm times so you’re ready when it counts.

Final Thoughts

I run shortwave almost daily—not out of nostalgia, but because I believe in having layers. If you want to be informed when the power is out, the phones are down, and the internet’s off, this is how you do it. It’s not just prepper gear—it’s real-world, no-BS insurance.

Start small. Tune in. Listen. Learn. And if you’re looking for gear picks, PACE plan help, or exercises to practice this stuff with your family—check out Unpaved Expeditions on Patreon.

I’m here to help you stay connected when it matters most.

— Joe Bivens

Unpaved Expeditions

Let me know if you want a version for Instagram slides or to turn this into a downloadable PDF field guide.