11 Best Shortwave Radios [reviews & ultimate buying guide]

Shortwave radios are the best devices that could enable the user endless hours of entertainment, and music programs. Besides that, these devices are able to transmit messages and establish communication between the user and a shortwave radio tower.

Timeless devices…

As you well know, shortwave radios will certainly never go out of style, and will always be popular among the audience. There’s no other device out there that could replace the simplicity and delicacy of shortwave radios, and that is why they are still widely popular.

Today, shortwave radios are being used for international and domestic broadcasting, listening to some AM/FM stations for the news, long-distance communications, and most of all, as an interesting hobby for amateur radio (also called Ham) operators.

We have done brief research and thorough testing of the most popular shortwave radio models of popular brands. This article is for all of the people who are new to this radio hobby, for amateur radio operators, as well as people looking for another way of entertainment, travelers, camping, hunting trip, who need a good radio by their side, adventurists who might need an emergency radio to keep them safe, and generally all of the people who love short wave radios or need them for work (military, marine, aircraft).

So, here are our 11 top recommendations by comparison chart for the best shortwave radios for the money of 2022, none of these models will disappoint. If you’re going camping, planning a hunting trip, or going to be in any location where you need a reliable way to stay connected, shortwave radio is definitely a worthwhile investment.

Comparison Chart of best Shortwave radios at a glance 2022:

Our editor’s Top Pick from the best Shortwave radios

We have tested a lot of radios, and here are our top recommendations and choices of the 07 best shortwave radios…

1. Best Overall (Best shortwave radio of all time): Tecsun PL880
2. Best shortwave crank emergency radio: Sangean MMR-88 AM/FM weather-alert
3. Best AM/FM portable radio: Sony ICF-P36 Black color
4. Best small shortwave radio: C Crane Skywave SSB NOAA Weather Alert, Scannable VHF Aviation Band
5. Best shortwave radio under $100: Retekess V115 Shortwave radio
6. Best shortwave desktop radio: Retro Portable radio AM/FM/SW transistor Prunus
7. Best shortwave radio under $500: Eton Elite NELITE750 the classic SSB radio

Buyer’s guide to the best shortwave radio

Now that you know all of the best shortwave radio brands and their best devices, you should learn how to find the best radio for yourself. We will be giving you some of the basic tips in this buyer’s guide, and pointing you in the right direction so that you know what to look for in a radio. Let’s start.

• Your budget is important

The first thing you should do before you go shortwave radio shopping is to determine your budget. The budget is the only thing that will keep you away from spending too much money which you might regret later. So, since some shortwave radios can be quite expensive, define your budget before you start looking for your next radio. This will keep you limited from overspending.

Of course, have in mind that if a short wave radio is inexpensive, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the quality of that shortwave radio is not good. Don’t forget that.

• Digital, analog, or both?

If you are an old soul who likes vintage devices, you might think that the analog radio is the best choice for you. However, have in mind that digital shortwave radios have better tuning, and some even have better reception because of that. We aren’t saying that analog radios aren’t good, but since we are in the modern age, a digital, or a radio with both types of tuning systems might be a better choice. Of course, this is totally up to you, you should decide this considering your needs and wishes.

• Portability or stability?

While purchasing your next shortwave radio, you should figure out whether you want to buy a radio that could be carried around, or that is quite heavy and is better sitting in one place.

Our preference is portable radios since we love to travel, and having a device such as this one by our side gives us a feeling of comfort and safety. On the other hand, if you plan on using a shortwave radio only when you are at home, buying a heavier and bigger one might be the perfect choice for you.

As mentioned before, these are only a few small tips. But, we have no doubt that if you determine these three things you will be able to find a radio which you will purchase next.

In-depth reviews of the best shortwave radio brands and their best products…

In the continuation, we will be talking about the best shortwave radio brands, and describing a few of their best models. But first, let’s meet the brands and their goals.

(a) Tecsun’s Shortwave Radio

About the Tecsun brand

This is a leading radio company established back in the 90s. Tecsun represents a Chinese brand that specializes in manufacturing radios, as well as some other similar devices. This is one of the best radio brands in the world and has been widely popular for decades.

Is this Tecsun brand good?

Tecsun is one of the best radio brands in the world. This is certainly a leading brand whose focus is to produce only high-quality, durable radio models. This is exactly the reason why this brand has been popular for decades and will remain that way in the future.

Recommended reading: Best Tecsun Shortwave Radios

The best models-

1. Tecsun PL880 Portable Digital shortwave radio

Best shortwave radio of all time (Best shortwave radio 2021)

 
Tested: The first time in 2015 and Finally in Feb 2022

If you are looking to purchase a radio with great quality and a great price, then this Tecsun PL880 portable digital shortwave radio will be just the right choice for you. This radio is at the top of our list for a reason, and here’s why.

The first thing about this radio is the fact that it is PLL synthesized. This means that this receiver is a dual conversion receiver with greater sensitivity and selectivity. You should know that this is both a longwave and a short wave radio and that it is also able to catch both AM and FM radio frequencies.

When it comes to some of the additional features, the radio is quite portable and has a really nice design. The user will be able to carry it around easily without any obstacles. The radio contains an LCD display that has a 24-hour alarm clock and a sleep timer.

Having in mind that this is a portable radio, its battery duration is quite extraordinary. Namely, it is being powered by one 1860 Li-Ion rechargeable battery. The unit itself contains a charger.

One of the most important things about this radio is that it has an SBB receiver, and a 10 Hz tuning step. All of these features make the world’s greatest shortwave radio!

Highlighted features

• This radio is PLL synthesized
• This radio contains a 24-hour alarm clock and a sleep timer
• It comes with a single Li-Ion rechargeable battery
• This radio contains SBB
• The AC adapter comes with it
• It contains an LCD display

2. Tecsun Radio PL-380

Best inexpensive shortwave radio from 2011

 
Tested: The first time in 2011 and Finally in January 2022

The Tecsun PL-380 might be one of the most inexpensive shortwave radios that we will be showing you today. Namely, this is a very cheap unit that only costs around $50, but could sometimes be found for even less money.

Okay, so, this unit can receive AM and FM frequencies which makes it a quite convenient unit. When it comes to the frequency range, it can vary, but the models usually have around a 2.3-21.95 MHz frequency range. As you can see, this is quite a powerful, yet very small radio, which we don’t see every day. However, of course, you cannot expect that a radio with this pricing is the best quality radio in the world, but it is very close to that.

Tuning this model is a piece of cake. It is able to be tuned digitally and actually has seven tuning ways. This is especially helpful for beginners who do not know how to properly handle a radio like this one.

On the other hand, this is a radio whose’ battery will be able to handle a couple of hours of active streaming. It works on three R6 batteries, and all of them could be charged fast. Don’t worry about your batteries running out of power while you are streaming, that won’t happen! All thanks to the Low battery power indicator, you will always be notified on time and ready to charge or change the batteries.

Highlighted features:

• This radio works on three R6 batteries
• It has a low battery power indicator
• It can be tuned in seven ways
• The user manual, as well as the power adaptor, come with the unit
• This radio has a wide range of frequency
• It is able to tune into both AM and FM radio bands

(b) Sangean’s Shortwave Radio

About the Sangean brand

Sangean is a Taiwanese brand that specializes in producing electronic devices and radio devices above all too. They are based in Taiwan. However, their headquarters could be found all over the world. This is a brand that has been around for decades, since the early 70s. There’s no doubt that this brand will remain active in the future too since it has been around for that long.

Is this Sangean a good brand?

Sangean is among one of the best electronics brands in the world. Millions of loyal customers around the world are there to testify that the quality of Sangean devices is at the highest level possible. There’s a reason why this brand has been able to remain popular among the fans for quite some time, and the reason why is because of its undeniable quality and affordable prices

Their best devices-

3. Sangean WR-22WL Bluetooth Tuning receiver

Best tabletop shortwave radio from 2012

 

Tested: The first time in 2012 and Finally in Mar 202

One of the best Sangean shortwave radios is the Sangean WR-22L Bluetooth receiver. This is a unit that costs around $150, and we can tell you that it doesn’t disappoint. There’s no doubt that this is one of the most popular Sangean radio models because it is equipped with a lot of modern features.

Once you turn on the radio, you will be able to notice that it has 10 radio station presets. This means that you will be able to easily memorize all of your favorite radio stations and broadcasts. On the other hand, there is also Bluetooth technology built into it. This technology will enable you easy connection with other devices. For an example, if you want a louder audio, and you think that this radio’s speakers are not that powerful, you could easily connect it to an external speaker and receive the desired sound. On top of that, you will also be able to connect it to a smartphone and stream any song from your phone right onto this radio’s speakers.

But there’s a big chance you won’t need to connect any external speakers to it since this model is already equipped with a 7W full-range speaker that is able to give you a wonderful listening experience.

Highlighted features:

• This radio has a 7W full-range speaker
• It works on 12V batteries
• The DC power adapter comes with the unit
• There are 10 radio station presets available
• It has Bluetooth technology

Read more: Best Tabletop Shortwave Radios

4. Sangean MMR-88 Weather alert emergency radio

Best shortwave radio 2015

 

Tested: The first time in 2015 and Finally in April 2022.

This next Sangean radio is the best Jobsite crank radio from 2015. Not only does it have a weather alert feature, but it is also only quite portable.

You will never have to worry about bad weather finding you on a Jobsite or somewhere in nature since this radio will notify you right on time. It is able to catch all of the emergency radio stations and tune into them as soon as the broadcast starts.

The hand crank is there to power the radio up if there is a power outage, or if its batteries run out. With the power of your hand, you will be able to simply power up the radio back again. Besides the hand crank, this radio also has solar panels. This means that the Sangean MMR-88 can actually be powered in three different ways: through batteries (AC adapter), through a hand crank, and through solar panels.

Highlighted features:

• This is a weather alert from NOAA radio
• It has a hand crank
• It can be powered in three different ways
• There is a USB socket that can help with charging

Related: Best Emergency Shortwave Radios

(c) Sony’s Short wave Radio

About the Sony brand

Sony is one of the Japanese corporations with its main headquarters in Tokyo. This is one of the world’s most popular technology brands that are constantly on the run trying to invent new devices. We are sure that you have heard of the game console Sony Playstation, well, before that, this brand was also inventing radios.

Is this Sony a good brand?

Sony is one of the best quality brands in the whole wide world. This is also one of the oldest corporations established in the 40s. Since then, their empire has continued to grow larger, as it keeps growing today too.

Recommended reading: Best Sony Shortwave Radio

Their best models-

5. Sony ICF-P36 Portable Radio

Best shortwave portable radio from 2017

 

Tested: The first time in 2017 and Finally in May 2022

You might know that Sony produces generally very high-quality devices, and this radio is just one of them. So, this is one of the most convenient and practical radios you will ever see. Namely, its design is so good and well thought of, that you will be able to carry it around with ease. It weighs only around 220g, which means that it is certainly lighter than today’s smartphones.

When it comes to some of its features, you should know that it works on 2AA batteries that are able to hold the power for quite some time. Of course, the AC adapter comes along with the unit, which means that you can charge it easily. On top of that, be sure that you will never run out of power during a listening session. Due to the blinking LED light that is built into this unit, you will be notified when it’s time to charge or charge the batteries.

Users find the headphone socket quite interesting since many people like to enjoy a private listening session. Well, it’s a good thing that this radio has a 3.5 mm standard headphone socket, and you can easily connect your headphones or your headset to it. As our editors and customer reviews, this is the best shortwave radio 2017.

Highlighted features:

• This radio works on 2AA batteries
• There is a headphone jack attached to it
• The LED power indicator notifies the user when it’s time for a recharge
• The convenient design enables portability

Related: best portable shortwave radios

(d) C Crane’s Shortwave Radio

About the C Crane brand

Now, this brand is established in the United States during the 70s. To be more precise, they are based in Fortuna California. This brand’s main focus is manufacturing electronic, LED light bulbs, as well as different light equipment. Of course, they are most popular due to their wonderful radios of high quality.

Is this C Crane brand good?

This brand is extraordinary. Since their main focus is on radios, all of their models are expected to have the highest quality possible- and they all do! For generations, the US has been using C Crane radios, and that is also the case today. These delicate devices are surely made with care and with high-quality materials.

Their best products-

6. C Crane CC Skywave SSB shortwave radio

Best small shortwave radio from 2019

 

Tested: The first time in 2019 and Finally in Jan 2022.

The next C Crane CC Skywave model is the best small shortwave radio in 2019. This compact and convenient radio has the perfect dimensions and the perfect size making it easily portable. In fact, it can basically fit into any kind of bag, or you could easily carry it in your hands since it won’t be getting in your way.

Once you take the first look at this radio, you will surely notice that it has a very modern design. The LCD display with backlighting will make sure that you can use this radio with ease, even at night. On top of that, tuning it is super easy. There will be around four thousand radio station presets available at your fingertips. This means that you will surely be able to tune into your favorite radio band.

When it comes to some additional features, this model has many. The first one is surely an alarm clock. Since you can bring this radio anywhere with you due to its small size, an alarm clock is surely one of the most convenient, and practical features that you will surely need. On top of that, the timer feature will also be available to you.

Highlighted features:

• This radio is very small and convenient
• It is able to tune into many radio bands
• It has SSB
• This is also all NOAA weather alert radio
• It is powered by 2AA batteries
• On top of everything, it can catch VHF Aviation frequencies

7. C Crane CC Skywave AM FM Shortwave portable radio

Best shortwave emergency radio from 2016

 

Tested: The first time in 2016 and Finally in April 2022.

The second C Crane shortwave radio is pretty much small and lightweight which makes it perfect for emergency situations. It only weights around 5.5 ounces, and can easily be carried around.

One of the best things about this radio is that it has an LCD display with backlighting, therefore making it easily visible in the dark and usable too. There’s no doubt that the user won’t have any issues seeing the keypad clearly in the night.

Besides that, this is also an NOAA weather alert radio. As soon as there is some alarming, emergency situation heading your way, this radio will notify you on time so that you can properly prepare for it. On top of that, besides being able to tune into all of the weather emergency channels, this radio is also able to catch aviation and airband signals. Meaning that you will always be on top of all of the latest news in the world, and in your area.  As per our editor and customer reviews best portable shortwave radio 2016.

Highlighted features:

• This is an NOAA weather alert radio
• It is portable and lightweight
• Perfect for emergency situations
• This radio can tune into aviation and airband signals
• It works on 2AA batteries
• This radio can easily be charged through an AC adapter

(e) Retekess’s Shortwave Radio

About the Retekess brand

Retekess is yet another technology brand that focuses on producing wireless transmission technology devices. Above all, this brand also produces shortwave radios, but also service calling systems, tour guide systems, conference devices, and various different types of transmitters. Its mission is to share the wireless communication technology devices with as many users as possible.

Is this Retekess brand good?

The fact that this brand is good is being proven by the variety of users who use their products across the world. Their devices and technologies are often used in tourism, schools, churches, banks, hospitals, and places that have a problem with communication systems.

Their best products-

8. Retekess V115 Shortwave radio

Best shortwave radio under $100 from 2017

 

Tested: The first time in 2017 and Finally in Dec 2021.

Now, the next Retekess radio is super affordable and belongs to our category of best shortwave radios under $100. This is a small, portable radio that can easily be carried around. It has a sturdy wristband attached to it, which means that the user will be able to carry it around on their wrist.

The reception is amazing, and there is even a telescopic antenna attached to it. On top of that, the user will have the full ability to attach any other external antenna to it and significantly improve the shortwave reception.

When it comes to the frequency range, this radio can catch FM, AM, and shortwave radio signals. It works on 4.75-21.85 MHZ for shortwave signals. And, it works on a 1000mAh lithium battery which comes with it inside of the box.

The best thing about it is that it can be charged in three different ways. You could use the DC adapter, you can replace the battery, or you can charge it through a USB port.

Highlighted features:

• This is a portable shortwave radio
• It is able to be tuned digitally
• There are four different languages set
• This radio is able to catch AM, FM, and shortwave radio signals
• This transistor has a MIC recording line

(f) Prunus’s Shortwave Radio

About the Prunus brand

Prunus is a relatively new uprising brand that was established in 2007. This is a highly professional brand whose main goal is to provide its clientele with devices that could make their lives much easier. Besides radios, this company produces anesthesia machines, handheld ultrasounds, infusion pumps, and a lot of other medical, as well as consumables devices.

Is this Prunus brand good?

Even though Prunus is a relatively new brand the quality of its products is undeniable. Thousands of clients across America, and the world have been satisfied with using Prunus devices, which only serves as proof that this company is worth the money.

Their best products

9. Retro Portable radio AM FM shortwave transistor Prunus

Best shortwave desktop radio from 2020

 

Tested: The first time 2020 and Finally July 2022.

This retro-looking radio will be perfect for anyone who loves to decorate their rooms. Even though this is a desktop radio, you could easily move it around and see where it looks best. It’s not quite portable, but it isn’t heavy at all.

The retro-looking design is able to surely make the atmosphere inside of any room way better.

Besides its great-looking design, this radio also comes with a lot of interesting and helpful features. The first one is the headphone jack which means that you could enjoy having a private listening session. On the other hand, there is also 4.0 Bluetooth technology built into it. Connecting your smartphone, or some other device with Bluetooth has never been easier.

When it comes to the power, this radio is able to hold for quite a while. It works on two D-type batteries, but it also has a 1 Lithium Ion battery which can be recharged.

Highlighted features:

• This is a perfect decorative radio
• It has Bluetooth technology built into it
• It works on powerful batteries
• Those batteries can be recharged

(g) Icom’s Shortwave Radio

About the Icom brand

Icom is a brand that was established back in the 1950s. This brand mainly focuses on producing radio transmission equipment, and radio devices. This company’s headquarters are located in Japan.

Is this Icom brand good?

This is a brand that produces high-quality radio devices. It is widely popular and has dozens of clients across Asia, the US, and Europe too.

Related: Best Icom radio

Their best products-

10. Icom 7300 Direct Shortwave radio

Best shortwave radio with SSB

 

Tested: The first time in 2017 and Finally in August 2022.

This might be the most expensive radio on our list. Namely, the Icom 7300 has it all!

This is a shortwave radio that has a very sleek, professional design, and a lot of powerful features. Namely, it works on 0.03-74 8—RX frequencies and can catch lots of radio bands. This is a direct sampling receiver with an output power of around 100 W.

There’s no doubt that this is a high-quality shortwave radio that can surely make the user’s expectations satisfied.

Highlighted features:

• It has a 100W output power
• Can catch different radio bands
• Has a big range of frequency
• It’s expensive

(h) Eton’s Shortwave Radio

About the Eton brand

This brand is empowered by nature and focuses on consuming nature’s power to create high-quality devices. This brand has been established in the 80s and has had quite a lot of success since then, worldwide. One of their motos says that they are preparing you for all of the life’s adventures.

Is this Eton brand good?

The Eton corporation is an excellent company that produces high-quality shortwave receivers. The reception of all of their products is at the highest level possible, while the sound quality is also amazing.

Their best products-

11. Eton Elite the classic single sideband radio NELITE750

Best shortwave radio under $500

 

Tested: The first time in 2017 and Finally in August 2022.

Okay, this Eton model is a radio that actually costs $400. It definitely is an expensive device. However, it costs less than $500, and has a lot of amazing features.

When you turn on this radio, you will be able to notice that it is able to receive different types of radio bands: AM, LW, SW, SSB, and also aircraft bands. This multi-practical device literally has everything one radio lover might seek for.

There is also an AM antenna attached to this radio, and that antenna can catch signals in all of the directions. Besides that, there are around 1000 radio station preset channels which you could memorize.

Highlighted features:

• It can store up to 1000 radio station channels
• It contains an AM antenna
• This radio can catch many radio bands

Read More:

• Best Eton shortwave radio review
• The Best Shortwave radio under $500

The benefits of owning a shortwave radio

There are quite many reasons why owning a shortwave radio in the modern age is beneficial. We shall try to discuss all of them and also mention why we believe owning a shortwave radio even today has many advantages.

• Portability is very convenient

As you could have noticed, most of these shortwave radios are portable. This means that they could easily be carried around, even while traveling greater distances. All that they are obligated to have is a full battery, and they will be ready to give their best performance to the user. For people who like to travel a lot, or do certain outdoor activities such as camping, portable shortwave radios might be the best investment. Not only will these radios give you the ability to enjoy listening to all of your favorite tunes whenever you want that, but they will also keep you safe. Many of the portable shortwave radios have some additional features that will be able to watch out for your back at all times. Take the NOAA weather alert feature for example. Once you find yourself in an open outdoor space where there is no Wi-Fi or cell service, the only device that could inform you about any dangerous weather obstacles that might be headed your way is a shortwave radio. Their ability to immediately turn on and switch to one of the NOAA weather emergency channels is quite impressive. Of course, we took the weather emergency feature just as an example, there are also others that could be quite helpful if you decide to bring your radio with you on your trips.

• Always surrounded by your favorite sounds

Shortwave radios can usually catch some other radio bands besides the SW ones. This means that you will probably be able to listen to all of your favorite radio programs, and have their availability whenever you want to listen to them. So, if you enjoy listening to music, the world’s best entertainment programs, or news radio stations, shortwave radios are the right choice for you!

Different types of shortwave radios

There’s no doubt that you already know what shortwave radios are, so we won’t dive into that matter much. However, you should know that shortwave radios are usually divided into groups of radios depending on their frequency range, their way of tuning, and design. As assumed, shortwave radios got their name because they are only able to receive shortwave frequencies of around 1710KhZ and thirty thousand kHz.

Here are some of the basic types of shortwave radios that you will be able to spot on the market.

• Digital and analog radios

Shortwave radios can be both digital and analog. Digital shortwave radios are way more modern and convenient for the newer generations. However, if you are a fan of vintage-looking radios, analog shortwave radios might be the best thing for you since they have a different design.

For example, the Sangean PR-D7 is a digital shortwave radio. However, there’s a chance that you might also run into shortwave radios with both digital and analog components and features.

It’s only natural that digital shortwave radios have digital tuning, and some of them can even be tuned in a few different ways. On the other hand, analog shortwave radios are radios that have kept that old tuning knob from their ancestors. This means that you will have to tune the radio manually. Of course, digital tuning is more precise.

• The differences in frequencies

As mentioned before, there are several groups of shortwave radios which have different frequency ranges. You will be able to run into shortwave radios with frequency ranges around 1710-30k kHz. The bigger their frequency range, the bigger variety of stations will that radio be able to capture.

• The SSB differences

Some shortwave radios have single-sideband modulation. Even if SSB can be really complicated, it greatly brings the performance of any shortwave radio to the highest quality possible. This type of modulation is able to eliminate different noises thus making the audio quality of the radio a lot better.

As we have already said, some shortwave radios have them, while some do not have this type of modulation built into them. However, the shortwave radios with SSB usually have better quality.

In Conclusion Shortwave Radio Reviews

We hope that this ultimate guide to the best shortwave radios was able to help you decide which brand you like the most, and which model will you be purchasing next.

These are all of the best shortwave radio models in the world, and hopefully, you will agree with us too. As you can see, there are different types of shortwave radio models out there, and you might need to sit down and think about which one would suit you most.

Try to follow our buyer’s guide, and if you do, there’s a 100% possibility that you won’t make a mistake while purchasing. We would love to hear which one of these models is your top favorite one and why.

Let us know in the comments. Until the next time friends!

FAQs related to shortwave radio

1. What is shortwave radio?

A shortwave radio is a radio used for transmitting and receiving certain signals. There are many ranges of frequency that shortwave radios can catch, and those may vary from one model to another. read more What is shortwave radio: how to use it, and benefits of having it

2. How do you listen to a shortwave radio?

Listening to shortwave radios is called SWLing. This is a simple procedure that either requires a shortwave radio, or a PC and an internet. Basically, all that the user has to do is to turn on the shortwave radio, tune into a certain frequency and start listening to the transmission. On the other hand, one can also listen to shortwaves online with the help of the internet. There are many different shortwave radio stations that have their own websites and that provide a stable connection. Read more about How to listen to shortwave radio

3. Do shortwave radios still exist?

Yes, shortwave radios still exist and are quite popular these days. They have especially gained a little bit of popularity during the COVID19 pandemic while most people were quarantined.

4. Can I use a shortwave radio during emergencies?

Absolutely, shortwave radios can be used during emergencies of a different sort. Actually, these are the ultimate go-to devices for emergency situations since they can always provide the user with a stable connection.

5. How far can shortwave radios reach?

Shortwave radio signals are known for being able to travel greater distances. Usually, these radios are able to reach out for signals that are even a couple of miles distance away from them. Keep reading How far can shortwave radios travel

6. Are shortwave radios good for pastime?

Yes! Shortwave radios are a great hobby for all of the people out there that have a little bit of spare time on their hands. Not only will this hobby educate you, but it will also be a really fun activity which you can do all the time.

7. Shortwave VS Ham radios

The main difference between these two types of radios is the type of signal they can catch. Shortwave radios are able to catch and broadcast all kinds of signals at all frequencies. On the other hand, Ham radios are limited to transmitting only certain signals that have a license.

8. Shortwave VS Longwave radios

There are a few main differences between these two types of radios. The first is the frequency difference. Namely, longwave radios are able to transmit signals on lower frequencies than shortwave radios. The second difference is in the antenna type that these two radios use. To understand all of the differences better, we will put them on the table.

	Shortwave radio	Longwave radio
Antenna type	Short antenna	Long antenna
Frequency	1710-30000 kHz	30-279kHZ
Transmission travel	Reflecting on surfaces	Gets into the ionosphere and back to the earth

Photo: amazon.com