Shutdown Of Last Short Wave Transmitters At Radio Australia

[@EricWeberGoogle]

Criminal that the shut down, listened to them for a couple of hours every night... There is no replacement for shortwave radio for ships at sea :-(

[@robertcroft8241]

They all (Like Me) have an automatic satellite scanner-receiver.

[@TheDailyDigest]

@@robertcroft8241 Not true. Tens of thousands of private sailboats sail the South Pacific and rely on shortwave from time to time.

[@dang25272549]

I just can't believe that !.

[@joseph.christiansen]

It should of at least stayed on as a backup what if someone at sea is having satellite connection problems or something related

[@Garbanzo884]

It's all about MONEY. The Aussies don't want to pay the huge electric bills and costs of antenna maintenance.

[@hallieboy]

As a listener since I was a young boy in the USA, this is an incredibly sad moment, and a terrible decision.

[@charleswest6372]

Agree. Listened to them since the 70s

[@desmondsharpe9623]

The Religious nuts in America don’t agree! They reach the planet from Africa to Russia without the local governments knowing what they are listening too and spend millions of dollars doing so. All the boys in the Aussie bush will be listening to them or Radio China international instead or Radio New Zealand from its transmit site to PNG that I can hear in Chicago. On 13MHZ.

[@brianmorris8045]

We here down under, miss Radio Australia too.

[@JohnSmith-y2p]

@@brianmorris8045 Yes knowing how large Australia is as a country and the amount of territory without a lot of radio stations other than the occasional FM here and there it seems that RA would have been a great listening tool even in the far flung places in Australia but even in places where you wanted instant news. I could turn on my shortwave here in the United States at 6 am and get RA signals so clear on 9580 khz and 6020 khz that it was just as good as the crappy local AM/FM station in my town that played 1950s and 1960s religious crap and other nonsense from guys that sounded like they stuck a stickpin in their peckers. RA was a relief to listen to and easy to follow and understand and I learned a lot about the South Pacific and the world in Asia from their broadcasts.

[@vallurirajesh]

Some of my fondest childhood memories were about listening to Radio Australia from a small village in Southern India. Every summer break, I used to fiddle with my grandfathers vacuum tube radio, and when it picked up Aussie radio, it was like I hit the jackpot. I would listen to it for hours and bask in the joy of listening to people from a different continent from the comfort of my home. No wires to connect like in the case of internet, no satellites neither. Just a few ionised particles above the earth's surface carrying those voices through all that distance. Been researching SW radio and stumbled upon this. writing this comment with tear filled eyes. My 8-year old self would have bawled at this news.

[@RobertoAlvarezGalloso]

I had many memories listening to shortwave, BBC, Radio Australia, CRI, DW to name a few. They kept me going for most of my life. Now in my 60s, I have very few stations to listen to

[@radioescucha]

It is painful. A station so well assembled and functioning, with the excuse that no one hears it. All for money reasons. Is a crime against communication and the rights to be freely informed. My deepest regret for these acts.

[@nigelholmes9332]

Reith: "Inform, Educate, Entertain". Small pockets of ABC programming still hold those values (e.g. Landline, 4 Corners, various RN), but ABC management'll soon sort that crap out. "More Talking Heads on TV is wot we need dammit"

[@jcramond73]

Free information and free speech, are certainly becoming things of the past in this country.

[@Alfonsodag]

Shortwave has become obsolete as streaming on the internet has taken over. It is possible to get clear audio and even quality video from almost any country in the world without the need for wasteful high power transmissions that produced poor quality and unstable reception. Even medium wave AM transmissions are being supplanted by superior quality digital streams. And license approval by a big and expensive government bureaucracy is not required to set up a stream which results in greater freedom to the media vendors. Shortwave had a big part to play in media dissemination for many years, but that era is over.

[@bigmartin]

Sad, very sad.. 73’s from Ireland

[@ilovealbundy]

You're absolutely right😪 It's very, very sad.

[@jgubash100]

Should of been declared a historical treasure, off limits to the axe.

[@samueljesse2179]

Large areas of the NT and SA WA no radio signals during the daytime. The ALP day they are going to reinstall the service after they win office, whenever that will be.

[@nigelholmes9332]

@@samueljesse2179 well 4 months later here we are with an ALP Federal Govt. But don't hold your breath waiting for Radio Australia to re-appear on HF. ALP minister Bill Haydn famously said, "There are no votes in Radio Australia." Which, of course, is where party-political expediency begins and ends.

[@awaismushtaq5719]

Agreed!

[@bryanclark8217]

As a regular RA listener since 1961, I feel like a bereaved close relative attending a funeral service. Thanks to all the hardworking technical and programming staff who have played their part in giving Australia a positive image around the world - sadly no more. Bryan Clark NZL

[@nigelholmes9332]

It was grim. I felt like I was shooting my favourite dog.

[@chuljinkim4084]

As a HAM operator, as a BCL fan, I have several things that will never be forgotten. When I was in middle school, In my room with headphone at dark night. I had listened to the foreign voice with some fading from far and far place with my SW radio. Few years after, there were warm lighting vacuum tubes(valves) in my first ham radio even if its old gear at that time, too. My heart had gone to air with those distortion sounds and warm lights following the on air waves and visit that nation, I imagine. I will stay in front of my old HAM receiver, my vacuum tubes will be in. So, please, Don't you go. Please make a dream for kids. Please make my tubes singing again. As a HAM operator, as a BCL fan, this is sad video. God bless VK stations from HL.

[@jayrogers8255]

It’s ham, not HAM.

[@chuljinkim4084]

@@jayrogers8255 TNX OM

[@jayrogers8255]

@@chuljinkim4084 73!

[@JohnAlexanderBerry]

Goodbye Radio Australia. You will be sorely missed by many people !! (I worked at Radio Australia Cox Peninsula for almost 2 years and would never have imagined that this could happen to Shepparton).

[@steviebboy69]

I never knew it was in Shepparton, that is real close to me here in Wangaratta.

[@RustyREO]

Hi John. I worked at (Telstra) Radio Australia Cox Peninsula in 1983/84 while it was being restored, 10 years after cyclone Tracey hit the NT. It was sad to learn that Radio Australia broadcasting services had closed when I caught up with a fellow Cox Pen mate a few months back. I'm still with Telstra (38 years) but have fond memories of my broadcasting days and when I assisted in getting Cox Pen back to operational status after so long.

[@m.9243]

Unlike us, radio New Zealand's still going strong and I have become one of their most regular listeners on 6.170 Mhz very late at night and the early hours of the morning. Despite what these bright (?) individuals in Canberra think, short wave listening is alive and well and provides a direct link from the broadcaster to the listeners, without dependence on satellites, computers and any other 'controlled' technology that can be switched off when internet stops working (for whatever reason..) I used to tune to Radio Australia in Europe when travelling and was quite proud of the fact, the voice of my country could be heard thousands of miles away, with it's familiar opening tune. Shame on those who instigated such action!

[@adelarsen9776]

The idiots in Canberra don't understand that Australia needs an overseas presence and propaganda radio to the neighbours. It's a vital asset and those idiots stopped Australia projecting its influence.

[@Defconfx]

Lots of people like shortwave and still listen. Heck I for one love getting a signal from 12,000km away...

[@marinexplosives]

@@shortwavefan2487 I agree.I live in Hamilton Ontario and enjoy listening to lots of AM stations at night from the United States.Always liked it since I was a kid living in Australia.

[@WA4TKG]

Commie Bastards...imagine who listened to that station through the decades...specifically, Troop Carrier Ships, across the Pacific...encompassing virtually tens of thousands of miles, through two World Wars...this is the legacy you leave, wiping that piece of history under the rug. Well done.

[@663rainmaker]

Howdy 🤠 From 🇺🇸 And a little CB golf ⛳️ barefoot 🦶 and oh my goodness? Howdy 🤠 Folks ch 11 and wHo…? Ch 17 Trucks 🛻 semi trucks 🚛 ch 17 North south California Dreamin USA 🇺🇸 and ch 19 east highway 🛣 to west coast USA 🇺🇸 cB ch 19! Big radios 📻 Ch 6 and wow can we use that there transmitter and plug 🔌 into the Ohhhhh my 🐜 antenna for WHoooo Weeee C B Australia 🇦🇺

[@westchestervideos8250]

What a great looking station. I hope the building and equipment not been destroyed

[@357bullfrog2]

If it's still there why couldn't a private buyer get it and start broadcasting again ?

[@sweirich777]

Such a waste of a great broadcaster but also great equipment Radio Australia should go back on the air. Shortwave radio is not dead but still very much alive. The military is using shortwave or HF again as means for communications as secondary part of their arsenal. Satellite radio which they use is very vulnerable and jammed quite often when they need it most by pirates using these satallites for their own personal communications.

[@kishascape]

@@357bullfrog2 Because it hasn't been up for sale. And the sites were demolished btw. Radio Canada International on the other hand did try desperately to sell the site, wasn't able too and only sold the building to a religious group and demolished the towers. They tried to sell the transmitters super cheap but weren't able to since no one wanted to go pick those huge things up.

[@johnsmith6586]

My shortwave radio used to be filled with signals from the BBC, Voice of America, Canada, Moscow, Netherlands and hundreds of other station. Now that so many stations are off the air all you can hear is static, and a few dollar for a holler preachers

[@waverider227]

I know. I started listening around 1996 1997 I remember the air filled back to back with stations ! It’s so bare now and so sad

[@Coratory]

International Radio of China has increased his shortwave broadcasting range. They have several 500 kW transnmitters and they broadcast in 40+ languages. "Voice of Russia" is shut down as well, so sad.

[@Rocco-l4o]

Very sad. But it is cheaper to transmit by Internet. And it ist also cheaper to reduce the program AT the same time. Im am from Europe. Here is the same.

[@jeptioak]

Well, we'll always have the time signal. Entertainment for hours... and minutes and seconds.

[@andrey21898]

​​​​@@CoratoryВ связи с блокировкой Российских интернет ресурсов в Европе, возможно возобновление вещания радио,,Спутник,,на частоте 1089 кГц из ,,Кубанского,, р/ц, передатчик 1200 кВт . Прогон которого был с 1 по 3 февраля 2023г

[@Tishers]

Hearing Waltzing Matilda playing as the station was shut down was quite hard to bear. It reminded me of the last moments of the movie "On The Beach" where Australia, finally fell silent and the world was over.

[@vk3ase]

On The Beach was a very dark movie and i first saw it when i was about 10 and it had a big effect on me. Whenever i walk past the museum building i think of the last scene. They were going to just cut the transmissions in mid sentence and have no media presence at all and locked the local TV station out at the gates. The observers there were old workers or others with a long history to do with the site. When they realized people were going to video it they decided to put the tuning signal on before turning it off and make bit of a show of it. It was very political and they would have preferred to turn it off and make no big deal of it.

[@firestorm.v1]

I'm not even Australian, but hearing the "Waltzing Matilda" at the end of the broadcast suddenly being cut off when the transmitter was shut down made me tear up a bit and felt like watching someone die. Thank you for your many, many years of service, RA.

[@ronbotex]

After we have EMPs and satellite warfare which will take down the internet and satellite communications, they will come back. Almost every post-apocalyptic movie I've seen has a ham radio operator involved.

[@whatevernamegoeshere3644]

EMPs would kill that transmitter too though. Most of it today was digitally controlled and monitored

[@nigelholmes9332]

@@whatevernamegoeshere3644 Agreed EMP would be bad for nearly all electronics (except for 6BE6, 12AU7 & 813...) but global broadcasting is more at risk from Carrington events, missile attack on satellites or the biggie - weather events. Cyclones wreck comms infrastructure across the Pacific & SEA every year.

[@chadrayburn6271]

Things are becoming centralized.its just natural progression but makes communications that much easier to take down. Is satellite radio viable for rural austrailians or those out there temporarily, cost wise? Could that be complicated by satellite receptions need for electricity? Can satellite reception be achieved with batteries?

[@Henrydrn1]

Tube transmitters using crystal oscillators could survive. The Russians used tubes in their combat aircraft to survive the EMP caused by nuclear weapons.

[@MrBrian8749]

That was indeed a sad day...I've been dxing since I was 8 years old...RA was always a prize catch on my old zenith royal. It's like part of my childhood was stolen. thanks for sharing this. 73 Brian

[@guardianobserver6593]

It's time also for you to stop your hobby. Talking only on the radio with fat guys in their basements that exchange call signs like lunatics, stole precious time from your family. Find another hobby in open air to spend with your loved ones. Ham radio is obsolete already years ago.

[@nigelholmes9332]

@@guardianobserver6593 Firstly, you have misinterpreted the original poster who describes listening to international broadcasters during his formulative years. We can infer that a broad knowledge of current affairs & cultural awareness ensued. Secondly, seriously, do you think there are no "fat" "guys" stealing family time by using the internet??? Thirdly, do yourself a favour & look up SOTA + amateur radio, WICEN, Jamboree on the Air, AMSAT. Joe Taylor obtained his amateur radio license as a teenager, which led him to the field of radio astronomy. One Nobel prize later... Come back to us when you have some understanding about the matter.

[@Henrydrn1]

I feel the same way, it was the mystery of signals traveling such long distances that got me interested in science. Shortwave radio inspired me to learn things that range from plants, to electronics to nuclear physics. A lamentable situation.

[@assweed21]

@@guardianobserver6593 if they hobby is obsolete then why do emergency crews, fema, noaa, all cell phone, satellite TV services( and the last goes on) use the amateur radio frequencies and equipment?

[@guardianobserver6593]

@@assweed21 there are also wi fi amps with tubes, and audio disks, and steam engines.

[@brianmorris8045]

It's beyonnd me, despite the advent of the internet, why Radio Australia ceased it's transmissions. I chat to people overseas, on skype, who miss it terribly. The internet doesn't have the radio romance that shortwave had. I was excited as a youngster when I picked up shortwave broadcasts from overseas. Yes there are some still left...but very faint even with the antenna I have for my little Sangean (great radio). But in my youth dad fixed up an old mantle radio for me to put in my bedroom and have an antenna wire going outside to a makeshift arial outside...but it was amazing what I picked up with it. The mantle radio had about 7 bands including the AM radio. I spent hours just listening to Radio Australia. Then off to another SW band for more excitement. While living in Malaysia, we had a small ONKYO radio...with two SW bands...but it got us Radio Australia on 11.7megs, if Radio Butterworth wasn't relaying it. I'd made an antenna for that radio too. Aaaaaah, the memories.

[@bda2351]

😪😭😭😭😭

[@RobMacKendrick]

Sad. I used to listen to RA all the time here in North America. That interval signal brings back happy memories.

[@jeffking291]

As a teenager, I plugged my [multiband] radio into a timer and set the frequency to Radio Australia.( I had a mark to match the indicator to). I plugged in a large external speaker and cranked up the volume. In the morning I [ and a few others in the apartment complex] woke up to the sound of the kookaburra ❗️ 😂🤣 I’d catch up on some international news while getting ready for school/work. That was a few decades ago. Radio Australia was always one of my favorite stations. I still listen to Short Wave. It’s a shame that so many stations have quit broadcasting on SW. Thanks for posting this. 📻🙂

[@danieln6356]

:-( All of western civilization is losing its mind.

[@sbdr.1241]

Exactly.....

[@davicoo69]

Absolutely!

[@kishascape]

Yes overindulgent infants mindlessly following fads and gimmicks like drugged up meth heads. Empty mindedly chasing that dopamine hit endlessly in an unfufilling life.

[@paramjotsingh26]

All of human civilization is losing its mind.

[@ronaldgarrison8478]

Sometimes it seems so, but it's not because of this. Come on, it's the 21st Century, and times change. Deal with it.

[@williamscott1094]

I just about cry every time I watch this. I've been listening to international shortwave since about 1960. Thanks to all.

[@WA4TKG]

You people don’t have a clue how many millions around the globe you have affected. Truly mind boggling.

[@JohnSmith-y2p]

These kind of comments were the kind that I sent the Australian Broadcasting Corporation back in 2017 or so of which they replied that it was their government funding mechanism and those running the government that pretty much cut funding down to the bare minimum and services had to go.

[@Martinpacker]

I wrote to Radio Australia several times with reception reports, this was way back in the 60s. My letters were acknowledged over the air by Keith Glover and I was sent QSL cards and loads of other stuff through the post. My SWL days were good and short wave listening is not the same now.

[@sailorette1]

Yes, they really cared about all their listeners. I still have some airchecks.

[@charleswest6372]

Yep. Same here, began SWL in 73. Many radios from tube to microcircuits.

[@reallybadaim118]

It's all in the name of controlling the message. Over the internet can be controlled as you can see today with Facebook Twitter et al. With shortwave it can't be controlled.

[@waverider227]

Exactly they want to and can control you better over internet!

[@algorithminc.8850]

Your comment is from a year ago ... look at what they do now to control the narratives. Really sad day to see these services disappear. Never understood why preserving this is not as important as preserving some old building or the like that had nowhere near the influence and impact. Used to listen to Radio Australia here in the Southeastern USA.

[@tonytyler6390]

yep the deep state can not control the airwaves as easily.

[@havanadaurcy1321]

​@@tonytyler6390 Deep state=Trumpy Wumpy. He wasn't for the plebs but Putin and rich.

[@suhailwajid5040]

World has lost a golden era of radio broadcasting. I was among the millions of radio listener who enjoyd radio Australia broadcast in 70s to 90s.Now I often listen radio Australia through internet but the pleasure of radio listening with up and down voice cannot be compared with any media.

[@terryallen9546]

I spent a good part of my youth in u.s. state of Montana...listening in the dark to strange faraway places. Those broadcasters had a great influence on my life.

[@cannong1728]

Same here but in Louisiana. SWL lead me into amateur radio as a kid. Been a ham for 46 years and it all began listening to short wave broadcast stations. It breaks my heart to see these once popular and powerful stations go off the air one by one...sad! 😥😡

[@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi]

yeah i grew up loving shortwave in the 80s left it alone for a lot of years and refound it in the 2000s, Very sad that its all done and dusted. i remember listening to that iconic waltzing matilda melody as it faded away, Thanks ABC for ruining 80 years of reliable radio.

[@jeffking291]

fhhsvnggbh Pretty much my story. I first heard SW when I was 10 (1971). Things happened, but I always had some sort of SW radio. I hitchhiked all across the U.S. ( 5 years), and finally settled down in Naples Florida. Not knowing Spanish, pretty much killed S.W. For me, because in that environment, mostly all I got was Spanish. ( or Cuba blocking). And other things going on in my life. Briefly got back into it, believe it or not- in prison -as someone knew how to re-tune the radios for the 49 meter band. A lot of the Spanish guys loved it, especially the ones from Central /South America. And I was in North Florida, which is far enough out of the Jammers. Got out, stayed in North Florida,bought 4 great radios from C.Crane, and started a business which took up too much time, except during Hurricane Season. 3+ years ago,I started collecting radios, and have slowly been listening more and more. (And I have some REALLY awesome radios) 📻🙂

[@bobbartholomew85364]

Thanks for posting. RA was one one my favorite shortwave stations.... Used to boom into California late at night.

[@nunyabizness199]

And Oregon as well...

[@nigelholmes9332]

@@nunyabizness199 You might be getting a good signal from Radio New Zealand on 7245 kHz around 10-12 UT at the moment. Not quite as good as RA on 9580.

[@w2dsx]

Thank you so much for posting this! Excellent video marking an end of a era. I shall miss hearing the kookaburra on HF! 73

[@patabantecalisura]

this is the only way i learned my English during my childhood...I was 7 when I discovered radio Australia ...It has been part of my life... thank you Dancing Matilda.....

[@francoisdastardly4405]

Very sad. I'm from Argentina and active listener of short wave radios. I miss radio Australia.

[@alanwindypics]

Shameful it's hard to see how providing more of the same rubbish on the DAB service for city dwellers will benefit the thousands of listeners who have been abandoned by this appalling decision.

[@SpectreOZ]

A travesty, Michelle Guthrie is obsessed with "digital transformation" of the ABC at all costs including the marginalised remote listeners. This SO infuriates me without measure...

[@kenenglish124]

MG was a stooge of Rupert Murdoch, who wants everyone to subscribe to his Cable channels. He forgot that there are limits to what signals people working on fishing boats at sea can receive. Shortwave was their only lifeline in mmany cases. No cell sites in the ocean.

[@SpectreOZ]

@@kenenglish124 Indeed no phone reception at sea and satellite reception is impacted by poor weather, just like you would encounter at sea.

[@hgfhghghgfhfghgfhghg538]

This is sad 73,s ABC as an Australian I find this sad and don't know what's wrong with our Government. Too old fashioned what do you expect us to do?? We can't get MW here and we are only 65KM from melb CBD. Even the SW relay station in my town was shutdown many years ago we now having nothing but hums and buzzers from solar panels and 4g towers

[@thomthumbe]

Glad I was allowed to live when the magic of radio existed.

[@deafkite638]

We now live when the magic is dying it seems like every few years a big shortwave station shuts down. Not to mention longwave, only a few stations holding on there. Very sad

[@thomthumbe]

@@deafkite638 YES! All my friends from back when, they had a long wire antenna. Some used dipoles. Some had random wires. But that was our house to house intercom. We'd help each other learn what was necessary to ramp up to General Class. But we also knew what country was saying what based on our always ongoing SWL activities. We'd make fun of Radio Havana. We'd laugh at the propaganda coming out of the USSR. Later days when the woodpecker started being a pain in the ass, I had an electronic keyer and I'd time my outgoing dits to the same incoming sound. I'm sure my 150 watts meant nothing, but we were serious about doing are part!! None of us listened to FM. It was AM and 8 track tapes. We dabbled with CB, but not much. Anyway, radio was as much a part of life as was eating for us 6 kids. Now days, who cares??...... :( If the kids today can't buy what they want....they don't want anything to do with it. If it isn't animated entertainment, forget it! Sorry for a long response. Touches a nerve or two.

[@JohnSmith-y2p]

@@thomthumbe You would be surprised how well 150 watts will get out. I've actually worked Sydney, Australia, Brisbane, Queensland, Punta Arenas, Chile, Kuwait, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Siberia, Central Russia, Namibia and all of South America, Europe and everywhere in between. My setup is using 100 watts barefoot at most but usually about 75 watts to save my finals. No amplifier and my antennas are guess where. Not even outside as I live in an apartment in a small Indiana towns. Work the world with 100 watts or less and have 105 confirmed countries on HF and that is SSB since my CW skills have always been shaky. I need to do CW and RTTY and get those numbers up because there are a bunch of Mainland Asia and African countries that I still haven't hit yet. Some of my old on the farm experience was being 15 to 18 years old putting up 500 foot wire antennas. I don't live on a farm anymore which I miss in a lot of ways but the radio bug is still there. Nowadays people have problems doing even basic tasks and have to rely on cell phones and internet. I grew up in an era in the 1980s when there might have been 3 watchable TV stations from Louisville, KY in our local area. I didn't even get cable or satellite TV until I was 28 years old. Nowadays if people don't have instant gratification they have a fit.

[@ze4037]

This is extremely sad. When I was a junior high school student, I listened to Radio Australian Japanese programs like every evening. Now I can hear ABC sometimes with medium wave, the jingle of the news has not changed since then and it makes me feel nostalgic when I hear it.

[@lylejohnson7591]

I remember using a Hallicrafter S-38 radio to listen to shortwave growing up in Iowa in the 50s and 60s.

[@duckmcf]

Likely aided with the loss of the Radio Australia soft power projection into the South Pacific, China has recently signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands. Nice work Oz gov and the ABC for not understanding the importance of Radio Oz.

[@georgejeaton]

That interval signal called Waltzing Matilda gets into tears.

[@kentrobbo]

wow very sad to see the transmitters switched, i would drive past shepp in amazement at the infrastructure at the site and as a sparky and interested in rf, was always itching to see how it all worked, it was only today i was keen to get set-up to have a go at listening to radio Australia on the sw band but obliviously i have missed the boat. i work at a power gen facility commissioned in the 1920s and still runs as it was installed , i would be upset if that was ever moth balled.

[@mcdus78]

I bought an expensive shortwave radio back in 2009. It’s a Sony ICF-SW7600GR which I still have today. RA was one of my all-time favorites. It is sad it’s no longer with us but it will always be in our memories. Thanks for sharing this on KZbin!

[@mcdus78]

84 LoneDreamer84 Well I agree! However, I doubt it will ever happen.The market is just not like it used to be. If you ever find one brand new or in mint condition...do not hesitate! 73!

[@gregmoore7565]

Great video, thanks for sharing. The sad fact that Waltzing Matilda is gone from the shortwave bands for possibly ever is very sad after growing up with this service. I do hope that the Shepparton buildings, equipment and antennas are kept in serviceable condition.

[@jeromewysocki8809]

Greg Moore , good point. I wonder if that is being done now, or did they just haul everything away for scrap metal?

[@muhammadnasar1031]

It brought me to my elementary school ages memory. My older brother used to listen to this radio station while improving his English, and I was listening too...but my concern was how big and nice the transmitter was as the voice was so clear comparing to other local stations. But now I am so sad no longer be able to listen to, due to the shutdown. Thanks VK3ASE for documenting this.

[@kuchingtan]

Hi, I'm from Sarawak Borneo and it was devastating when I heard the news that ABC SW was shutting down. Along with BBC and VOA, it was the only source of information and entertainment I had in the 90s (especially) when I was teaching in the interiors of Borneo. Nothing lasts forever.

[@timothystockman7533]

Seems like 9580 had been there forever! Sorry to see you go.

[@duanejeffery2242]

How much more are we going to loose in this country ,the ABC,please you are the best in radio ,dont let it all go down the drain .we all need you thanks.

[@bobaldo2339]

This is so sad. One of the last of the big international broadcasters! Radio Australia used to come into the US like a local broadcaster in the early mornings in the 31 meter band.

[@jcramond73]

"Too old fashioned" ironic considering we have a backward government that still clings to the bygone age of the monarchy.

[@steigerpower]

JC.Hear hear.

[@johnsmith7676]

You don't have a government. It has been entirely usurped. It's all just kabuki theatre, at this point.

[@zxzv1]

What a sad end to Radio Australia shortwave transmission to rural Australia as well as to Asia. I remember during the 80's getting RA loud & clear in India & the Middle East - normal programming & cricket during the summer. Sadly, have to visit Cricket Aus. website for the official broadcast which is geo-blocked due to rights restrictions.

[@gregf9160]

Incredibly short sighted decision. Not surprising, given the insularity of the current AUS foreign policy.

[@KutWrite]

Another example that governments to what's in their own interest, not for the people. Do you think the savings will be reflected in lower taxes? Hah!

[@samueljesse2179]

When I drove between Adelaide and Darwin there were black spots with no radio. Thanks to the penny pinchers, that shut down these SW transmitters , please restore this service for the cattle stations in remote Australian areas

[@nigelholmes9332]

The 3x 50 kW domestic HF transmitters installed in the Northern Territory covered in excess of 2 million square kilometres using six channels. ABC diverted the HF transmission funds to put DAB+ transmitters into Hobart, Canberra & Darwin - already well-served with AM, FM & on-line. ABC, or more accurately, the SBC (Sydney Broadcasting cadre) has contempt for remote Australia.

[@phoenixcalling]

This feels as painful as watching the life support be unplugged on a dear loved one. Absolutely disgusting of the greedy bastards that demanded the shutdown of this station, using the excuse that it's too old and nobody is listening anymore, when half the world was still listening. Congratulations, fools. You just stole information, education, entertainment, hope, and freedom away from thousands of people who depended on this station. A big waste of a valuable asset that meant so much to so many, just to save a few dollars. Revolting. Miss you, Radio Australia. Now, working at a radio station myself, I understand why the silence alarm sounds like a cry of pain. I'll keep the last recording of RA that I captured close to my heart forever.

[@glenwoofit]

How very sad, Years of service gone in a push of a button.

[@karlschulte9231]

I was regular listener in Chicago. Ties to Australia engendered by my uncle who spent R&R time there prior to and after months fighting alongside "those great Aussies" fighting in Buna Campaign in New Guinea jungle. Loved the people and the great beer. Norwegian-Americans love beer. Great programs and a touch of news in the world as i traveled remote places from Khyber Pass to north Canada and baack th Motorola HQ in Chicago. SWL and ham. Still miss it. Excellent programming and represented Australia to the world. Now not much in awareness in US and Canada apart from years old tv found on KZbin ( great programs such as Sea Patrol). Big mistake was made. And when net crashes or is not available AM SW is not there. Was usually 5x9 most nights and days on at least one freq. 73 to the old staff. Karl WA2KBZ

[@maryrafuse2297]

Just an update on my comments made four years ago. Since that time we have seen world wide climate events and war in Ukraine. At one time Radio Canada International beamed programing into Ukraine via Short Wave. Our federal government has humiliated us by pulling the plug on Short Wave which is the best way to reach people on the run. People whose infrastructure has been destroyed by invasion, by war! As I said four years ago the people who make decisions within our governments are just not that bright. Logic would tell you that In Canada it is time to reintroduce the Short Wave Service of RCI with state of the art Nautel transmitters. Australia should follow!

[@johnyoung4039]

I loved your station! It breaks my heart to see it disappear. May God richly bless you and thank you for touching my life through shortwave

[@keno77]

So sad that they are closing down all this classic SW radio stations, they say one can listen to internet but it's so far away you can come from the real thing,SWL was a real hobby where the joy was to try caching stations, struggling with the antennas, writing a log of the stations and much more,it was really a live and gave so much satisfaction. Internet is just so synthetic not fun at all.

[@davidwell686]

When I was in the Navy we would love to pick up stations from foreign countries when roaming around the South Pacific. That was pre-satellite days and hearing a clear voice on a radio while on watch was a great relief to us.

[@bill-2018]

I used to listen to Radio Australia. 100 kW output though! Lots of stations have gone off short wave now, I guess the internet is cheaper, no huge power used, no maintenance. I have contacted Australian radio amateurs with my 100 Watts and simple long wire in the past. Gone QRP now with 5 Watts. G4GHB.

[@oscarlupton]

You're a brilliant videographer, thank you for capturing this and all of what you've done in your other uploads.

[@alanflint5418]

Such a shame . Did a couple of stints there as an apprentice technician with Telecom Australia Broadcast Division in the mid 1980's.

[@mfahey]

It was intresting to see the audio carts with various language annoucements - is there any chance someone will digitise them and post them somewhere?

[@rickytikkitavi2484]

I wonder if ABC kept the facility maintained for emergency service? What happens if (when) the Internet becomes disabled?

[@nigelholmes9332]

the transmitters & site were owned by private enterprise and sold off to highest bidder.

[@muhamadirfansetiawan6447]

i like radio australia, im very happy when radio australia broadcast a english lesson in bahasa indonesia broadcast, and i always play on my radio portable in Shortwave frequency from mycountry, indonesia

[@cameraman655]

Remember it like it was yesterday, a truly sad day in OZ broadcasting history, our voice to the world, silenced.

[@nunyabizness199]

Yes, and by a damned fool !

[@andrewsvonja2807]

i used to get this in the UK in the afternoons on 12065 KHZ it proves analogue still is useful,

[@nigelholmes9332]

And we used to listen to the stonking big signal from BBC WS - long path - on 7150 in our afternoons in south-east Oz. Always impressed fellow bushwalkers in the wilds of the bush when the only decent radio station was coming 23,000 km around the world.

[@TehMG]

Same thing in Canada. No more SW broadcast, and even AM broadcast (commonly known in many parts of the world as LW/MW) is also slowly disappearing, leaving many remote areas in a radio broadcast dead zone. Heck, even driving out of Yellowknife there are many HOURS of highway driving devoid of any radio signals, pretty much have to bring your own pre-recorded music or pay for satellite radio service. FM broadcasters are not concerned with highway coverage as that is a considerable expense for only a very small percentage of listeners.

[@Coratory]

The same thing happened in Russia. There are no more MW and SW transmitters except several low power ones. Remote areas don't have a radio coverage at all. The reasons are the same: saving money, moving to a digital era, lack of listeners. It's terrible.

[@ToddHa]

The Ukraine-Russia war is showing just how easy it is to shutdown Internet Feeds from abroad. Easier form of control. With Shortwave, it takes more investment-infrastructure to jam/block a station. Maybe that conflict will change some minds about the importance of Shortwave. I was a routine listener to RA in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s & 2010s. On 9580Khz, 12080Khz, 15160Khz, 15240Khz, 15415Khz, 17715Khz, 17795Khz, 17840Khz & 21740Khz in the St Louis region. RA could be counted on being heard daily in the Midwest even when band conditions were not good. Especially during Evening & then again through the Morning sunrise hours. I remember that 9580Khz was especially good in the spring-summer-fall when thunderstorms were at a minimum in the AM hours. I remember I could take the antenna off of the radio and still hear 9580Khz from 6am-9am (CT) daily. Very strong signal at the sunrise hours. It would like clockwork, drop out fast at 9:30am (CT). Having to wait til about 4pm CT for 21740Khz to return.

[@RobertoAlvarezGalloso]

We need shortwave because of an emergency

[@nigelholmes9332]

Very true. Let's look at emergencies in the Pacific: cyclone blows away satellite dishes . . . Nup. Local government turns off RA FM relays . . . Nup. Peoples' Liberation Army rams a Honiara-based rocket up Canberra's quivering fundament . . . ooohhh . . . Maybe.

[@RobertoAlvarezGalloso]

@@nigelholmes9332 Emergency such as censorship. Even in natural disaster, shortwave have stood the tests of time compared to digital

[@mitsuotakane6211]

THANK YOU RADIO AUSTRALIA

[@沈紹光]

short wave means long distance, which would reach the place on every side, yes old tech but endurable formation

[@nigelholmes9332]

True. But shortwave (HF) can also be the better economic solution for remote areas with low populations. Australia had 3 domestic HF transmitters to cover remote inland areas from 1986-2016. Each transmitter had a proven, primary range of 450 km (often much greater, to > 2000 km). That's 160,000 km^2 for each service. Allowing a range of 75 km for a 5 kW FM omnidirectional service would require 36 such FM installations to service the same area for each service. And much more costly maintenance. The shortwave transmitters were being upgraded to be even more efficient and to transmit DRM (the first new transmitter (a Continental 418G) at Alice Springs had already been tested in DRM mode with stunning performance)

[@JohnSmith-y2p]

What a sad day for shortwave broadcasting and Australia in general. Even here in the United States we often listened to Radio Australia and to get the international perspective but also to hear about Australian news. Internet Radio, Satellite and such just isn't the same. We would get about 16 hours of Radio Australia during the day. Seemed that it would start coming in about 5 pm local time Eastern which is 2100 UTC in the summer or 2200 UTC in the winter. You could hear frequencies such as 21740, 17795, 15365, 13605, 11880 mostly during the evenings into the overnight hours say at 2 am. Then at around 3 am local we would get 9580, 9700, 12065, 6020 etc which would generally last until around 1400 UTC. Sadly those days are gone because I grew from 1985 at 10 years old until I was 42 years old listening to Radio Australia. Listening to the local ABC Melbourne or Brisbane or Sydney just isn't the same and totally different than turning on the Shortwave. Even more exotic for a lot of us here in the United States was being able to listen to the various Outback stations which I could receive very well in our fall to spring seasons especially those on 2325, 2410, 2485 and 4835 etc from Alice Springs, etc. In fact they were often well heard at my location due to the fact that I had up a 2000 foot long wire antenna strung through a couple of trees and going to the edges of the property my family still lives on even though I am long gone from there. It was quite interesting to hear shortwave broadcasts not only from Australia and the Outback but also Papua New Guinea, dozens of Indonesian stations, Philippines, Chinese provincial stations, Vietnamese provincial stations and even a few times the various iterations of the Khmer Rouge genocidal stations out of China or the Thai Cambodian border with their various harangues. That's not even including the various radio wars between the two Koreas. They should have kept Radio Australia running because to me it was one of the better news stations out there as well.

[@arcticradio]

You know what happens when these ‘broadcasters’ use the excuse it’s too old-fashioned? Us enthusiasts start our own stations! Here in Finland Longwave will start again after 31 years…….Arctic 252 begins where others have ended. Radio will never die, there are those who do anything to save it.

[@bradmann85]

I enjoyed listening to country music they played on saturdays. To me it was like time traveling with the radio. It would be Saturday morning in my location while it's night time there. Some say you can listen on the internet but that's not the same as the radio.

[@STEVSGONE]

No listening on the Internet is nowhere near the same is listening on the radio.

[@CEGBrevival]

I remember listening to Radio Australia on SW on a transistor radio with a 0.6 m telescopic antenna. That was on the south coast of England!

[@kkristopher7413]

Its like pulling the plug on an old friend because some people viewed him as being irrelevant. Then you take him apart and he never existed.

[@StormsRadiosCats]

All the old farts smiling like it's no big deal.

[@kamilsp7]

True.

[@ctoombs7825]

Extremely Sad

[@eugenekochnieff]

The old farts that cared were excluded from this ministerial photo Op!

[@thet12king47]

Thank you for this video fantastic job

[@vk3ase]

Broadcast Australia own the site and sold transmitter time to the ABC and i should think they would able to sell time to any one else who had the money to spend on big time shortwave transmission if it was not in conflict with Govt regulations. Maybe six or so transmitters at the site but none on air at this time. The site is BA's maintance and storage depot for central Victoria where they carry out works for their other sites around the place so i think the actual building will be around for a while with the TX's mothballed.

[@sonus289]

we listeners need to complain directly to the station owners and do it repeatedly...get as many ppl you know that are interested in saving the future of radio to complain or message all the agencys involved... ABC they need to hear the money is not wasted...unfortunately radio has been loosing money everywhere.....sad

[@robinj.9329]

I think it was absolutely insane to simply "SHUT DOWN" international broadcasting! The Internet is just far too easy to control, censor or block entirely! With out international Shortwave channels to get real news from outside your own country, the People will have no idea what's really happening!

[@samueljesse2179]

I drove between Adelaide and Darwin and I kid you not there were black spots with no radio signals from Australian broadcasters on AM and needless to say FM. Imagine what the endless cattle stations up north think of the coalition that is supposed to represent them. Damn penny pinchers that waste money left right and centre but shut down vital Australian SW.

[@knottybank]

Why is the number station "Swedish rhapsody" playing in the background?

[@nigelholmes9332]

part of the "5 eyes, 3 ears, 7 dicks" intelligence consortium. you weren't supposed to notice that. subliminal signalling for field operatives only. you certainly weren't meant to comment on it. we'll have to deal with you now. 39715

[@harrothepilot]

It sucks. As a resident of Shepparton, just a couple of kms South of this site, it's sad to see the neglect starting to settle in. Feed lines on the ground, towers rusting, weeds out of control around the tx building, etc.

[@masaris7464]

Thank you for your services

[@ashishmittra2091]

I remember listening to "Countdown", hosted by Glenys Dixon when I was in my 20s. I'll be forever indebted to Radio Australia's short wave services for shaping my musical tastes.

[@jtownshend]

Very sad indeed. Thanks for posting. I hope this unfortunate decision will be reversed.

[@nunyabizness199]

And fire the lot who made it !

[@billg2025]

I can hear those amps and antennas crying.

[@deafkite638]

Yes, they know their time has been cut short due to greed, sad indeed

[@manishbhoola]

It was a very sad moment. Hearing it since the 1990s

[@Henrydrn1]

Sad, I hope shortwave lives on like LP records. These LPs sound amazing if you have a good sound system by the way.

[@ArachmadiPutra]

that midnight in silence, listening SW band, imagining the overseas broadcaster so peaceful ...

[@mjames2117]

I used to listen to this on SW from UK around 15Mhz

[@nigelholmes9332]

well fair's fair . . . I used to listen to BBC WS on 7150 long path c.06UT

[@cordovajose5693]

Active shortwave present should be considered a matter of national sovereignty, not unlike embassies and consulates. National identity and sovereignty over shortwave radio should not vary because of new technologies, because SW is the only thing that survives a total internet/satellite infrastructure blackout.

[@franciscomontesdeoca5316]

Iam a radio amateur since 1978 and for me is a very sad moment because i love the radio wave this is a sad idea .

[@matthewdempsey6583]

the girl in 3:40 had to walk away i think the song upset her or upset the station was being turned off

[@nigelholmes9332]

possibly the latter. she was one of the station's technical operators.

[@genesisarcherrivera2323]

i actually remember this video when one of our tv station in philippines shut their system down

[@sailorette1]

Remembering Dick Paterson, Barry Seeber, Keith Glover, and many more; our friends at 6WF Perth ( the type of station obliterated early in this video) and those we never had the chance to hear in North America. Truly a dark day in radio history for Australians and the entire world. VK3ase, thank you for sharing the last moments.

[@danielmarkleblanc1800]

They did the same in Canada. I live about 45 KM from a very large station operated by Radio Canada International and they shut it down around the same time. Lets hope we don't need it again some day. Sad, but those are now the times we live in. I still listen and SW and its still very much alive. Some will say that the Internet Killed it; however, it's certainly not dead. If anything, it was the end of the cold war that has effected SW and that effect continues to ring in my ears. There certainly isn't the same amount of channels being broadcasted anymore compared to 25 years ago; however, there is still plenty of stuff to listen to. Plenty! Get yourself a decent receiver and a loop antenna and your good to go. It's reminds me a lot of amateur astronomy. In recent years, light pollution had really taken a toll on stargazing. However, you can still see a lot of star shine by leaving the city and its wasteful lighting to a dark spaces such as the country and provincial or National park land areas. You might have to drive a little but sooner or latter you will begin to see STAR SHINE again.

[@navidfarhan3775]

If I was now rich as Tony Stark I would buy the station for sure Love from Bangladesh 🇧🇩

[@sugengratmono7996]

Banyak kenangan Radio AUSTRALIA terutama siaran bahasa INDONESIA.......Terima kasih ABC

[@adelarsen9776]

I wonder who scored the portrait of Her Majesty ? Australia needs to project its presence into the region and radio was the best way. Fools.

[@LoganHester-1489]

I miss it still rip short wave radio