Why are they called “shortwave” radios?
A. In the early days of radio communications, communications was routinely conducted on very long wavelengths. The radio frequencies shorter than 200 meter wavelengths were referred to as “short waves”. Yet by modern standards, “short waves” are quite long. Today, communications is routinely performed on wavelengths measured in centimeters and such wave lengths are today’s “short waves”. Another term you may hear to describe “short wave” radio is “high frequency” or HF. The “short wave” or HF radio bands have the property that their signals will often travel great distances and reflect off the ionosphere that surrounds the earth enabling very long range communication.
