Shortwave radio, also known as high frequency (HF) radio, is a popular method of communication that utilizes specific radio frequencies to transmit signals over long distances. With the advent of mobile technology, shortwave radio enthusiasts can now enjoy the benefits of this communication method on their Android and iOS devices through various apps. In this article, we will take a look at some of the best shortwave radio apps available for Android and iOS devices. These apps offer users a range of features, including access to a variety of frequencies, the ability to tune to different stations, and real-time information about the strength of signals.
We have compiled a list of 5 Best Shortwave Radio Apps For Android & iOS for your consideration, which have undergone rigorous testing and evaluation by our team of experts.
Table of Contents
5 Best Shortwave Radio Apps For Android & iOS
1. Radio FM
Radio FM is an application designed for playing internet radio stations. The app offers a variety of genres, including classical, rock, pop, hip-hop, gospel, news, comedy, shows, concerts, and other programs from various internet radio broadcasters across the globe. Radio FM supports Android Auto, Google Chromecast, and Android watch/wearable.
Radio FM is the only app in the Play store that provides a true radio experience with the best-tuned features for free. It offers features such as adding to favorites, access to recent list, sleep timer (auto off), alarm clock (auto on), adding shortcuts on mobile home screen, easy-to-use radio interface, and many more.
The radio station listing is enhanced with radio broadcaster’s logos as provided, and it has a full radio player to display title information about the currently tuned-in station in full screen. The app also provides a feature to suggest a station to tune in to a local or any other radio station from any city, state or country. There is also an easy feedback option within the app so the team can add more features.
Radio broadcasters keep adding their radio stations to Radio FM platform through http://appradiofm.com/broadcaster/broadcaster-login/. The app has over 50,000 radio stations worldwide, and users can suggest a feature if they don’t find what they are searching for.
Radio FM is a trusted radio app by 50 million users worldwide. The app promises its users the best playback quality and strives to make it better every day. Screenshots and videos are also available at http://appRadioFM.com/faq-list/.
Users can follow Radio FM on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. The app can be contacted at support@appRadioFM.com.
2. myTuner Radio App: FM Radio + Internet Radio Tuner
The myTuner Radio app allows users to listen to live radio streaming from around the world on their Android phone or tablet. The app features a modern, easy-to-use interface for listening to online radio, internet radio, AM, and FM radio.
With myTuner Radio, users have access to over 50,000 radio stations from over 200 countries and territories. The app also allows users to follow their favorite shows and podcasts, choose from a variety of genres, and listen to free radio online while using other apps. Users can search for stations or podcasts by country, city, or genre, and can add them to their favorites list. The app also features an alarm and sleep timer, and can be listened to through the smartphone’s loudspeakers, Bluetooth, or Chromecast.
Users can listen to their favorite radio stations on a variety of devices, including mobile, web, desktop, smart TVs, connected cars, wearables, Alexa, Sonos, and more. The myTuner team is constantly working to make the app available on even more devices.
myTuner’s mission is to provide access to the best radio stations from around the world, and the app currently features over 50,000 stations. If a user cannot find a particular station, they can send an email to help@mytuner.mobi and the team will do their best to add it to the app. The app requires an internet connection, 3G/4G, or Wi-Fi network to stream radio stations, and some FM radio stations may not work if their stream is temporarily offline. More information can be found on myTuner’s website, Facebook page, and Twitter account.
3. Radio Africa Network 4+
The Radio Africa Network was established in 1984 as a shortwave station with the objective of spreading the message of Jesus Christ to the masses in Africa. Over time, the network has gained popularity and strength as it strives to save more souls for Christ and to spread Christianity in a region that experiences daily turmoil and adversities. Today, the Radio Africa Network is available as an app that can be accessed by anyone with a smartphone, not only in Africa but also worldwide. The app offers listeners encouraging and inspirational broadcasts that lead them to the love and hope of Jesus Christ.
Listeners of the Radio Africa Network can enjoy commercial-free broadcasts, and the app is free to download. Users are encouraged to provide feedback to help improve the functionality of the app. Listeners can also reach out to individual program producers or connect with the network to share their comments. The program producers would love to hear from their audience to continue broadcasting uplifting and inspiring messages on the Radio Africa Network. To provide feedback, listeners can send an email to radioafrica@panambc.com.
For further information or assistance with the app, listeners can contact Pan American Broadcasting at info@panambc.com. Alternatively, listeners can visit www.panamericanbroadcasting.com. The Radio Africa Network is also present on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube under the handles @RadioPanAm, @RadioAfricaNetwork, and @Panambc, respectively. Musical interludes used in the broadcasts are provided by www.audioblocks.com.
4. Simple Radio – Free Live FM AM Radio
Simple Radio by Streema is a free radio app that provides access to over 50,000 FM, AM, and online radio stations worldwide. Users can search for radio stations based on genre, category, country, state, or city. The app offers a range of stations for news, music, talk shows, and live sports, including NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS, NHL, Nascar, and more.
The app features a clean user interface that simplifies the process of tuning in to a station. Users can easily find their favorite stations and access them with just one tap. Simple Radio also boasts unparalleled levels of stability and reliability, with no buffering or interruptions during use.
Simple Radio is available on multiple platforms, including Android Auto, Google Chromecast, iPhone, iPad, iWatch, Amazon Alexa, mobile, and web. Users can listen to their favorite stations in the car or cast them to any Google Chromecast compatible device.
If users have any questions or feedback about the app, they can reach out to the Simple Radio team at simple@streema.com. The app uses code from FFmpeg licensed under the LGPLv2.1, and its privacy policy and terms of use can be found on the Streema website. The trademarks featured in the app belong to their respective trademark holders and are not affiliated with Streema or its services.
5. WTWW shortwave Radio
Shortwave broadcasting, also known as High Frequency (HF) broadcasting, is a radio service authorized by the FCC to operate between 5,950 KHz and 26,100 KHz. This international broadcast service is intended to be received by the general public in other countries.
What makes shortwave unique is its extensive coverage. While an FM station has a range of approximately 60 miles, and a clear-channel AM station can be heard up to 750 miles away at nighttime, a shortwave station can be heard for vast distances, depending on its power, location, and antennas. This is due to the ionosphere, a layer of the earth’s atmosphere that reflects some radio waves back to the earth, rebounding shortwave to radio receivers thousands of miles from their point of origin.
Shortwave radio is the only medium capable of direct communication from one country to listeners in another country without governmental intervention. With over 1.5 billion shortwave receivers in use worldwide, it is estimated that at any given moment, over 200 million sets are tuned to shortwave broadcasts. Shortwave remains the dominant mass communications medium, especially in developing countries.
For instance, shortwave listenership in the Americas ranges from 61% (Peru) to 41% (Guyana), 35% (northern Brazil), and 37% (Caribbean nations). Many boom box-type radio/tape player units sold in other countries, particularly in Latin America, include shortwave bands. Mexico, with over 16 licensed shortwave stations and more than 5 million shortwave users, alone has about one-third the population of the United States.
Despite the availability of broadcast, cable, satellite, and Internet services, shortwave remains the dominant form of mass communications in many places throughout the world.