The resistance of the blackout: the day the amateur radios were the masters of Spain

In a world increasingly dependent on modern telecommunications – mobile phones, internet, television – we often forget the fragility of these networks in the face of unexpected events such as the widespread blackout that the peninsula experienced last Monday. However, there is a community that remains operational when others fail: that of amateur radio.Beyond being a simple hobby, being a hobby involves a specific commitment and preparation, reg…

The unprecedented power outage that affected the Iberian Peninsula this Monday has highlighted two undeniable realities: that in times of crisis and despite all the technological advances available, analog radio is essential; and that regardless of the channels through which it is broadcast, disinformation finds its way to circulate, no matter what. Thanks to the airwaves, citizens who had a transistor radio knew that hospitals were still operat…

I don’t know how many years my battery radio will have. It has so many to not belong to the group of devices with scheduled obsolescence, it has never been damaged and it still speaks and sings like the first day. My radio is silver, a silver that is husked by some fall and the trajín to take it from one place to another. The radio has a telescopic antenna that I pull out when only a little voice beat sounds. The stations have to look for them w…

During the massive suspension of electricity and internet services in Spain, radio was the only medium that informed the population about what was happening

Battery-powered radios became an essential tool for staying informed.

Battery-powered radios became an essential tool for staying informed.