Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shortwave still relevant in the age of the Internet?
Absolutely. While the internet relies on expensive infrastructure, cables, and data plans, Shortwave is "the original wireless." It is the only medium that can cross borders and reach thousands of miles without a single router or cell tower. In many parts of the world, Shortwave is the primary source of news and information—especially where the internet is censored, expensive, or unavailable.
Where exactly will my program be heard?
WRMI operates 14 high-power transmitters with antennas beamed toward every corner of the globe. Depending on your chosen time slot and frequency, your message can reach North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia or even Oceania. We can help you select a time and frequency that best targets your desired audience.
Can people really afford the equipment to listen?
Yes. This is the greatest advantage of Shortwave. While a smartphone or laptop costs hundreds of dollars, a functional shortwave receiver can be purchased for as little as $3 USD in many public markets around the world. Good modern shortwave radios can be found on Amazon.com for anywhere from about $15 to a few hundred dollars or more. There are currently hundreds of millions of these receivers in circulation globally. There are also about three million amateur radio transceivers worldwide which can pick up shortwave broadcast stations.
Why should I use Shortwave instead of just making a podcast?
A podcast requires the listener to already know who you are and to have a reliable internet connection to find you. Shortwave allows for discovery. Listeners often "scan the dial," stumbling upon your message as they search the airwaves. It gives you an active, captive audience that a crowded podcast directory simply cannot match.
Do I need a special license to broadcast on WRMI?
No. WRMI is a fully licensed international broadcast station. When you buy airtime with us, you are operating under our FCC license. You provide the content, and we handle the legalities of the transmission.
What kind of programs do you broadcast?
WRMI is a privately-owned commercial shortwave station. We are not affiliated with any government, political or religious organization. We sell blocks of airtime to virtually anyone who wants to broadcast on shortwave. Many of these organizations are religious broadcasters, but we also relay government-owned stations such as Radio Slovakia International, Radio Prague, Radio Taiwan International and RAE Argentina. In addition, we air programs by independent producers who have programs with such varied subjects as jazz, blues, and Christian rock music, UFO’s and sports programs We also broadcast a variety of “DX” programs (programs of special interest to shortwave listeners) in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Italian, and we air an in-house production called “Viva Miami” which includes interviews, tourist information, letters from listeners and more. See the Programming page of our website for more information.
What kind of content is allowed?
We welcome a diverse range of voices, including religious, political, cultural, educational, music and commercial programming. As long as your content is legal and does not violate international broadcasting regulations (such as inciting violence or illegal acts), you have the freedom to speak your mind.
Are you a member of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters?
Yes, WRMI has been a member of NASB for many years, and our representatives have held many executive positions on the NASB board of directors. The NASB is the association of privately-owned shortwave stations in the United States. It works closely with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. In turn, the NASB is a member of the High Frequency Coordination Conference (HFCC), the ITU-recognized NGO where shortwave frequencies are coordinated on a worldwide basis.
How do I know my program actually aired?
Because shortwave is a hobby for millions, we often receive "reception reports" from listeners around the world who write in to tell us they heard us. We provide summaries of these reports to all of our clients, and if you give your contact information within your program, you may receive some listener reports directly to you also.
Is there a long-term contract?
Not at all. While many of our clients have been with us for decades, you can buy as little or as much airtime as you want, and you can cancel or change your airtime schedule anytime you want. You have total control over your schedule and your budget.
How do I pay for my airtime?
We make it as simple as the broadcast itself. In addition to checks and money orders, we accept all major credit cards, PayPal, and ACH, wire and Zelle transfers.
What is the Effective Radiated Power (ERP) of your transmissions?
WRMI has twelve 100-kilowatt transmitters, one 50-kilowatt transmitter and a 10-kilowatt auxiliary transmitter, and 23 antennas of different types. The ERP depends on which transmitter and antenna are being considered. For example, a 100 kW transmitter operating into an antenna with 10 db gain would have an ERP of 1 million watts. A transmitter operating at 50 kW into a 20 db gain antenna would also have an ERP of 5 million watts ERP.
How much does airtime cost on WRMI?
Since there are no absolute audience figures for the shortwave audience, shortwave is not a very commercialized medium. It is difficult to sell spot commercials for products or services on shortwave due to the lack of audience statistics. Therefore, we sell blocks of airtime to organizations who produce their own programs and want to reach a wide audience in large parts of the world, and these blocks are quite inexpensive. Airtime blocks are just US$1 per minute. This makes shortwave radio accessible for any kind of organization -- even for individual producers.
How far is Okeechobee from Miami?
It’s almost a three-hour drive from Miami to the WRMI transmitter site, which is 20 miles north of Lake Okeechobee. From our site, it is about a 90-minute drive to Orlando to the Disney parks, Universal Studios, Sea World, etc. We are about an hour and 15 minutes from West Palm Beach, and less than an hour from Fort Pierce and Vero Beach, where there are nice Atlantic Ocean beaches. The nearest international airports to Okeechobee are West Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Is there someone always working at the transmitter site?
WRMI is on the air 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year. Sometimes there are many people on site, although one person can operate the whole facility. While most of the transmitter functions are computer-controlled, a human operator always turns them on and off, takes regular transmitter readings, and he or she is on standby for any problem that might occur.
Is all of your programming simulcast on the Internet?
No, at present only the programming on 9955 kHz is simulcast on our Internet stream. That can be heard on our website at www.wrmi.net and on Shoutcast, TuneIn, Streema, Radio.garden and many other sites. All other programming is broadcast only on shortwave frequencies.
How many people work at WRMI?
We currently have a staff of about 7 persons. Most of our employees have worked for Radio Miami International or Family Radio for 20-40 years, so they have lots of experience in shortwave broadcasting.
Do you receive any funding from the U.S. government?
No, in fact we pay taxes and fees to the U.S. government. We receive no subsidies from any governmental, political or religious organizations, and our company does not operate any other radio or TV stations or media of any sort. All of our funding comes 100% from the sale of airtime on WRMI.
Is WRMI located on a ranch?
Yes, we are on the Four K Ranch, which is a 660-acre (one square mile) cattle ranch owned by the J.C. Bass family of Okeechobee. We rent space on the ranch for our transmitter building, antennas and other facilities. At any given time, there are as many as 200 cattle on the ranch. There is a variety of other wildlife, including alligators, snakes, deer, wild hogs, armadillos, skunks, many different kinds of insects and birds, etc. In the summer months especially, there is a lot of rain and the land becomes very swampy like the Florida Everglades. We have four-wheel-drive vehicles to get to the various antennas around the property.
When is the hurricane season?
Officially, it runs each year from June 1 to November 30. However, the most hurricanes occur in the months of August and September. Nevertheless, they can occur anytime, even outside of the official hurricane season. The summer months are very rainy and lightning is very common.
Have a question we didn't cover?
Our team is standing by to help you launch your global voice. Just email us at: info@wrmi.net.