Its hard to believe they're still using short wave.
You can't always count on the signal getting through.
The internet is so much more efficient and anonymous, any internet cafe will serve as a receiving station, and anyone caught with a SW receiver these days would be immediately suspect.
I think the Russians just transmit gibberish now, knowing the NSA is spending millions of dollars and limitless resources trying to make sense of the signals, which cost next to nothing to generate.
Ivan has a very wry sense of humor, and they see us as a cross between Inspecteur Clouseau and Dudley Doright, with an infinite budget.