Abstract: Radio waves from very low frequency and low frequency （VLF/LF） transmitters, as an active signal for communication and navigation purpose, show great advantages in ionospheric monitoring and application research with their long-distance propagation feature in the waveguide between surface and lower ionosphere. This paper summarized the developments in detecting technology of VLF/LF radio waves, their data analysis methods, case study and statistical research, coupling processes and channels in lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere. On the basis of the significant achievements of this technology in earthquake application, and the researches in the origin of big disturbances in VLF/LF observations, the future development plan has been considered to build up a stereo-monitoring system in China by combining our long-history ground-based network and new satellite platform in electromagnetic field, to fully use of this technology in earthquake research.