Customer Reviews

Passport to World Band Radio, 1999

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you want to start listening to World (shortwave) Radio, this is the first, and maybe only book to buy. I get it each year for the latest listings and reviews. I listen to world radio for alternate news and views, and for world music.

The book starts with up-to-date reviews on radios costing from $50 to $6,000. It has everything you need to get started, which can be no more than getting a radio and plugging it in, or setting up an outdoor antenna if you want to.

The book describes the most accessible stations, but lists more stations than you'll ever be able to hear: hour-by-hour, station-by-station, channel-by-channel.. Lists English broadcasts, but also "voices from home": native-language broadcasts for those living outside their own country.

The only thing that they don't cover that I wish they would is reviews on the new radios that are controlled entirely by a computer. The book describes only very simple antennas, enough for many. It does not attempt to be a guide to designing an outdoor antenna: that's a subject for an entire book.

I prefer this book to The World Radio TV Handbook, the only real alternative.

If, like me, you want to get this book each year when it's available, the authors will notify you if you drop an email to mwk@passport.com.

Magne is pretty fanatical about world band listening, and that works to the reader's advantage. The hour-by-hour listings of what's on for each of the major (and not so major) international broadcasters really helps me get my money's worth out of my receiving equipment. I do not use the blue pages, which sort broadcasters by frequency rather than time, since I am mostly a casual broadcast listener, but they would be invaluable to a DX'er. My favorite section, every year, is the receiver reviews, since there's so little objective analysis of the hardware available anywhere else, and a poor receiver means you may stop listening to shortwave altogether. This book is well worth the money for any regular world band listener.

This is probably the best reference book that I have ever picked up on World Band Radio monitoring. I was sorry to find a mix-up in the blue page section, in reference to Frequencies, times, etc. There were two pages that unfortunely had been placed in the wrong sections. After contacting the company about this error, They informed me that unforunatly it was to late to call in all the books that were distributed. I suppose this is why one can get it at a special price? But otherwise, it is the best of the best. 5 stars

If you want to get into shortwave listening hobby , it is an excellent idea to start with reading this book. It is an easy reading for anyone with any level of expertise in radio technology. It is also an excellent source of information for different frequencies and times and price list for various receivers.

I my opinion this is the best book for anyone intrested in listening to shortwave radio.You need only to have an interest in shortwave to enjoy it.If your a novice it will explain shortwave radio,give you receiver reviews,frequencies and time to listen for all world band stations.Also included are Internet addresses and information on the stations Real Audio capabilities.I've been buying it every year since it has been published