Customer Reviews

Passport to World Band Radio

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I can't believe that this is the 25th edition of this wonderful reference book. I've been buying them ever since the first issue. And each one was worth the upgrade. After all, would you want to search for a TV program with last years TV Guide? Shortwave broadcast stations change their programming, their hours, the language used and even the area of the globe they broadcast to. Without this guide you are just shooting in the dark if you are trying to listen to a particular type of programming.

Each year there are reviews of radios, antennas and other listening equipment. Believe me they are not afraid to say what they think and why in their thoughtful and clear reviews. You will know why they liked or didn't like something after reading them. One reason I like to keep my older issues, is so that I can check out the reviews of equipment that I run across on eBay, hamfests, etc. If you are shopping for a world band radio you can save the price of this book on your next radio purchase (new or old).

There are insightful articles about countries around the globe and things you can learn by listening to their local radio stations. The 2009 edition has an approximately 15 page article titled "Columbia: Bandits, Ballads, and Broadcasts". Very interesting!

Then there are the "Getting Started" articles that educate and make a beginner comfortable. Those articles, plus the product reviews, take up almost 200 pages this year.

After that there is a section titled "What's On Tonight". This gives some recommendations about stations and programs to listen to each hour of the day. Detailed enough to take up about 50 pages in the book.

Then there are 60 pages of addresses and contact information of broadcast stations around the world.

The next section is "Worldwide Broadcasts in English". Most of us know that the USA, Canada, Great Britian, etc. broadcast in English. Would you like to listen to news and music from Mongolia? Or, considering the Middle Eastern situation, there are Syrian, Iranian, Saudi, etc. broadcasts in English. There are about 15 pages with schedules in this section.

The final narrative section is "Voices from Home". this is a 15 page section about broadcasts in a station's native language.

Then there is a 13 page glossary with photos of radio and shortwave listening terms and abbreviations.

Finally, there is the detailed schedule by frequency and then time of what you might expect to find on the radio. These schedules are done in a graphic format that is easy to understand. Let's just say that this un-numbered section is between 150 and 200 pages long.

So, for under $20, don't you think you are getting your money's worth?

Serious radio listeners should never purchase a new radio without checking on what radios are available - and how they rate for function and price. Science is changing at an ever increasing rate. Annual upgraded issues of "Passport to World Band Radio" leads in presenting this new information. It also gives information on collectible vintage radios of interest.

Furthermore, the reader is given an update on stations that can be received from all parts of the world.

Radio improvements occur almost on a daily basis, but this publication is the best single reference helping amateur and even professional radio enthusiasts stay informed.

If you're a serious shortwave radio fan, then you probably already own an edition of Passport to World Band Radio. From radio reviews to broadcast schedules, it's all in there for only around $15. This book is especially helpful to someone that is just starting out listening to world band radio.

I started listening to shortwave radio (world band radio) in the 60's with a Zenith TransOceanic 1000 receiver and I'm still at it today using a Sony 7600GR. About every other year for the last 10 years or so I've purchased the yearly Passport to World Band Radio book. Frankly, I don't know how I got along without it. Everything you need to know (and then some) about shortwave radio listening and stations is in this beautiful, glossy book. Found a station on a frequency at 0300 GMT in Spanish? Passport will tell you exactly what station you're listening to, how long it will be on, what kind of programming to expect, etc. Want to listen to a Cuban, German or North Korean broadcast in English? Passport tells you where to tune. It also has comprehensive, no-holds-barred reviews of all types of shortwave receivers and antennas (super cheap to ultra expensive). This book is a true bargain. But now I hear this 2009 edition may be the last. All good things come to an end, I guess. Perhaps the publishers will relent. Perhaps not. Take this opportunity to get the 2009 edition while it is still available.

Later update: Passport has now announced that this will be the last issue.

I gave my son-in-law a Sony World Band Radio for Christmas and bought this book to go with it. He said having the book was as important as having the radio - he wouldn't have known how to fully understand how the radio can be used.

This is still,after three years of listening to short wave, the best money spent to make the most out of my radio.

This book is excellent for experts, because it provides up-to-date frequency listing for station around the world. The beginner or potential beginner gets in depth reviews of the world band radios that are available.

I am not a regular short wave listener and I have a SONY ICF-SW7600GR. When I have a few minutes in the evening while I'm reading, I'll surf the airways.

This book comprehensive and informative, yet easy to understand.

For people who are even only marginally interested in shortwave radio, this is the best resource available. It has information about almost every shortwave station in the world (at least the licensed ones), reviews/ratings of shortwave sets for readers interested in buying a radio, a schedule of airtimes for what the editors consider the best programs on shortwave and some fairly interesting related articles.

One caveat: While Passport stakes a claim to being the "TV Guide of Shortwave Radio" because it makes some effort to follow schedule changes, not all the information about the stations listed is necessarily new. For truly up-to-date schedule information, get a copy of "Monitoring Times" magazine instead.

Being new to the genre, I am glad I picked this up. Not sure what type of radio to buy? Pick this up. Not sure what to listen into? Pick this up. This will give you all the information you need to listen in and when to do so. It has EVERY station everywhere listed so you can pick and choose your listening pleasure. Check this out and enjoy!

Purchased as a gift for my husband who enjoys listening to his shortwave at night. Excellent choice - lists lots of broadcasts by country and time. Great explanations of terms