Customer Reviews

World Radio TV Handbook 2000

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Since 1974 this is the first time I'm not buying the WRTH. Quality has gone worsening in the last ten years, and -- as stated by other readers -- the strange splitting-editing is not handy. More: there is something I don't understand, and people at WRTH never answered to my two letters: the suppression of music identification scores. OK, not everybody can read music, but often the music id is the only way to identify a rare station in some exotic languages. Add the fact that often the station/program presented in the WRTH schedules is totally absent on the frequency. If editors at WRTH are not interested in doing a good job, I'm not interested in wasting my money.

If you have a shortwave radio, you need this book. At only $20, its value to weight ratio is unsurpassed.

This is probably the 20th year I've bought a new WRTH, and most of what's in this one is up-to-the-minute. Merging all of the articles (receiver reviews, propagation forecasts, maps, etc.) into one place up front makes the book seem more orderly than past versions. But, the continued split of National and International station listings continues the inconveniece another year. I've never met anyone who likes the "new" split, and I think the Editor should include an article next year justifying why they apparently don't listen to their customers. Granted, each country's broadcasts are in just two places (either National or International) but the split raises a more "hidden" problem.

A book like this has two basic purposes: to find a broadcast that you want to listen to, and to find out what a broadcast is that you are listening to. The first use is handled quite well (and always has been) but for the "split" listings, which is unnecessary, but hardly a big problem.

But, the second major use, identifying a broadcast, is severly hampered by the omission of National Radio broadcasts from the frequency lisiting we've become accustomed to at the back of the book.

With my new book in-hand, I cruised the dial (well, OK, there is no dial on my radio!) and being always on the lookout for something new, I spent some time around 4.8 and 4.9 Mhz. In the Eastern US, that range is chock-full of Central and South American stations just waiting to be QSL'd. Unfortunately, you'll never figure out (without significant effort) what you're listening to; they're not in the frequency listing! To find out what the station is, you'll have to go to the country listings - but which one? If you knew that, you wouldn't need the book.

There also seem to be an unacceptable number of errors in the listings. At 1700 GMT, I used the English listing to look for the new station listed, WIBI, but of course, there is no such thing: it's WINB. That same page lists an AWR broadcast from Asia on 12130, but going to the frequency listing for a clue on where it originates from doesn't list the frequency at all. I found quite a few similar omissions. If someone were willing to type all the frequencies in this book into a spreadsheet, then sort them out in order, I'd certainly buy it - but that's what I expected from the WRTH.

It's worth buying despite its shortcomings, but a book like this should be more of a help than hinder.

The WRTH is the best reference book you can probably buy for a serious shortwave listener (SWL-er) or DX-er. The frequency listings and the broadcasters' information is the most complete one available in a book format. Two watch-outs:

1.- Information on local AM and TV broadcasters is incomplete and sometimes outdated. But anyway, this book's primary intention is not to give you details about your local TV or radio stations - for that purpose better buy "TV-guide".

2.- The SW frequency listings in the WRTH 2000 edition are missining information about tropical band (local) stations. The missing information is available via Internet on the WRTH site. The stations are correctly listed in the country sections, but omitted in the frequency summary.

The section about receiver reviews and propagation data are very complete and professional, much metter than Passport to Worldband Radio. The only missing part is information in which past editions of WRTH specific receivers have been reviewed or how to obtain a re-print of these reviews. I tried to contact WRTH by e-mail in numerous ocassions to get this info, without success.

In summary, WRTH is the best reference book for a serious SWL-er or DX-er, but it is more speciallized and limited in broad SW subject coverage than, for example, the Passport to Worlband Radio (also available on Amazon).

I travel North America in a recreational vehicle, acquiring a new front yard every week, typically 250 miles from the preceding one. Each location brings a new set of domestic AM stations, many of which were not heard at the prior location. In the 1999 WRTH, most of the stations are not mentioned by frequency and/or call. None, that I'm aware of, commenced operation less than 12 months ago. All the requisite data is available free at the FCC web site, in easily converted text file format, updated daily. When WRTH has made its U.S. BCB lists current, I'll buy one.

Great reference for elecrtromagnetic communication services.