Passport to World Band Radio

by Lawrence Magne

Tells what is on World Band Radio in three ways: hour-by-hour, country-by-country and channel-by-channel. There is also a Buyer's Guide with laboratory and panel ratings of dozens of world band radios - plus how-to articles by specialists.

Genres: Reference, The World, International

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1955

Reviews

[George Bradford]

The monopolization of broadcast media in the United States strikes a near fatal blow to our democracy. The power to decide "what" is news and "how" it will be communicated to the public rests in too few hands. Hands that cannot be trusted. Hands that swamp us with meaningless trivia, non-information, disinformation and outright lies. Meanwhile, vital information that should be communicated to the public goes unreported.

What can a citizen disillusioned with the U.S. news media do? What alternative sources are their to the current broadcast media?

One romantic option is Short Wave Radio. Also known as World Band Radio, this broadcast platform opens new windows into the amazingly wonderful world beyond the U.S.

The radio news being broadcast from outside the U.S. presents a completely different perspective than what you hear inside. It's interesting to hear alternative views of the days events. And it's amazing how often the radio news from Canada, Cuba, Britain, Norway, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, India, Australia, Taiwan and beyond cover vitally important events completely ignored by the U.S. media.

(Plus, this being radio, there is unlimited fantastic music you aren't likely to ever hear anywhere on your FM/AM receiver.)

How can someone in the U.S. hear all of this? With a surprisingly small portable Short Wave radio.

If you have any curiosity about Short Wave or World Band Radio here is the book that has everything you need.

In this single volume one can read the history of Short Wave, how the technology works, reviews of current receivers and antennas, how environmental conditions effect reception, how to set up Short Wave equipment and a comprehensive listing of every known Short Wave broadcasting station on Earth and its broadcast schedule. And, if you decide you want to start your own Short Wave radio station, this book will show you how to get started.

This book is published every year. Each annual edition rates the newest equipment, chronicles Short Wave news and events and updates the station directories and broadcast schedules.

[Stewart Ogilvie-Goddard]

This is an older version of the book, sadly no longer updated. It still has some interesting items in it - old adverts, old schedules but plenty to read without the rose-tinted glasses. As usual, there is a guide on the whys and hows of shortwave listening. I very much doubt that the broadcasters listed are still on the same frequencies but you should be and to Google the current setups if you want to particularly listen to any station (if they are still on air) the propagation of radio signals follows the same laws of physics n o w as back then.

[Matthew]

This was a yearly updated book for shows and equipment presented and used in short-band radio(3Mhz-30Mhz). I have the 2003 edition. I think the last edition was 2009 and it is no longer in print.

[Don Gubler]

Comprehensive guide. Might be the best way to language fluency for those who can't travel extensively.

[Joe]

Although no longer published, this annual guide to world band (shortwave) radio was the definitive book about listening to shortwave. Equal parts reviews, articles, tips and broadcast schedules this book had it all. I used to enjoy writing reception reports for stations to earn QSL cards. Sadly, most shortwave stations have been replaced by the internet. My love of shortwave listening (SWL) eventually lead me to earning my amateur (ham) radio license KI4ASK. What’s pictured for this book is the final edition, which I still own and enjoy perusing.