For 25 years Passport to World Band Radio has been the # 1 selling guide to the shortwave listening hobby. This year's 25th, 2009 edition once again .proves why PTWBR remains a favorite among the beginner and seasoned hobbyist.This year, well-known DXer, Henrik Klemetz brings readers an excellent in depth feature entitled, Colombia: Bandits, Ballads and Broadcasts. This interesting feature, delves into the under belly of Colombia, a country dominated by Marxist guerrillas and outlaws to peasants and landowners, all coexisting in a divided country of wealth and extreme poverty.
New to the shortwave hobby ? Getting Started guides the newbie from Finding Stations to The Right Radio, a brief primer of tips on how to chose a radio to fit your listening needs. Now that you're ready to do some band scanning, consult the Best Times and Frequencies for 2009. By following the meter bands you'll have a good idea when and where to tune. Ten of the Best: 2009's Top Shows present the best of the best in shortwave programming from Radio Taipei International to News and Reports at China Radio International.
How to Choose a World Band Radio cuts through the clutter to bring readers a concise and unbiased focus on portable and table top receivers to fit any budget. Active Antennas for 2009 guides the hobbyist through the multitude of available antennas to fit your needs to enhance listening.
Readers will find the hour-by-hour guide to world band programs in What's On Tonight, an informative synopsis of the best shortwave programs on the air. Addresses Plus, a staple DXers have come to depend on, has updated the by-country guide of station addresses, websites and more, followed by Worldwide Broadcasts in English 2009. This is where you will find time and frequencies sorted by-country.
Passport's Blue Pages sets the standard for band scanning. Arranged by-frequency from 2310-26000 kHz, including station name/location, modes, alternative frequencies, power, network information and more to enhance your monitoring.
Passport to World Band Radio continues to produce an excellent source for hobbyist. It remains an authoritative guide for beginner or seasoned shortwave enthusiasts. Every listening-post should have PTWBR.
Passport to World Band Radio 2009 (BK-18-09) is available from Grove Enterprises at http://www.grove-ent.com/ or 1-800-438-8155 for $ 22.95 + S/H.
Review by Gayle Van Horn/Monitoring Times