2012 World Radio TV HandbookThe 2012 World Radio TV Handbook, the ultimate and most comprehensive reference book for broadcast radio hobbyists, is now available from Grove Enterprises and other Monitoring Times advertisers.
This year’s 66th edition begins with receiver reviews for the Alinco DX-R8E, Pappradio- a software-defined radio, Reuter Elektronic RDR54C, WinRadio Excalibur Pro, and two portable receivers, Sangean ATS-909X and the Tecsun PL-660. There is also a one-page guide to HF radios currently available in the marketplace that gives an objective comparison for each receiver based on size, selectivity, dynamic range and overall value. WRTH also includes a Receiver Testing feature that explains the technical terms used in their equipment reviews, and how they apply when testing receivers.
Radio & the Arab Spring, by Chris Greenway explains how radio played only a limited role in last year's uprising, and the preferred source of information may surprise you.
Tristan da Cunha, one of the remotest inhabited places of earth, was at one time, the most sought-after station on shortwave radio. Very few DXers own the elusive verification from now silent Tristan Radio. Manfred Rippich takes readers on a fascinating journey of the island's history, the role of radio and what the settlement's future may hold.
Freelance writer Hans Johnson returns to Radio Bulgaria with a behind the scenes look at the people who produce the English language service of Radio Bulgaria.
As in past editions of the WRTH, George Jacobs reprises his annual expertise, this year featuring, HF Broadcasting Over 50 Years & 2012 Reception Characteristics, followed by an analysis of Most Suitable Frequencies for 2012.
The national radio section of the WRTH covers worldwide domestic radio services. Listings in this section are arranged by-country and include stations broadcasting to a national listening audience on medium wave, shortwave, and FM, and include contact information and a website for each station on the Internet.
The International radio section contains listings of stations broadcasting to an international audience in the shortwave and medium wave bands. Information on each station includes station name, contact information, broadcast schedules, email and websites. This year, WRTH has included where possible, languages available only via webcast.
The clandestine and other target broadcast section includes stations broadcasting politically motivated programming or those targeted at zones of regional or local conflict, followed by a one-page listing of Religious Broadcasters Cross Reference Table..
The by-frequency section of the WRTH cover medium wave and shortwave frequencies in this year’s list, plus by-hour listings for transmissions in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish.
For the Digital Radio Mondiale monitoring enthusiasts, the DRM International Broadcast section provides by-hour schedules of stations broadcasting in this digital broadcast mode.
The by-country terrestrial television section brings readers up to date on terrestrial TV stations and accompanying radio programs also broadcast on those systems.
Finally, there is an extensive reference section that includes global transmitting sites, radio clubs, standard time and frequency transmission schedules, and selected Internet Resources..
The World Radio TV Handbook continues to set the gold standard in broadcast reference information. It remains the very best, most authoritative, and comprehensive reference book in the broadcast world. Quite simply, there is no rival. It is an exceptional annual guide that should be in every radio hobbyist listening post.
The 2012 World Radio and TV Handbook (BOK03-12) is available from Grove Enterprises http://www.grove-ent.com/ for $29.95 plus S/H. To place an order, call 1-800-438-8155, email order@grove-ent.com , or postal mail to: Grove Enterprises, 7540 Highway 64 West, Brasstown, NC 28902 USA.
Review by Gayle Van Horn, W4GVH
Monitoring Times-March 2012