Editor Reviews:

Product Description:
As events unfold, the intellectually curious go beyond everyday sources to seek out news, opinion and perspectives direct and unfiltered. Only world band radio delivers this no matter what, and quick-access Passport to World Band Radio is the #1 seller to this market-over a million copies sold to date. Each edition is welcomed by established and emerging readers alike, as Passport delivers in 560 pages what world band listeners seek

Rating : - If You Listen to Shortwave Radio / World Band Radio (or even considering it) YOU NEED THIS BOOK!!
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?