WRTH 2014 - TEN REASONS Why You Need THIS YEAR'S Edition!

WRTH 2014 - TEN REASONS Why You Need THIS YEAR'S Edition!

The 68th edition of the World Radio TV Handbook (WRTH) is out now. My copy arrived today (Dec. 11th) and I've already had a detailed look through its 672 pages.

The handbook is packed with all the usual features that DXers and shortwave listeners have come to love over many years. And although people will tell you that "radio is dead" or "shortwave is finished" or "medium wave DXing is just too hard", the fact is that every year there are still constant changes that  require the attention of radio enthusiasts.

So, here's ten good reasons why you should be buying "the Handbook" this year:

#1:  A Reputable Reference Source in a Sea of Global Change
We are seeing a continual change in the operations of radio broadcasters. And 2013 has been no exception! Many have gone, probably for good. For example, as I write this, the Voice of Greece's flame looks like it is all but extinguished. But it is comforting to note that new stations are still appearing (such as Radio Progresso, Cuba). And, this year has seen an interesting development with the morphing of WRMI into WYFR.

#2:  The Clandestine and Other Target Broadcasts
In recent years, the inclusion of the section entitled "Clandestine and Other Target Broadcasts" has been very much appreciated. In times of political upheaval, there are more and more fascinating broadcast operations starting up that are politically motivated and aimed at the government of the target country. Many broadcasters buy time from international transmitter operators, and the ease with which political groups can get on-air is vastly different to the old days when they usually had to find their own transmitting facilities, e.g. out in the jungle or on a ship in international waters. So, while many governmental broadcasters have disappeared, the appearance of stations such as Radio Free Sarawak help give minority or repressed groups an important voice in countries where the democratic processes leave much to be desired. This year, there are a few broadcasting additions under the Target: Eritrea.

#3:  Religious Broadcasters Cross-Reference Table
Constant thumbing through the WRTH for information on the many religious stations operating on shortwave has been a bit of a trial in the past. In the 2013 edition, a handy table of cross-referenced data into these operations was included, clearly showing the station, the country, and where the schedules are located in the handbook. This table appears again in 2014 and has made the job of referencing quite a bit easier, especially for less experienced or newer shortwave listeners.

#4:  Latest Receiver Reviews
With so few new shortwave radios on the market these days, any new releases generally receive eager attention. This year's receivers under the microscope include the new CommRadio CR-1, the AOR AR6000, and the AOR AR8200D. There's also a rave review of the dream SDR WinRadio Excalibur Ultra, leaving the reviewer to conclude that "…in many ways is the best receiver we have ever used." And Sean Gilbert investigates a cheap way of getting a full featured 150 kHz - 1.6GHz SDR receiver up and running with a look at the FunCube Dongle Pro+. After putting it through its paces, he reports that it has good performance on HF and very good performance on VHF/UHF. Indeed, there's been quite a broad  selection of receivers chosen for review this year.

#5: Interesting Articles on Shortwave Radio
There's a nice article from DXer and author Jerry Berg called The History of Shortwave Broadcasting in a Nutshell. Also a short article on the Voice of Vietnam. Plus, long-time DX legend Victor Goonetilleke has penned a well-researched piece entitled Broadcasting in Sri Lanka (including some excellent photographs). Finally, let's throw in a bit of controversy by including a three-page article simply called Digital Future.

#6:  Latest HF Schedule Changes
The International Radio section has all the latest changes for the B13 transmission period plus up-to-date listings on how to contact each station. Bearing in mind that schedule and frequency changes will always happen after the editorial deadline, the WRTH never ceases to amaze me how they can pull all of this together and have the book back from the printer and available for purchasing at the beginning of December!

#7:  International Radio - The "Notes" Section
I especially like the little tidbits of information that can be found for some international broadcasters under the Notes section. Here you can retrieve a variety of tips on a particular station's owner, points of clarification relating to how the international operations fit in with the domestic services, and outlining some lesser known facts about a smaller station's background and operations.

#8:  Focused Research on the Domestic Broadcasting Scene
The National Radio section features a detailed rundown on the internal workings of each country's broadcasting structure and infrastructure. If you are an enthusiast of domestic and tropical band shortwave stations, or a mediumwave or FM/TV listener chasing rare DX, you will appreciate the huge listings in the National section. Take for example the Brazilian MW and SW listings with their provinces, station addresses, power, operating times, and more.  Or the vast US and Mexican listings for medium wave DXers. There is simply no other reference like it, either printed or online, that brings such detailed information together between the covers of one book!

#9:  Transmitter Sites
As an extension of the constant HF schedule changes, keeping a track of the many transmitter sites in operation for some international broadcasters is quite challenging. WRTH maintains a high degree of accuracy when it comes to identifying sites and relay station operation, and they are to be commended for this. Even the sites of small broadcasters are covered extremely well and I find myself referring to this information frequently.

#10:  Station Contact Details
In the old days, if you wanted to contact a station, you used "snail"mail. But for years now, the Internet has taken over as the medium for correspondence. Website and email details are all there, making it easier than ever for the listener to interact with broadcasters.

The 2014 edition of WRTH is out now and can be purchased direct from the publisher at www.wrth.com (through their new online web-store) or via Amazon and other book specialists.

73 everyone,

Rob VK3BVW