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Author Topic: WRTV or Better Buy?  (Read 9326 times)

KA1OWC

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WRTV or Better Buy?
« on: February 26, 2018, 02:59:15 PM »

Is the WRTH Handbook worth purchasing or is it, like so many radio books(amateur radio repeater guides, for example), out of date by the time it is published? Are there any other better publications that anyone could recommend for a new SWL...Thanks!
« Last Edit: February 26, 2018, 03:02:26 PM by KA1OWC »
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Steve, KA1OWC
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WA8ZTZ

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RE: WRTV or Better Buy?
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2018, 05:51:38 PM »

Shortwave broadcast stations typically change their schedule twice a year, summer (A) and winter (B).  Currently it is winter schedule B17, until last Sunday in March when summer schedule A18 commences.  Depending upon when you buy the WRTH, the schedules contained therein may be obsolete.  However, updates are available on their website.  If you have never had one, get a copy and see if you like it.  It contains more than just SW as it also lists LW, MW, FM, and even TV.  If nothing else, the receiver reviews, advertisements, etc.  make interesting reading.
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VA3VF

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RE: WRTV or Better Buy?
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2018, 05:53:55 PM »

Is the WRTH Handbook worth purchasing or is it, like so many radio books(amateur radio repeater guides, for example), out of date by the time it is published? Are there any other better publications that anyone could recommend for a new SWL...Thanks!

If you are an active swl'er, it's still worth to to have it. That said, you don't really need it. There is no other print publication, as good as WRTH, that I know of.

Download CSVUserListBrowser, and add EiBi, AOKI, etc to it. Depending on the receiver you use, it'll control it as well.

http://www.df8ry.de/htmlen/home/welcome.htm
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RENTON481

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RE: WRTV or Better Buy?
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2018, 07:28:03 PM »

I found in the past that a lot of SW stations didn't change their frequencies all that much.

And in the last couple of years, they seem to stay on the same frequencies even more than they used to. Being that there are less stations on the SW, and more open channels, maybe they don't need to change frequencies as much.

Radio Havana, for example, has been on 6000 khz every night for the past 6-7 years, if not more than that. Radio Nikkei (in Japan) has been on the same frequencies for a long time also.

The actual programs and times may change on a lot of stations -- and then you have stations simply going off shortwave.

I would suggest going ahead and getting a WRTH before they quit printing them, if you can afford it. They won't be around forever.
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KAPT4560

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RE: WRTV or Better Buy?
« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2018, 03:23:26 PM »

 I used to buy the ARRL, WRTH and Passport to World Band radio books sporadically. I haven't lately because I discovered that our local public library has them. Like the present state of the shortwave broadcast bands, they aren't as good as they used to be. Some broadcast has gone to digital (DRM).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Radio_Mondiale
 The broadcast frequency lists for commercial and utility stations can be found on the internet.
 I did enjoy Larry Magne's receiver reviews and still read back-issues for the notable shortwave receivers that I remember from the 1980's-'90's.
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KD7RDZI2

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RE: WRTV or Better Buy?
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2018, 12:19:00 PM »

you may have a look to the 2018 Shortwave Frequency Guide (the CD was impressive), www.short-wave.info and www.primetimeshortwave.com .
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K4FMH

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RE: WRTV or Better Buy?
« Reply #6 on: May 28, 2018, 07:29:47 AM »

A belated comment on this timeless post....

If you're wanting just the skeds, then the other posters have given you optimal advice. I've read WRTH for decades but not every year. Their reviews have been insightful as have their feature (non-sked) SW articles. The editor is a devoted listener on all bands so he's more than just a word-slinger. (The more casual style Passport to WBR was also. I was very sorry that Larry Magne pulled the plug on this one). But if you want an international flavor in understanding signals out there, the WRTV is worth buying at whatever frequency you choose.

The now-defunct Monitoring Times and it's vibrant successor, The Spectrum Monitor, are the signature monthlies on listening.

Hope all these ideas are helpful. Try WRTV and TSM's sample issue to see. Some Barnes & Nobles have WRTV in stock but not all if you want to browse.

73,

Frank
K4FMH
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VR2AX

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RE: WRTV or Better Buy?
« Reply #7 on: June 06, 2018, 10:17:14 PM »

The WRTH A18 Schedules can be downloaded free, here:

http://www.wrth.com/_shop/?cat=36
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VR2AX

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RE: WRTV or Better Buy?
« Reply #8 on: December 13, 2018, 12:42:51 PM »

The 2019 edition is available now so in Jlate anuary look of the free B update for 2018 (B 18 Schedules) at the link in the previous post.
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KA3JJZ

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RE: WRTV or Better Buy?
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2018, 01:07:25 PM »

While the WRTH is a great resource, and their updates are free (in PDF form), there are a couple of other sources you might want to check out.

First, join the swskeds group on groups.io here (it's free) https://groups.io/g/swskeds. The mod updates a huge spreadsheet compiling several sources including Aoki, EiBi. HFCC and several more.

If you are using an SDR with SDR Uno, I'm told the file produced for the Perseus SDR can be used as an input.

Next, are you using an Echo device? How would you like a skill to search the EiBi database using Alexa? Here it is, along with an explanation as to how to use it...

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dalexa-skills&field-keywords=Shortwave+Signals

https://swling.com/blog/2018/11/guest-post-how-to-use-the-shortwave-signals-alexa-skill/

Mike
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VR2AX

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RE: WRTV or Better Buy?
« Reply #10 on: February 14, 2019, 06:56:33 PM »

The WRTH 2019 International Radio Supplement 1 is available by clicking the link on the following page (1.3MB download).

http://www.wrth.com/_shop/?p=4928
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VR2AX

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RE: WRTV or Better Buy?
« Reply #11 on: June 13, 2019, 10:49:11 PM »

Revised A Schedules are now out (use May 28 download link).

http://www.wrth.com/_shop/?cat=36

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VR2AX

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Re: WRTV or Better Buy?
« Reply #12 on: February 08, 2020, 08:55:01 AM »

Just FYI ( but it may be time to acquire an updated handbook!):

http://www.wrth.com/_shop/wp-content/uploads/WRTH2020IntRadioSuppl1_B19SchedulesUpdate.pdf

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VR2AX

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Re: WRTV or Better Buy?
« Reply #13 on: May 15, 2020, 09:31:11 AM »

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AB4KA

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Re: WRTV or Better Buy?
« Reply #14 on: May 30, 2020, 02:11:30 PM »

As an active SWL I like having the WRTH and the Klingenfuss frequency guide.  IMO they are both worth having.
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