Dear Jim,

PASSPORT's "What's On Tonight" section is fairly accurate, based on
information available at presstime and educated guesses. The "Blue
Pages" frequency list is more accurate when the book is first
available, growing somewhat less so as time goes on and as we enter the
summer schedule. PASSPORT is at its strongest with regard to its
product reviews which are, in my opinion, the finest available. While
not totally "unbiased" (as long as you have human beings you will have
bias!) they are far more informative and accurate than, say, users
opinions on eHam, etc., valuable as those are. PASSPORT actually uses
laboratory instruments to measure the SW products being tested and I
know of no other source which does that.

For frequency schedules, WRTH is more accurate, as it is published
later in the year than is PASSPORT, and WRTH updates their frequency
list online when the summer season starts. WRTH has far more frequency
and station information than does PASSPORT, especially for MW and/or TV
DXers.. WRTH is weaker with regard to product reviews.

PrimeTimeShortwave is, in my experience, the most accurate and
up-to-date schedule list and is updated very fast. However, its main
limitation is that it does not show what "shows" are playing (and, of
course, you have to be "online" to read it or download it). I
personally still prefer looking things up in a book though, of course,
I realize that an online list can be inherently more accurate.

All that said, I find both PASSPORT and WRTH to be invaluable guides
and I buy them every year. Frankly, I don't see how a serious SWL can
do without them. I couldn't! Of course, I also make use of whatever
other sources of information I can. They ALL have their place.

Best,

Joe