If you’re a subscriber of The Spectrum Monitor (TSM) magazine, you’re in for a treat this month: the November issue is the TSM annual Radio Buyer’s Guide.
Many SWLing Post readers know that I write occasional features and reviews for TSM. Since the November issue will feature my shortwave radio buyer’s guide, I was sent a draft of the November issue. After double-checking my review, I thought I’d glance through some of the other articles–what a rabbit hole that was! Two hours later and I’m still reading. Since I’m primarily a shortwave guy, TSM expands my horizons with articles about parts of the spectrum I seldom explore. That’s a good thing!
TSM Publisher and Managing Editor, Ken Reitz (KS4ZR), has done an amazing job collecting a group of writers who are not only experts in their respective fields, but are effective writers as well. These two qualities do not always go hand-in-hand.
At $3 per issue or (especially) an annual subscription for $24 ($2/issue) I think TSM is a bargain. When the November issue is posted on the TSM website later today, you’ll be able to read through the table of contents online.
It’s hard to believe TSM is almost in its third year of publication–this TSM writer is wishing it many, many more!
Congrats on yet another article being published in this fine magazine – you are obviously among those expert and effective writers! I cannot imagine anyone who is interested in the radio hobby not subscribing to this excellent magazine – as you say, it can lead to hours of reading enjoyment.
I have yet to read an issue which did not open up some new area of exploration for me, or add to my knowledge about something I already enjoy. I also appreciate their approach as an online magazine — their articles tend to be more in-depth than most print versions can accomplish, so authors have the room to really explore their topics in depth.
Can’t wait to see your article and the others at which you have had a sneak peak! Cheers! Robert
That’s kind of you to say, Robert. Like you, I can’t think of an issue that didn’t open my mind to yet another aspect of the hobby. TSM writers do this stuff out of passion for the hobby and it shows in their writing. You are a case in point, Robert! 🙂
I’m with you 100% about the flexibility of the digital format. Indeed, if I were writing for the (former) Monitoring Times or Popular Communications, my buyer’s guide would have been limited to a max of 2,000 words and a few select images. I think the final word count on my SW radio buyer’s guide was in excess of 2,500 words and Ken included nearly all if the images I sent. A print publication would have been forced to cut a couple of the included mini reviews in my buyer’s guide.
-Thomas
But in the old days, the magazines would just print a special issue, or have some regular publication.
I have a “magazine” from the fifties about prospecting uranium. It’s magazine form, which was certainly cheap and got it on the newsstand, but was not recurring.
Popular Electronics had a bi-annual or quarterly devoted to the radio hobbies (which was also covered in the main magazine).
An introduction or articles related to SWLing, ham radio, scanning and CB, but it’s main purpose was as a buying guide, pages of equipment in the four categories. A photo, some specs and price for each piece of equipment.
Elementary Electronics had a quarterly, each issue focusing on some aspect of radio listening. Lots of photos from readers, some space about equipment, and White’s Radio Log.
All the magazines would issue specials that collected articles from the main magazines, sometimes adding new material. Again it was cheaper than printing books.
Of course, this was when one paid a dollar or less per magazine,
so it didn’t hurt.
Michael