andy%aids-unix@sri-unix.UUCP (09/24/84)
From: Andy Cromarty <andy@aids-unix> Regarding callbooks and updates: To my knowledge, there are two callbooks (small "c"), the "Callbook" and the "Call Directory", with minor versions and updates as described below. The Radio Amateur Callbook, normally referred to as simply The Callbook, is the more venerable and undoubtedly the more widely used of the two. It is produced in the Winter of each year, with supplements issued quarterly. There are two versions of the Callbook: one for United States Listings and a second for Foreign Listings (including Canada). At least for the US version, calls are listed in call sign order with numeric call area as the major sort key (e.g. all California stations are alphabetically sorted under "6"). List price for the 1984 US Callbook appears on the cover as $19.95 US; inside the Callbook there is a complete price list, including the '84 US Callbook for $23.00 postpaid to anywhere in the US. The price structure is as follows: US version Foreign version ---------- --------------- Single copy, pp $23.00 $22.00 Mini-subscription 35.00 34.00 4-yr subscription 80.00 76.00 Maxi-subscription 128.00 124.00 The "Mini-subscription" includes the Callbook plus three quarterly supplements. The "4-year subscription" is merely four Callbooks, and the "Maxi-subscription" is four consecutive years of "mini-subscriptions" (i.e. supplements included). They also advertise the supplements only for one year at $12.00 (3 issues). For further information or ordering, their address is Radio Amateur Callbook 925 Sherwood Dr., Box 247 Lake Bluff, IL 60044 USA (312)234-6600 The above prices are advertised as only being good until the end of this month. Note that the new Callbooks will be issued December 1. Also, there is 6% sales tax for Illinois residents. The second callbook, entitled the Radio Amateur Call Directory and known colloquially as the Call Directory, was originally marketed by Buckmaster Publishing and is now sold by the American Radio Relay League. Their operation is only a few years old, and the rumor at the time they started up was that it was initiated as a response to the high price charged (and monopoly stranglehold on the market held) by the Callbook people. The League is said to be a prime mover and shaker in the attempt to reduce the highway robbery rates that the Callbook people charge (consider nearly $50 for the annual callbook issues just to cover the US and Canada, without supplements). My copy of the Call Directory is the 82-83 version, and it is clearly out-of-date by 1-2 years with respect to the contemporaneous FCC records, whereas the Callbook was generally fairly accurate. (For example, I wasn't in the Call Directory under either my then-current or prior 1-land calls.) The reports are that the Call Directory is getting more professional and accurate than it initially was. More importantly, they are now offering three different versions of the Call Directory, one each sorted by call sign, name, and location. The pricing is as follows, for the new 1984-85 Call Directories: US price Canada/foreign price -------- -------------------- Call Directory $15.75 US $19.75 US Name Index 25.00 28.50 Geographical Index 25.00 28.50 Pair 36.50 40.00 All Three 50.00 61.00 The "Pair" row refers to the Call Direcctory plus either the Name Index or the Geographical Index. I have seen the Name and Geographical Index versions, and they would be especially useful for finding that old friend whose call has changed or been forgotten or for finding the call and name of hams in your area. I haven't checked them exhaustively for accuracy yet, but I suspect (largely unsubstantiated opinion) that they are still not quite up to par in timeliness with the Callbook, which remains the standard of comparison. For further information and ordering, write to The American Radio Relay League 225 Main St. Newington CT 06111 Summary: The rumor mill still has it that the Call Directory is not quite up to snuff on accuracy, although they are said to be improving, and of course they do not offer either quarterly supplements or a Canada/Foreign version (yet) to my knowledge. On the other hand, the Callbook is nearly useless for anything but looking up the address of a ham given a call sign, and if you're searching for hams in a locale or by name, the Name and Geographical Index versions of the ARRL publication are invaluable. Even when you think you know the call, you can be off by a character (especially if the CW QRM or QRN was heavy), and if you know the other guy's QTH a location index could be a real boon. Also, Call Directory prices are better, but not that much better given that low price was supposed to be one of their goals. My advice: become rich and buy them all. [:-)] Epilogue: Naturally, I am not affiliated with either publisher in any way (apart from being a member of the ARRL, which is inseparable from subscription to QST, of course). Also, the rumors I've reported here are just that -- anyone who knows more about the details or has additional experience to offer on the topic is encouraged to correct any errors in my reporting. Finally, since this isn't much of a review if I haven't spent a lot of time using the newest version of the Call Directory, I will be happy to send out reports of my experiences with the new versions (especially if they conflict with anything I've said here) if/when I buy my own copies of the new issues. 73, Andy N6JLJ