I'm curious about what your opinions of the ARRL Handbook. In terms of
technical content, such as theory, construction projects, etc., which years are
generally regarded as the best of the modern (solid state) era, and which issue
for the vacuum tube era?

I'm interested in hearing about specifically those issues with really useful
construction projects in the areas of complete homebrew receivers and
transmitters, test equipment for the bench and field use and articles about RF
circuit design.

Thanks for your opinions.
--
Dave
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just substitute the appropriate characters in the
address)

Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot.

On Wed, 3 May 2006 21:36:35 -0400, "DaveM"
wrote:

I'm curious about what your opinions of the ARRL Handbook. In terms of
technical content, such as theory, construction projects, etc., which years are
generally regarded as the best of the modern (solid state) era, and which issue
for the vacuum tube era?

I'm interested in hearing about specifically those issues with really useful
construction projects in the areas of complete homebrew receivers and
transmitters, test equipment for the bench and field use and articles about RF
circuit design.

Thanks for your opinions.

I guess it depends on what you want to build. The latest issue is best
in the sense that you can still get all of the parts the construction
projects call for.

Many of the projects carry over from issue to issue -- it's hard to
single one out.

Your best bet may simply be to buy the CD version, and get one for
each decade going back as far as you want.

bob
k5qwg

I used to really enjoy the ARRL handbook. I used to purchase a new
one every so often here in Australia. I think the best valve ones
were in the late 80's and then naturally it slowly evolved to
semiconductors, integrated circuits and printed circuit boards and
more sophistacted circuits etc.

I think the old days of truly making your own receiver and or
transmitter are allmost gone.

I have become old any eyesight is now growing dim! I guess the days
of voltage doublers running straight off the mains because one was too
poor to buy a suitable power transformer are gone. I do like the
thought that the highest voltage one would come across now is probably
12 volts dc.
Many a time I forgot to turn off my carphone and 8 hours later I would
come out from work with a truly flat car battery.

When I look at some of the modern Ham gear I am amazed at how complex
and tiny they have become. I supposed all we really have left now is
making aerials and dxing.

Next time I am in the city I must checkout the latest ARRL Handbook as
I still enjoying reading them in bed.

Jim McCardle ex VK3ZOE in Australia.
================================================== =
On Wed, 3 May 2006 21:36:35 -0400, "DaveM"
wrote:

I'm curious about what your opinions of the ARRL Handbook. In terms of
technical content, such as theory, construction projects, etc., which years are
generally regarded as the best of the modern (solid state) era, and which issue
for the vacuum tube era?

I'm interested in hearing about specifically those issues with really useful
construction projects in the areas of complete homebrew receivers and
transmitters, test equipment for the bench and field use and articles about RF
circuit design.

Thanks for your opinions.

I kept my 1964 handbook and still enjoy looking at it from time to time

In article ,
"Juan M." wrote:

I kept my 1964 handbook and still enjoy looking at it from time to time

I still have my red 1957 issue. My father brought it home one day. I
was 14 years old and had this really big interest in shortwave radio.

--
Email:

"dale.j. " wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Juan M." wrote:

I kept my 1964 handbook and still enjoy looking at it from time to time

I still have my red 1957 issue. My father brought it home one day. I
was 14 years old and had this really big interest in shortwave radio.

--
Email:


I just bought a 1968 issue and a 1985 issue. Both look to be quite full of
theory and circuits. Haven't had time to look at all of the goodies yet, but
I'll get there. Already got my eyes on a 2-meter Xcvr and an RF bridge.
--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just substitute the appropriate characters in the
address)

They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.

My favorite has been the 1987 book.

"DaveM" wrote in message
. ..
"dale.j. " wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Juan M." wrote:

I kept my 1964 handbook and still enjoy looking at it from time to time

I still have my red 1957 issue. My father brought it home one day. I
was 14 years old and had this really big interest in shortwave radio.

--
Email:


I just bought a 1968 issue and a 1985 issue. Both look to be quite full
of theory and circuits. Haven't had time to look at all of the goodies
yet, but I'll get there. Already got my eyes on a 2-meter Xcvr and an RF
bridge.
--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just substitute the appropriate characters
in the address)

They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.

"jawod" wrote in message ...
DaveM wrote:
I'm curious about what your opinions of the ARRL Handbook. In terms of
technical content, such as theory, construction projects, etc., which years
are generally regarded as the best of the modern (solid state) era, and which
issue for the vacuum tube era?

I'm interested in hearing about specifically those issues with really useful
construction projects in the areas of complete homebrew receivers and
transmitters, test equipment for the bench and field use and articles about
RF circuit design.

Thanks for your opinions.
The newest one is very good, I think. This is the first time I"ve read
chapters all the way through. I am re-entering ham radio after a long
absence.

I think the technical writing varies among chapters but on the whole is quite
readaable without being "dummied down". This is more difficult to achieve
than it sounds. Technical writing CAN be an art, though it seldom is. ARRL
editor deserves a lot of credit.

There are probably fewer homebrew projects (or at least they are simpler) than
the old days. But, there seems to be more info for building than I
remembeer...ordering PC boards, sources for parts, etc. I think blending them
into the theory within chapters is a very good idea.

That's my $.02 worth.
John
AB8WH

"jawod" wrote in message ...
DaveM wrote:
I'm curious about what your opinions of the ARRL Handbook. In terms of
technical content, such as theory, construction projects, etc., which years
are generally regarded as the best of the modern (solid state) era, and which
issue for the vacuum tube era?

I'm interested in hearing about specifically those issues with really useful
construction projects in the areas of complete homebrew receivers and
transmitters, test equipment for the bench and field use and articles about
RF circuit design.

Thanks for your opinions.
The newest one is very good, I think. This is the first time I"ve read
chapters all the way through. I am re-entering ham radio after a long
absence.

I think the technical writing varies among chapters but on the whole is quite
readaable without being "dummied down". This is more difficult to achieve
than it sounds. Technical writing CAN be an art, though it seldom is. ARRL
editor deserves a lot of credit.

There are probably fewer homebrew projects (or at least they are simpler) than
the old days. But, there seems to be more info for building than I
remembeer...ordering PC boards, sources for parts, etc. I think blending them
into the theory within chapters is a very good idea.

That's my $.02 worth.
John
AB8WH


Thanks for that John.
I haven't seen the latest issue, but have a 1995 issue. It has a number of
construction projects, but certainly fewer than the older issues. And those
that it does contain are solid-state related. I guess that falls to the modern
times.
I'm specifically looking for projects and articles related to vacuum tubes and
their uses in ham radio.

I totally agree that technical writing is an art, and should be practiced by
someone who has a good knowledge of the subject being documented. Lack of
knowledge results in confusing writings, which at times can be totally wrong. I
develop computer software for the US Navy, and see more of that than you might
think. No wonder those weapon system manuals cost so much to produce. Paying
competent tech writers what they deserve is an expensive task.

Thanks!@!!!
--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just substitute the appropriate characters in the
address)

Some days you're the dog, some days the hydrant.

J-McC wrote:
I used to really enjoy the ARRL handbook. I used to purchase a new
one every so often here in Australia. I think the best valve ones
were in the late 80's and then naturally it slowly evolved to
semiconductors, integrated circuits and printed circuit boards and
more sophistacted circuits etc.


Just took a look - I've still got a 1977 issue. Threw out the earlier
ones when I moved around the countryside (RAAF Bases Amberley,
Edinburgh, Garbutt, Laverton (now some other name), not in any
particular order)

I think the old days of truly making your own receiver and or
transmitter are allmost gone.

I agree


I have become old any eyesight is now growing dim! snip

Well, eyesight's not dim, but I can't read without specs anymore


When I look at some of the modern Ham gear I am amazed at how complex
and tiny they have become. I supposed all we really have left now is
making aerials and dxing.

Yeah...


Next time I am in the city I must checkout the latest ARRL Handbook as
I still enjoying reading them in bed.

I can't do that anymore - book's too heavy, and my eyes get bloodshot.
BTW, I still have William Orr's 1978 'Radio Handbook' as well. That's
also good for a read occasionally, as well


Jim McCardle ex VK3ZOE in Australia.

snip

Argusy
AKA Graham (VK5CRC but "deaf" for 20 years)