Radio-Electronics Guide to Short-wave Listening

Radio-Electronics Guide to Short-wave Listening is a technical manual written by electronics expert Forrest M. Mims III. The book explains the fundamentals of short-wave radio reception and operation for beginners and intermediate users. The guide contains practical instructions for selecting equipment, setting up antennas, and understanding radio wave propagation. Step-by-step procedures and diagrams walk readers through the process of getting started with short-wave listening as a hobby or practical skill. Technical concepts are presented in clear language with minimal jargon, supported by illustrations and real-world examples. The book includes frequency charts, station listings, and troubleshooting tips for common reception problems. This manual represents the intersection of amateur radio culture and the DIY electronics movement of its era. The text emphasizes hands-on learning while documenting an important phase in communications technology.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Forrest M. Mims III's overall work: Readers consistently praise Mims' clear hand-drawn diagrams and ability to explain complex electronics concepts in simple terms. His books, especially "Getting Started in Electronics," receive strong appreciation from beginners who found other electronics texts too intimidating. What readers liked: - Hand-drawn illustrations that make concepts easy to grasp - Step-by-step explanations suitable for self-teaching - Practical projects that work as described - Durable knowledge that remains relevant decades later What readers disliked: - Some found the hand-drawn format too basic compared to modern textbooks - Limited depth on theory and mathematics - Older component specifications in earlier editions - Print quality issues in some recent reprints Ratings across platforms: - Amazon: 4.7/5 average across his books (>1000 reviews) - Goodreads: 4.3/5 for "Getting Started in Electronics" (>500 ratings) Reader quote: "Mims' illustrations and explanations gave me the confidence to start building circuits when I was 12. Thirty years later, I still reference his books." - Amazon reviewer

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🌐 Forrest M. Mims III is considered one of the most widely-read electronics authors, having sold over 7 million copies of his books and educational materials. 📻 Short-wave radio frequencies can bounce off the ionosphere, allowing signals to travel thousands of miles and be received across continents. ✏️ Mims is known for his distinctive hand-drawn electronics diagrams, which have become his trademark style across numerous publications. 🔬 Before becoming an electronics author, Mims co-founded MITS, the company that produced the Altair 8800 - one of the first personal computers that inspired Bill Gates and Paul Allen to found Microsoft. 🌍 The peak of short-wave radio listening was during the Cold War, when it served as one of the few ways for people to receive uncensored information across the Iron Curtain.