3 comments about Radio Receiver Design.

1. This book contains tons of practical information on receiver design. While it has a good amount of theory, what makes the book unique is that it has a lot of applied information based on the authors experiences. Once you've learned the theory (from Pozar maybe) this books will reinforce the concepts and help you apply them.
   
   Very detailed treatment of mixers, oscillators, amplifier nonlinearities, and signal chain design.



2. This book is excellent. The writing is very easy to understand and practical examples are given to help soidify concepts. Just enough technical calculation detail is given so as to notIconfuse the reader. It's a must have.



3. By way of full disclaimer, I just received this book. I previously searched for customer reviews but could find none. I took a chance on the rather skimpy reviews and ordered the book. Am I ever pleased!
   
   Having read through just the first chapter, I am impressed with the authors writing style. My sense is that the book is tutorial in nature, delivers an easy-to-read discussion of all the architectural components needed understand a receiver, and is full of specific examples of the topics discussed. The book is not a "cookbook" with specific circuit examples. The book approaches receiver design from the standpoint of architecture at a systems level with discussion of the specification, considerations, and other characteristics needed to understand good receiver design.
   
   Chapter 1 "introduces many of the basic concepts". I found that chapter one was a good review of the basic concepts more so than an introduction. Review of dB math, standard use of dBHz, dbK, etc. Following topics include frequency, propagation, and wavelength, transmission lines, two-port networks, matching and power transfer, modulation theory (AM, FM, PM) in the time and frequency domain, and noise theory. Each topic is short in the sense that a 140+ page chapter cannot do justice to a complete coverage of each topic. That written, the authors provide clear explanations with great examples of each topic of discussion. I found the discussion of transmission line theory very well written, did not overwhelm the reader excessive high-level math, and covered the key transmission line concepts that a receiver designer needs to master. The authors tell "war stories" to discuss real-life issues illustrating why mastering each topic is important in practice. A discussion of transmission line propagation using "bounce diagrams" was as clear as I've ever read.
   
   More to follow as I read through the book...
   
   Note: The copy I am reading has many errors. There is no email address to reach the authors and Noble does not appear to monitor (or respond) to email. It would be nice to provide corrections or have an errata sheet of known errors. So, Kevin and Tom, if you read this and plan on revising the book...

1 comments about The Portable Radio in American Life (Culture & Technology).

1. Elegant and well-written, this is one of the few books to take a realistic look at American popular cultural technology. Historians and archaeologists coupld learn a lot from this case study.

No comments about Old Gramophones (Shire Library).

No comments about Antique Phonograph: Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gimmicks (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

No comments about Machine Age to Jet Age, Volume 2: Radiomania's Guide to Tabletop Radios 1930-1959 (Machine Age to Jet Age).

No comments about Old Radio Sets (Shire Library).

5 comments about The Zenith Trans-Oceanic, the Royalty of Radios: The Royalty of Radios (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. If you're a Trans-Oceanic aficionado like myself, you need this book! These sets command a mystique like no other and this book is an excellent tribute to these outstanding receivers.



2. As a collector of Trans-Oceanics, I found this to be the best book I have read in awhile. Couldn't put it down.
   
   The book covers several areas: the history of the Trans-Oceanics, details of the various models, restoration and repair information, and accessories.
   
   The history information is well worth reading, and told me a lot I didn't know about the radios.
   
   The repair/restoration sections are excellent, whether you are experienced with electronics or not.
   
   I would say this book is a must-have for anyone with an interest in Trans-Oceanics



3. This is easily the best written book for collectors that I've read. Not only are its 160 magazine-sized pages thorough and exhaustive in their presentation of history, key personalities, and technical data, but the book is thoughtfully structured to be as useful as a reference as it is an entertaining read. A wealth of pictures, many in color, come from ads, from Zenith archives, and from individual collections.

   The book places the genesis and subsequent evolution of the TO clearly in historical context and explains the impact of the TO on the commercial development and acceptance of the portable radio. The authors provide practical advice for collectors, even citing restoration techniques and specific restoration products used by museums.

   Especially gratifying is the use of endnotes that provide sources of historical information. More than just references, the endnotes contain enough interesting anecdotal data that you'll find yourself reading them in their entirety when you finish the main text.

   If you are interested in the history of radio for any reason, you won't go wrong with this fascinating, authoritative work. I expect that it has already significantly increased interest in the collecting of Trans-Oceanics.




4. I recently acquired a 1956-57 model Y600 at a flea market. The Zenith Trans-Oceanic is clearly in a class by itself and I wanted to learn as much about the history of this model as possible. What a pleasant surprise when I received "The Zenith Trans-Oceanic, The Royalty of Radios" and found it to be extremely well documented, highly entertaining and it even includes a restoration guideline section. The print quality is first class with all the historical photographs of related personages and reproduction of Trans-Oceanic advertisements that a reader could want. The writing style is both scholarly and entertaining. In short this book has provided significant additional pleasure in owning, restoring and listening to a radio worthly of being known as a historical benchmark in radio history. Thanks to Amazon Books the finding and acquiring this book was made easy!



5. Whenever radio-guys assemble to swap tales of great radios one name stands above the rest - the Zenith Trans-Oceanic. Considered the radio for listening to the world, Trans-Oceanic portables were one of the finest engineered and designed products made in America. I learned of the magic of the Trans-Oceanic from my foster Dad, who carried one (the R520\URR military version) in Korea. He told me it was the most reliable radio he had ever seen. A few years later I bought a 600 series and discovered for myself the joys of short-wave listening. I carried that Zenith from the States to Europe where, two years later, I bought a Royal 3000-1 which went back to the States and then on to Southeast Asia. The Zenith Trans-Oceanic - The Royalty of Radios, is one of the finest collector books I have ever seen. The author's spent more than two years researching the Zenith archives to bring this book to life. Page after page of beautifully produced color, combined with black and white photographs show each model inside and out, along with original magazine ads presented in their original format. Information covering the origin of the Trans-Oceanic and model changes through the years make for interesting reading. Also included are repair hints, as well as collecting information. The section on original cost compared to 1996 dollars demonstrates how expensive these sets were when new. The original Trans-Oceanic sold for $75 in 1942, which translates to $695 today. The most astounding price was on the first transistorized model, the 1000-D, introduced in 1958 at a 1996 price of over $1400! This is a book for anyone interested in the history of one of the finest products ever produced in the United States - the Zenith Trans-Oceanic radio. The authors, publisher and printer deserve a thank you for producing this fine volume. by Bob Moore The Roving Editor

5 comments about Shortwave Receivers Past & Present: Communications Receivers 1942-1997.

1. Fred has done an excellent job of cataloging a wide range of shortwave receivers from the early WWII "boat anchors" up through the modern integrated-circuit PLL synthesized high performance radios of the 1990s. He not only covers the usual radios such as Collins, Drake and National but also the more obscure like the beautiful Gelosos from Italy (I DROOLED over those in catalogs in the '50s).
   
   I guarantee you this book will raise your appreciation for the radios created by the gifted engineers (and the "dogs" created by some NOT so gifted ones) - these wonderful devices not only entertain and educate us but help save lives at sea and keep our conuntries safe.



2. If you do not already have this book, and have avid interest in communications receivers, shame on you. You have no right to gripe if you are in the dark without the info. Fred needs to come out with a new edition soon. A bargain at the price. A must have, what else is there to say?



3. The Shortwave Receivers Past & Present: Communications Receivers 1942-1997 is an excellent resource book for collectors and those interested in used radios. There are pictures specs and evaluations of hundreds for the shortwave radios in this era.If you are in the market for a used receiver or a collector this is an invaluable resource. Also provided is a realistic pricing of the true value of each receiver as well as a 1 to 5 star evaluation based on the author's many years in the hobby.
   This is the Bible for radio hobbists on the subject



4. Yes, this is a catalog of base receivers, 1945-now. Osterman provides many useful informations, and if it may be true that some informations may not be useful to an european reader (e.g. the 'used' prices), you wil not find elsewhere a so comprehensive guide. Another book will be dedicated to portable sw radios. Osterman is not God, so many data are provided by the readers: it's the way the informations flow in the scientific communities, why not here? If you are an european reader, and you know something Osterman does not, write him. I've done so, and a new chapter in this edition was added with the informations I retrieved.



5. Nearly 500 pages of pictures & data on most SW receivers built in North America & abroad. Contains basic specs & features, picture, descriptions, and data on when built, physical dimensions, and estimates on values. A must for collectors.

4 comments about Made in Japan.

1. A wonderful pictorial book about transistor radios, 175 of them, not only photographed but put in the context of fifties and sixties design. The spread on 60-61 shows six radios mixed with close-up photos of chrome styling from fifties cars. I loved the chapter on design with its photos of grills and lettering, even a spread on 9-volt batteries.

   This is the kind of book that Chronicle do so well, interesting subjct, well designed and printed all for the general reader. If you collect these radios you will certainly want to have a copy but don't expect to get lots of technical detail or a price guide. For that have a look at 'Collector's Guide to Transistor Radios' by Marty and Sue Bunis, plenty of text about seven hundred models, some photos and that all-important identification and price information.




2. This is an excellently photographed book with upbeat and "time related" narrative on the subject. Unfortunately for those interested in the history or actual dates of when each of these radios were issued the reader will have to guess. Somewhere between 1950 & 1960. Not a great resource for someone starting a collection or trying to date that artifact found in your attic.



3. This is possible the only radio book, that, when left out on a coffee table, will start a conversation with non-collectors. But I advise against leaving your only copy on display, since it might get stolen. The layout and photos in this collaboration turn already beautiful radios into nearly sexual fetishes. Nice historical information, and an intriguing layout make this true eye candy. .... Find one for the coffee table, and another to hide away someplace safe! Printed in Japan.



4. A wonderful book full of exuberant, fun design. Don't let the other review here by this sad person at Booknews spoil it for you (execrable?? quotesqueries?? Sheeesh!!).

1 comments about Tomart's Price Guide to Radio Premium and Cereal Box Collectibles: Including Comic Character, Pulp Hero, TV and Other Premiums (Tomart's Price Guides).

1. This book is a detailed description of premiums nostly obtained originally from Old-Time Radio shows and comic books. It catalogues each premium by character name (e.g., Captain Midnight, Tom Mix, Jack Armstrong), many with photographs. In addition to monochrome photos, there are also 12 pages of full-color collections of premiums by type (badges, rings, etc.) plus color cover photos of premiums. Author Tumbusch has researched the premiums diligently, which also include early television as well as radio, "premiums" from comic books and those as "prizes" in cereal packages.

   In addition to listing values, Tumbusch makes a point of providing background, where possible, on the various premiums. Particularly for the new collector, the book makes it easy to identify some obscure ring or badge found at a flea market or garage sale.

   The book is nearly a decade old, so the prices listed shouldn't be taken too seriously, though they might provide an idea of the relative values of premiums.

   Even those not collecting such items should find the pictures and writeup of the premiums an interesting and informative perspective on the collectibles of yore.