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The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications 2011
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Hardcover
First published January 1, 1936
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 9, 2018
Recommended as a book to keep on the shelf for those with a strong electronics background who build antenna systems or wish to more fully understand how radio frequency waves are transmitted and received.
Even at 993 pages, this book is not and cannot be the ultimate reference guide to antennas, transmission lines, and radio wave propagation. That is not to say that that book does not provide useful information. The editors have attempted to cover as much ground as possible in the book's twenty eight chapters, making choices about how deep and detailed a particular topic will receive.
There are many diagrams, graphs, and photographs that augment the book's text, which makes it an interesting and informative read, especially for those with a strong background in RF (radio frequency) and electrical engineering. Casual readers, those with a limited knowledge of electronics, will probably find the material challenging. The book comes with a CD containing a number of articles previously published in QST (the ARRL's magazine) as well as project details from the book.
If you are unsure whether or not this book is for you, many libraries have it in their collections or you can contact your local amateur radio club, whose members will most likely have a copy or two for you to review.
Even at 993 pages, this book is not and cannot be the ultimate reference guide to antennas, transmission lines, and radio wave propagation. That is not to say that that book does not provide useful information. The editors have attempted to cover as much ground as possible in the book's twenty eight chapters, making choices about how deep and detailed a particular topic will receive.
There are many diagrams, graphs, and photographs that augment the book's text, which makes it an interesting and informative read, especially for those with a strong background in RF (radio frequency) and electrical engineering. Casual readers, those with a limited knowledge of electronics, will probably find the material challenging. The book comes with a CD containing a number of articles previously published in QST (the ARRL's magazine) as well as project details from the book.
If you are unsure whether or not this book is for you, many libraries have it in their collections or you can contact your local amateur radio club, whose members will most likely have a copy or two for you to review.
July 14, 2020
The American Radio Relay League or ARRL is a group of people that partake in radio signaling as a hobby or for other reasons. They printed this massive and comprehensive tome known as The ARRL Antenna Book. As it says on the cover, this book is the ultimate reference guide to Antenna systems.
As with all good books on technical matters, The ARRL Antenna Book opens with Safety. It has several precautions that you should follow when dealing with antenna systems and other things. The first thing I thought upon reading this book was that it was very informative. It includes a section on how certain frequencies of radio signal can damage flesh and cause burns or cataracts. In my naivety, I thought that radio signals didn’t have enough power to do that. I thought that you had to get up to microwaves for that to happen.
So this book covers both the theoretical and practical side of managing an antenna system and an amateur radio station. It contains important advice on not going for economy bargains when it comes to your equipment. It also contains equations that figure topics like how to calculate the reflection coefficient for different types of soils and fresh or saltwater. It utilizes Ohm’s Law and other practical applications to figure out resistance through coaxial cables and other things.
The book lost me at some points due to the technical jargon that they used, but a quick internet search brought me up to speed with that. For example, you may chuckle at the fact that I didn’t know what was meant by QTH and DXing. The book is packed with graphs, charts, and other pieces of information showing specific situations with antenna systems.
I took this book out of the library since it appeared to be interesting. I was correct in that sense, but as I mentioned with the jargon it became a bit of a wall to climb for understanding. On the other hand, the book contains a glossary of terms and abbreviations. I don’t plan to make my own amateur radio station any time soon since it is quite expensive. However, the theory of antenna systems was top-notch stuff. It was very well done and interesting. This particular copy is the 21st edition, which was printed in 2007, but I didn’t really notice anything too out of date. On the other hand, other reviewers pointed out that it is US-centric, which can only make sense since it was printed in the United States.
As with all good books on technical matters, The ARRL Antenna Book opens with Safety. It has several precautions that you should follow when dealing with antenna systems and other things. The first thing I thought upon reading this book was that it was very informative. It includes a section on how certain frequencies of radio signal can damage flesh and cause burns or cataracts. In my naivety, I thought that radio signals didn’t have enough power to do that. I thought that you had to get up to microwaves for that to happen.
So this book covers both the theoretical and practical side of managing an antenna system and an amateur radio station. It contains important advice on not going for economy bargains when it comes to your equipment. It also contains equations that figure topics like how to calculate the reflection coefficient for different types of soils and fresh or saltwater. It utilizes Ohm’s Law and other practical applications to figure out resistance through coaxial cables and other things.
The book lost me at some points due to the technical jargon that they used, but a quick internet search brought me up to speed with that. For example, you may chuckle at the fact that I didn’t know what was meant by QTH and DXing. The book is packed with graphs, charts, and other pieces of information showing specific situations with antenna systems.
I took this book out of the library since it appeared to be interesting. I was correct in that sense, but as I mentioned with the jargon it became a bit of a wall to climb for understanding. On the other hand, the book contains a glossary of terms and abbreviations. I don’t plan to make my own amateur radio station any time soon since it is quite expensive. However, the theory of antenna systems was top-notch stuff. It was very well done and interesting. This particular copy is the 21st edition, which was printed in 2007, but I didn’t really notice anything too out of date. On the other hand, other reviewers pointed out that it is US-centric, which can only make sense since it was printed in the United States.
October 15, 2011
If you're going to be building antennas, have a copy of this lying around. It doesn't have to be the latest and greatest; It's going to be much cheaper to pick up an older second hand copy.
Unsurprisingly it's very US centrist. Considering this is a handbook written for ARRL members, it's not something I can really give them too much criticism for. It makes it much less useful to build some of the designs within directly however; Translating from US imperial units is a bit of a pain, but many of the materials listed are of specific types and brands that are not readily available in other countries. This doesn't stop you using the designs to provide a theoretical base for which you to build your own with local materials however.
If you're going to be building antennas, have a copy of this lying around. It doesn't have to be the latest and greatest; It's going to be much cheaper to pick up an older second hand copy, and even the latest versions aren't exhaustive. But it is a very good base reference, and where I would look first.
Unsurprisingly it's very US centrist. Considering this is a handbook written for ARRL members, it's not something I can really give them too much criticism for. It makes it much less useful to build some of the designs within directly however; Translating from US imperial units is a bit of a pain, but many of the materials listed are of specific types and brands that are not readily available in other countries. This doesn't stop you using the designs to provide a theoretical base for which you to build your own with local materials however.
If you're going to be building antennas, have a copy of this lying around. It doesn't have to be the latest and greatest; It's going to be much cheaper to pick up an older second hand copy, and even the latest versions aren't exhaustive. But it is a very good base reference, and where I would look first.
October 28, 2014
I am enjoying this highly technical manual, particularly because as a newly licensed amateur radio operator I find myself quite clueless as to how the magic happens after the electromagnetic current of my transceiver makes its way to the glorious vertical antenna out there on the property outside the house. The fact that I can talk to Venezuela, Sicily, Poland, Germany, Brazil - and I have! - is marvelous, but I need to understand so much more about how this all works. The book seems geared more toward folks with a scientific background, which I do not have, and so I struggle with the concepts and have to read them over and over again to get a general idea. But it's a beginning, and I am glad there are resources like this out there.
March 28, 2009
In the Graduate, Dustin Hoffman's Character is told, "PLastics are the future".
In Communications...ANTENNAS are the enire game. This is a tough book, but it tells what is needed to know.
In Katrina I used everything in it.....and hopefully saved some lives.
In Communications...ANTENNAS are the enire game. This is a tough book, but it tells what is needed to know.
In Katrina I used everything in it.....and hopefully saved some lives.
December 12, 2010
Ok - actually I didn't read this compendium completely, rather speed-reading of the new material for 2011 had to suffice.
The format and editorial style seems dated, while the material is difficult to find elsewhere.
The format and editorial style seems dated, while the material is difficult to find elsewhere.
March 25, 2007
I spent way too much time reading this as a kid.
December 13, 2007
I bought EVERY ARRL Antenna book that came out in the 1940s and early 1950s
December 13, 2007
I bought every one of these that came out in the 1940s and early 1950s.
February 5, 2010
Most recent version on the bookshelf. Loaded with info for the radio amateur.
July 1, 2010
Greaattt!
November 20, 2010
This is the book for amateur radio operators.
Read
September 3, 2011gdfg
February 25, 2014
Reads like a collection of old articles from QST magazine. No info on the 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz ISM bands, the only reason I bought the book.
September 11, 2014
One stop shopping for everything Ham.
February 11, 2021
Very complete book on antennas. Recommend for the serious radio amateur.
April 26, 2021
Great reference for the hammiest among us.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews