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Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc, April 2004. 384 pages with index. ISBN 0764559877. Available from ARRL, Order No. 9392, $21.99 plus shipping. Order tollfree 1-888-277-5289 or order on-line.
Reviewed by Rick Tavan, N6XI (from July 2004 QST)
Well, it's about time! For years I have been wondering when the popular "for Dummies" series of books for beginners in just about everything would embrace Amateur Radio. The wait is over and Ham Radio for Dummies by QST Contributing Editor Ward Silver, N0AX, is now available...and it was worth the wait. Although best known perhaps as Dr Beldar of contest forum fame or as the editor of the biweekly Contest Rate Sheet, Ward has shown that he also understands the bewilderment of the neophyte and how to cure it. The book is true to the series, a highly readable introduction to the what, how and why of Amateur Radio. Eschewing technical jargon and excessive detail but reserving ample space to touch on every major aspect, Ham Radio for Dummies is an effective introduction for anyone who is curious about us.
Ham Radio for Dummies is not a license manual. Although it overlaps some of the content of classics like Now You're Talking! and The ARRL General Class License Manual, it does not replace them. It contains thorough overviews of the licensing process, types of on-the-air activities, station construction and the like, but it does not attempt to include "all you need to know" in order to do anything. Instead, this book refers extensively to other publications and on-line resources that will take the interested reader from curiosity to accomplishment.
I particularly liked Ward's layered approach to instruction, introducing topics in overview chapters before going into more detail later on. He provides the reader with descriptions of a broad spectrum of activities, all equally worthy of the reader's time, attention and further investigation. If there is any license class bias at all it is the assumption that the reader will advance to whatever level is necessary to pursue his or her particular interests. The book is well organized and written, although the illustrations could have been of a higher quality and more complete.
We should all own a copy or two of this book, if not for our own "expert" selves then for the next friend who comes along with questions about Amateur Radio. Let's give away a lot of copies to prospective hams-I predict a high success rate! And keep a copy on the shelf for yourself. It includes excellent introductions to special topics such as digital modes, QRP, contesting, DXing, satellite and TV. The chapter on Specialties certainly got my juices flowing to add a few more of those skills to my repertoire. Also, the admonitions on station maintenance and record keeping remind us of overdue improvements to our own amateur practice.
We were all Dummies once with respect to ham radio and some of us have enjoyed the progression from Dummy to Expert to Elmer. Ham Radio for Dummies is poised to launch a new generation onto that exciting trajectory. Congratulations to N0AX and the Dummies crew for another winner.