Shortly after WWII the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) produced a hugely popular series of booklets detailing various aspects of Amateur Radio. This series of books published in 1947-1949 covered Amateur Radio as it was then. The RSGB is now re-issuing these booklets, in their original form as a special edition. Each book is a historical encapsulation of electronics as it was and what radio amateurs were doing with it. The set contains 6 booklets with a nearly 450 pages of fascinating material. Not only is this collection a historical master class in Amateur Radio, it provides an ideal understanding of the way the past has shaped the direction of current technology.

Books include:

VHF Technique - Propagation of VHF waves; VHF aerial systems; VHF transmitters; VHF receivers; VHF measurements; Frequency modulation. 96 pages

Transmitter Interference - Cooperation and goodwill; Interference to medium-wave broadcast reception; Interference curable at the transmitter; Interference curable at the receiver; Interference to television. 32 pages

Valve Technique - General considerations governing valve operation; Voltage amplifiers; Audio frequency power amplifiers; Radio frequency power amplifiers, frequency multipliers and oscillators; Detectors; Frequency changers; Power rectifiers; Special applications; Noise generated in valve amplifiers; Valves for VHF. 104 pages

Receivers - Fundamental principles; Principles of receiver design; Tuning circuits; Straight receivers; Superheterodyne receivers; Frequency-modulation receivers; Construction; Power supplies; Fault-finding, adjustments and calibration. 96 pages

Microwave Technique - Introduction to microwaves; Circuit elements - tuned circuits and cavity resonators; Circuit elements - waveguides; Circuit elements - valves; Transmitters and receivers; Aerials; Measurements. 68 pages

Simple Transmitting Equipment - Fundamentals; Aerials; Simple transmitters; Five-band 25-watt transmitter; Simple VFO circuit; Crystal-controlled frequency sub-standard. 52 pages

Size 184x120mm. Published by Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB).

"There never was, in the whole history of wireless, a bigger role for the amateur wireless enthusiast."--author Geoffrey Pidgeon

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Possibly the most important UK wireless traffic in World War II was handled by a unit formed in 1938 as part of the communications division of Britain's Secret Intelligence Services (SIS). The Secret Wireless War offers a history of the SIS, its growing use of wireless in the 1930's, its involvement in the dissemination by wireless of Enigma (Ultra) intelligence, and a whole range of secret uses of wireless as part of the successful prosecution of the war.

The Secret Wireless War documents the personal tales of those who were part of this most secret of units, and events that helped to win the war: secret agents abroad, wireless operators handling "Ultra" and agent's traffic, wireless engineers, interceptors, and administrators; the story of Churchill's personal wireless operator; a fleet of 70+ Packard motor cars and converted Dodge ambulances used as mobile wireless stations; and hams listening to the Abwehr (German secret service) and the Gestapo.

This is an extraordinary story that includes hams among those patriots that undoubtedly helped the allied war effort.

© 2003-2007, By Geoffrey Pidgeon. Second Edition, third Printing (Revised in August 2007). 194 illustrations including pictures of secret agent's wireless sets! 422 pages, high-quality paper, hardback. Published by UPSO Limited (UK). ARRL is the exclusive US distributor.

This book traces the life of Don Wallace, W6AM, and the early history of Amateur Radio. Don's experience with wireless in 1909 preceded government regulations or any form of licensing. Naval stations, commercial stations, ships at sea, and the first wireless experimenters all shared the same wavelengths.

Born in 1898, Don took an interest in wireless at the age of ten when the industry was just in its infancy. The timing was right for a bright and dedicated man to come along and make a lasting imprint on the wireless community. Over the years, he would be the radio operator for a President, build the best Amateur Radio station in the country, write a shortwave book, set the standards of operating achievement for many amateurs, share the podium with the most prominent amateurs of the era, build the largest and most powerful Amateur Radio station in the world, and be the role model for many of the young men entering the hobby. It was the latter that he enjoyed the most. Don held an annual open house and would go to great lengths to encourage newcomers to the hobby.

Although always a hobby to Don, many of the leaders of the radio industry came to know and respect him. The word always used to describe Don and his attitude toward the wireless hobby was "enthusiasm."

Hardcover. 288 pages. © 1991, published by Vestal Press Ltd.

WWII Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion is a story about ham radio operators and others alerting families of POWs during a time of war. The book features more than 30 letters and postcards sent to the author’s family in 1943, notifying them of her grandfather’s capture and status as a prisoner of war. Upon discovering these letters, Ms. Spahr, began researching the people who did this, and why, and reached out to find them or their next of kin, more than 60 years after the fact. Her journey is detailed in WWII Radio Heroes.

76 pages. © 2008, Intrigue Publishing

Written by the leading expert, Perera's Telegraph Collectors Guide is the most complete source of information for all those interested in telegraph keys from beginner to avid collector. Learn the historical background of telegraph keys and details of keys available from the early 1830’s through today. Includes tips on restoring telegraph keys, current prices, and a valuable cross referenced-index of the material.

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