Understanding Radio Waves

Because they cannot be seen, radio waves always present something of a mystery. Their presence is felt in all manner of ways, however, and their sudden disappearance would create an enormous gap in our daily lives. No radio, no television, no radar, no short-wave communication in cars, planes and ships, no 'walkie-talkies', radio-controlled models or microwave ovens, no radio-controlled earth satellites, space flights or advanced weaponry. But need radio waves remain a mystery' This book unravels their nature and explains clearly how they can be broadcast and received, with a complete run down on the great variety of equipment - from antennae to transistors - which helps to make this possible. There is a useful introduction to the elements of the electro-magnetic forces which make radio possible, with details of their characteristics and propagation. For the would-be amateur radio enthusiast there is much practical information, including operational procedures and the obtaining of licences for Citizen's Band and Amateur Radio, two very different methods of personal participation. The various uses to which radio is put in modern-day society are fully described, including television, as well as more recent methods of receiving signals, such as cable TV. Navigational aids including automatic stations, satellites, radio telephony and radar are described, as are model control and microwave cooking. Peter Bubb has compiled a book which should prove invaluable to any young person wanting to know what radio is all about, and for the general reader who wants a lucid introduction to this important subject.