I used to really enjoy the ARRL handbook. I used to purchase a new
one every so often here in Australia. I think the best valve ones
were in the late 80's and then naturally it slowly evolved to
semiconductors, integrated circuits and printed circuit boards and
more sophistacted circuits etc.

I think the old days of truly making your own receiver and or
transmitter are allmost gone.

I have become old any eyesight is now growing dim! I guess the days
of voltage doublers running straight off the mains because one was too
poor to buy a suitable power transformer are gone. I do like the
thought that the highest voltage one would come across now is probably
12 volts dc.
Many a time I forgot to turn off my carphone and 8 hours later I would
come out from work with a truly flat car battery.

When I look at some of the modern Ham gear I am amazed at how complex
and tiny they have become. I supposed all we really have left now is
making aerials and dxing.

Next time I am in the city I must checkout the latest ARRL Handbook as
I still enjoying reading them in bed.

Jim McCardle ex VK3ZOE in Australia.
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On Wed, 3 May 2006 21:36:35 -0400, "DaveM"
wrote:

I'm curious about what your opinions of the ARRL Handbook. In terms of
technical content, such as theory, construction projects, etc., which years are
generally regarded as the best of the modern (solid state) era, and which issue
for the vacuum tube era?

I'm interested in hearing about specifically those issues with really useful
construction projects in the areas of complete homebrew receivers and
transmitters, test equipment for the bench and field use and articles about RF
circuit design.

Thanks for your opinions.