Customer Reviews

Radio Science Observing, Vol. 1

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The good news is, there's a lot of good information in this book. The sections on natural radio emissions, VLF receivers, and loop antennas are particularly useful. The bad news is, the editor/typesetter should be bound to the mast and flogged.

First, the level of prior knowledge assumed is a bit inconsistent, and a few bits of information seems overly elementary while other sections beg for more background. For example, the millivolt is defined (incorrectly, see pg 37), but knowledge of frequency vs. wavelength, voltage [neither volts nor microvolts were defined], current, power, resistance, capacitance, reactance, impedance and decibels are all assumed. Also, the included information sometimes seems irrelevant. For instance, the (long) section on receivers deals with characteristics of SSB, CW, RTTY and even radar receivers, even though these operating modes have little to do with natural radio emissions, the stated purpose of the book. As an extreme example, the author expends a short paragraph and a figure on the tangential sensitivity of radar receivers. That's relevant? Then, after a long (and slightly belabored) discussion of the importance of dynamic range, spurious responses, third order intercepts and the like, the author provides a number of circuits with little or no associated performance specifications. How is the reader to know what level of performance to expect from each circuit?

The sections on antennas (other than loops) seem like an incomplete cookbook, with not enough information given to build some of the examples, but also not enough background to figure out the missing details yourself. There is a program on the included CD-ROM that will calculate dimensions for several of the designs. Might have been nice to mention that in the text, however. In fact I saw no mention in the text that the CD-ROM even existed.

These complaints are minor quibbles. However, the poor typography and (lack of) editing are not. A few examples:

Pg 37 refers to a "previous calculation" that doesn't exist.

Pg 37 defines 1 mV = 1/1000 mV.

Pg 48 has the square root of the quotient 5/2.8 becoming "v5/2.8". It happens again on the same page and again on page 50. I guess that typeface doesn't have a square root.

Pg 98 calls the Earth an "oblique spheroid" when I believe it is an oblate spheroid.

Pg 157 mentions a 1972 paper describing observations of a 1979 eclipse. Time travel.

Pg 196 has the Greek letter lambda being replaced by "l" for wavelength.

Pg 201 Definition of mu (permeability) for Eq. 12-1 is wrong due to an extraneous "p".

Pg 203 Eq. 12-3 is wrong by a factor of 1/pi.

Pg 224 Fig 13-2 substitutes "Earth's service" for "Earth's surface".

Pg 342 Eq 20-1 is wrong due to an extraneous factor of 2.

There are others. There are several places where information is omitted, e.g. Chapt 10 claims to discuss direct conversion receivers but doesn't, parts lists leave out parts (L1, pg 131-132), diagrams leave out critical information (e.g. dimensions in Fig 8-3) or diagrams are missing altogether (pg 183). Units get switched (Pg 171), variables get switched (Pg 359), and algebraic signs get switched (Pg 46). A pet peeve of mine is that absolute temperature is given in degrees Kelvin instead of just Kelvins. There are other places where the discussions are incomplete. In short, where on earth was the editor in this process? The copyright page shows that the editor, typesetter, and indexer were all the same person. Surely she read the manuscript? If I could pick up the above problems with one read and no editing background, shouldn't a professional editor of technical books do at least as well?

I'm not trying to berate the author. Mr. Carr is a prolific and knowledgeable writer of both books and magazine articles. The book reads like a good draft manuscript, and any manuscript will have errors and oddities like the above. That is what the editor is for. The problem here is, the publisher, apparently thinks that being prompt equates to no editing.

Now, can I recommend this book? Yes. In spite of my whining, the book brings together information that is hard to get elsewhere and the author did a pretty good job, even if the editor didn't. If you are interested in natural radio emissions the book IS worth having, despite its editorial faults. See also Volume 2.

This book is a great reference book for the VLF hobbyist to professional. It explains stuff about mostly propagation, VLF to HF antennas. Also there some pretty good projects to let you
get your hands on some VLF theory. Also for extra education this book is made for the college student that needs some extra
background on the subject of radio science observing. If you can master this course you have a communications degree waiting to be hung up on the your wall with honors. Also there is Radio Science Observing Volume 2 . Please Note you must first get this volume before you can get the 2nd Volume. This book
volume 1 and 2 should grace on longwave radio, and SETI's serious hobbyist thru engineers, scientists bookshelf. Its almost like a college course that is still recommend for very radio enthusiast and serious engineer.

This book is good for someone whos into electronics that wants to discover more than just broadcast shortwave listening. One thing about this book that it covers VLF, listening to jupiter, and solar flare monitoring. Some of the projects are a bit difficult to do without understanding of how to read a schematic. This book does have errors, but the formulas are there for you to solve your own problems. I do recommend this book for a radio hobbyist that knows about antennas, receivers, propagation already. What is so good about this book is that it will teach you on how to construct a loop antenna for all bands from ULF to HF, detect solar flares, listening to lightning, chorus, the magnetosphere with a VLF radio, a radio that is not that big. It fits into your pocket. I have had this book for a long time. The book also shows on how to get started in building yourself a radio telescope at the end of this book. Just remember there is various subjects to radio science observing and its a complex hobby. It takes experience and you have to read more than this book and get involved. If you can use a astronomical telescope and you are a radio nut then you need this book. Cause of this book, my whole apartment is a small lab for my loop antennas for VLF and LF, and electromagnetic field receivers and computers. SETI@Home is what I use on my desktop cause of this book. I know more about propagation and solar activity as well.

The book however would make it a good college course for graduates who already know about math, science and electronics. The book can be way too advanced for beginners. You will need a PC and calculator and parts with breadboard with this book and radios. Like I said it takes action to to do these projects. Another addition to this book is a T-Field Meter kit from a electronic kit vendor. Then you should be all set!