Customer Reviews

On the Short Waves, 1923-1945: Broadcast Listening in the Pioneer Days of Radio

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For several years I've been wondering that the author has been doing gathering old QSL cards and other radio trivia.

Berg's book is a wonderful payback to all those who've contributed. He has written an excellent, if not exhausive, history of international broadcasting through the end of the second world war, with an emphasis on American stations. (The are several volumes about Nazi propaganda broadcasts you could also consider).

If you only read one book on the hitory of radio, it should be Empire of the Air. But if you read two, or have a special interest in shortwave (as I do) this is a good choice. I hope there will be a volume covering 1945 onwards -- perhaps just about shortave in the cold war.

Lots of details on DX clubs and magazines of the twenties and thirties. No theory or technical history. More a social history of the lure of long distance "DXing" on the Short waves and the Broadcast Band in the early years.
For what it is, it's a great read.

Jerry's written the definitive history of the shortwave meduim up to WWII. It's all downhill from 45 to the dawn of the net. And that is a book. Until then read war of the black heavens.

This is a wonderful account of the romance of the early days of radio. This history of broadcast, from the pioneer days up to WWII is well documented here. A lot of pictures, reproduction of confirmation cards (QSL cards) and other memorabilia add a touch of sweet nostalgia.

I lent this book to a friend who was writing a paper on radio history, and was anxious to have it back. It is a difficult to find item nowadays, so if you are an ethusiast for shortwave radio and it's history and come across one, do grab it!