Customer Reviews

Two-Way Radios and Scanners For Dummies

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It must be the lurker in me... I've always been fascinated with listening to unusual broadcasts like shortwave radio and emergency frequencies. Therefore, I was happy to have the opportunity to review the book Two-Way Radios & Scanners For Dummies by H. Ward Silver. It's an excellent way to get started in this hobby (or obsession)...

Contents:
Part 1 - Making Radio a Habit, a Hobby, or a Helper: Introducing Radios and the Wireless Word; Discovering the Art and Science of Radio; Making Radio Fit Your Life
Part 2 - Two-Way Radios at Home, Work, and Play: A Radio in Your Pocket - FRS/GMRS Radios; Breaker, Breaker - Using Citizens Band; Communicating in Emergencies; Workaday Wireless - Business Radio Services; Ladies and Gentlemen, Ships at Sea - Marine Radio; Citizen Wireless - Amateur Radio
Part 3 - Listening In - Scanning and Shortwave Listening: One Adam 12 - Scanner Basics; Scanning Public Service and Safety Radio Transmissions; Radio Aloft - Aviation Radio Transmissions; Radios in Uniform: Government Radio Transmissions; Radio in Action - Recreational Radio Transmissions; Surfing the Air World - Shortwave Listening
Part 4 - Getting Technical with Your Radio: Building Your Radio Toolbox; A Spark of Electronic Know-How; Installing Radios Right; Getting a Charge Out of Batteries; Putting Your Computer to Work; Troubleshooting Your Radio
Part 5 - The Part of Tens: Ten Radio Secrets; Ten Emergency Tips; Ten Radio First-Aid Techniques; Ten New Ways to Have Fun with Your Radio; Glossary; Index

There's not much that Silver doesn't cover in this book. He works both sides of the radio spectrum, from just listening to actually participating. If the usage of the airwaves in a particular category require having a license, he covers the requirements in order to make sure you stay legal. The basics of the hardware for each type of activity is illustrated in a very easy-to-understand fashion without getting overly technical. Same with subjects like antennas. There are some really heavy-duty scientific principles behind how antennas work and how different frequency ranges really require different antenna types. Silver is able to get you through this without the eyes glazing over... My personal favorite part of the book was on the shortwave listening. I remember listening to shortwave broadcasts from Radio Nederlands when I was young, amazed that I could be hearing stuff from the other side of the earth. This book brought back some of those same feelings.

This book is a very good way to get yourself started in the business of voice communications over the airwaves. Regardless of your leanings as a lurker or participant, you'll find what you need here to make that first contact.

Good book to learn the basics of police or nascar scanning. This book isn't helpful with programing specific models but is well worth the money anyway.

This book gives a very thorough overview of the world of radio. It discusses in detail the various radio systems in use and how to determine what radio fits your needs. There is a great deal of information on selecting radios for business use, as well as the expected discussion of Ham radio and the use of radios by government agencies and emergency services. The book can be a bit technical in some sections, but from cover to cover it provides a great overview for some interested in understanding a broad range of topics related to radios.

Lots of useful information for the newcomer. Covers lots of different topics. Found it very useful.

This Dummies Guide covers the subject of two-way radios and scanners in an easy to understand manner that covers all the basics.
Worth the read!

If you wonder what happened to CB Radios, what a HAM radio is or what a short-wave radio is, this is the book. Which works best in emergencies, or outdoors communications between groups like hunters. Licensing requirements and etiquette while using. Do people still call Breaker, Breaker?

I believe this book needs an edit to eliminate about 80% of the pages. The book gets to scanning in a very round-about way. Perhaps the book is meant for those who never took a high-school physics class; As an example, it is compelled to explain what a radio frequency is. If you just bought a scanner that can be programmed, you will note no mention of how to plan the programming for a particular interest or area. I suggest you buy the least expensive (programmable) scanner and one of several programming packages to learn from. I also suggest reviewing [...] which is a free web site listing most frequencies used in the USA.

Simply put, this book gets you excited about all things radio! Covers all the major radio systems - ham, scanner, business, marine, military, CB, shortwave, aircraft, etc. I am a seasoned ham and scanner enthusiast, and still find myself pulling this book off the shelf frequently - it is excellent as a handy reference. Highly recommended for a place on the bookshelf of anyone interested in any aspect of the radio hobby.

This is a very good resource book for scanning and radio hobbyists. Well written with lots of information on all types of radios.

Though I have'nt finished it yet,this book joins Ward's other
books,in being easy to read and understand.
David N5SJS