From the birth of radio to the late 1980s, much of real life unfolded through shortwave communication. World War II demonstratedbeyond a shadow of a doubtthat effective communications equipment was a vital prerequisite for military success. In the postwar years, shortwave became the backbone on which many of the world's most critical services depended every day.

All the radio equipmentthrough whose cathodes, grids, plates, and transistors so much of human history has flowedis an exceptional subject of study and enjoyment for those of us who are passionate about vintage electronics. In this book, which begins in the aftermath of World War II, you'll find a rich collection of information: descriptions, tips, technical notes, photos, and schematics that will be valuable for anyone interested in restoringor simply learning aboutthese extraordinary witnesses to one of the most remarkable eras in technological history.

My hope is that these pages will help preserve this vast treasure of knowledge, innovation, and historya heritage that far transcends the purely technical.

Autorentext
Giovanni (Gianni) Becattini, was born in Florence in 1951 and has dedicated his life to electronics, both as an engineer and as a pioneering entrepreneur. At sixteen, he began contributing to CQ Elettronica, Italy's foremost magazine for electronics enthusiasts. In 1973, he designed the Child 8 microcomputer and founded General Processor, the first company to build computers for use. In 1998, he founded AEP Ticketing Solutions, now part of Modaxo, a global leader in electronic ticketing systems for public transport. The author of several publications, he is now retired and devotes himself to writing books aimed at preserving the immense legacy, not only technical, left to us by great companies such as Tektronix, Hewlett-Packard, Collins, Siemens and others. He not only describes, but also repairs, restores and collects the extraordinary products they left us.