All about Ham Radio: How to Get a License to Talk to the World, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe.

If you've ever wondered why your neighbor has more aluminum above his house than Alcoa, or thought it would be fun to talk to people around the country or world, buy this book!!When I first thought about becoming a ham, this is the volume that convinced me I could and should. Mr Helms presents the varied world of amateur radio in a simple, informative, and humorous manner. The best first step into a wonderful hobby that he'll show you isn't as difficult as many think.

In comparison to other ham books, this is agreat first ham book. It's easy to understand, and it covers everything. If you already understand this stuff, get "Now You're Talking". If you already have your license, and want technical info, by all means, buy "The ARRL Handbook"! But, if you have ANY interest in ham whatsoever and you don't know a lot about it, BUY THIS BOOK!!! Trust me.

I first read Helms when I became interested in Ham Radio. His book was an excellent introduction. This book is also first-rate. Harry makes the subject very interesting and gives a lot of practical advice. This is what I found to be the best part of his book(s). He let's you in on the secrets. It's very much like having a very experienced DX'er chatting with you and giving you friendly advice. He takes the time to explain the technical terms, the options, the 'real world' of short wave listening so that you have a very straight foreward explanation of what it's really all about. And he has strong opinions! And a sense of humor! He has stories to tell about the excitement of DX'ing and relates it very, very well. I found out more about the technical and practical aspects of short wave radio from this book than from Mange's Passport [Which is an excellent serial book] Excellent advice about selecting your first SW radio, great advice about an outside antenna, a honest discussion about the need for 'grounding' your antenna (this will surprise you because of his contrarian view and logic) This book and Mange's Passport book are all you need to enjoy this hobby and save $.