Ham Radio's Technical Culture

Outsiders viewed amateur radio operators with a mixture of awe and suspicionimpressed by hams mastery of powerful technology but uneasy about theircontact with ... » 

Outsiders viewed amateur radio operators with a mixture of awe and suspicionimpressed by hams mastery of powerful technology but uneasy about theircontact with foreigners. Drawing on a wealth of personal accounts found inradio magazines and newsletters and on technical manuals trade journals andgovernment documents Haring describes how ham radio culture rippled throughhobbyists lives. She explains why hitech employers recruited hams and whyelectronics manufacturers sought out these specialty customers. She discusseshams position within the military and civil defense during the Second WorldWar and the Cold War as well as the effect of the hobby on family dynamics. Byconsidering ham radio in the context of technical hobbies model buildingphotography highfidelity audio and other popular pursuits Haring showswhat experiences were shared by people who took up various technologies forleisure and how their perspectives influenced attitudes toward technologybeyond hobby communities. «