Hobby bez granic? Rzecz o krótkofalarstwie w Polsce w latach 1925-1990.

Nadejdzie kiedyś dzień, kiedy nas już nie będzie i kiedy miedziane druty oraz kable z gutaperki będą już tylko spoczywać w muzeach. Człowiek, który zechce porozmawiać z przyjacielem i nie będzie wiedział, gdzie ów się znajduje, zawoła wówczas elektrycznym głosem: „Gdzie jesteś?" Usłyszeć go zdoła jedynie ktoś obdarzony odpowiednio nastrojonym elektrycznym uchem. Odpowie wtedy: „Jestem na dole kopalni koło Newcastle". „Lecę nad szczytami Andów". „Płynę przez Ocean Spokojny". Być może nie odpowie mu żaden głos. Będzie to oznaczało, że przyjaciel nie żyje. The article presents the story of amateur radio in Poland as part of the international amateur radio movement after World War 1 and World War II. It shows how a hobby, which was seen as suspicious due to the ability to communicate with the outside world without control, was allowed to operate within the communist system of permanent control. During the "thaw" of 1956 amateur radio operators in the Polish People's Republic managed to create an independent association, the PZK, which did not function as a mere branch of an organization devoted to paramilitary training such as for example the GST in East Germany or the LOK in Poland. The article argues, however, that this turned out to be a Pyrrhic victory severely limiting the activists' room for maneuver, as much less financial and human resources were available to them in comparison to the large paramilitary organizations. In addition, the ongoing struggle for organizational supremacy between the PZK and LOK ultimately hindered the widely touted unity of the amateur radio movement, consumed a great deal of energy, and led to enduring personal enmities some of which continue to this day. This rivalry in turn severely affected their technical activities, the ability to attract new enthusiasts, access to equipment, and even their public relations work. In consequence more organizational freedom ended up limiting the scope of activities of the entire Polish amateur radio movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]