Sometimes there is just no substitute for printed knowledge... I have the complete courses from the "National Radio Institute" for beginning and advanced radio technician - two binders, each about 6 inches thick. Now that may sound a bit hokey... But there is tech information explained ("how to" and "why") in those manuals that is now taken for granted because the technology is purchased "in whole" on the microscopic surface of a silicon chip. I build radios and other electrical instruments as a hobby and use "old school" techniques because it is how I have learned to "make it work." I'm self-taught. I friend of mine with his masters degree in electrical engineering and I were talking one day and I asked about construction of some section of a circuit - he just kind of laughed and said "I haven't done that since high school - now I just order it from a catalog."
I collect all the old technology manuals I can, and even have my father's WWII U.S. Navy publication of "Mathematics for the Radioman and Electrician" (he was an Electrician's Mate 1st Class on board a diesel/electric submarine in the South Pacific during the war.) Just for kicks and grins, I even have a box of slide rules and instruction manuals - that will be fun to show the grand-kids someday!
Regards,
Raven6
PS: Another thing about "old radio" technology - tubes, big ceramic capacitors, wire wound resitors, and hand-wound inductor coils, etc.: It will survive an EMP hit, whereas modern "silicon based" technology will not. :-)
I was on one of those too in the early 60's (USS Jallao). I went on to a chip-making career that I've now retired from.