Silent Nights, Noisy Shacks, and the Eternal Search for the Holy Grail Antenna
Outside, the lights are up, the nights are long, and the bands are… unpredictable. Inside the shack, it’s the usual seasonal mix: cold coax, warm soldering irons, and yet another debate about SWR, efficiency, and whether this antenna will finally solve everything.
This issue leans into the end-of-year mood: fewer miracles, more measurements, and a gentle reminder that physics doesn’t take holidays. Pour something warm, sit back, and enjoy a deep dive into what actually works — and what absolutely doesn’t.
The VP2E Antenna – What It Is, How It Works, and How It Compares
A calm, measurement-driven look at a popular design — stripped of folklore, hype, and wishful thinking.
🔗 https://shop.rf.guru/pages/the-vp2e-antenna-what-it-is-how-it-works-and-how-it-compares
Why the Y21 Method Does Not Lose 6 dB – A Clear Model-Based Explanation
No mystery loss, no missing power — just correct math, correct modeling, and fewer winter arguments.
🔗 https://shop.rf.guru/pages/why-the-y21-method-does-not-lose-6-db-a-clear-model-based-explanation
CMR vs CMRR vs Common-Mode Impedance
Three terms, one endless confusion. We untangle what actually matters when fighting noise — and what’s just marketing vocabulary.
🔗 https://shop.rf.guru/pages/cmr-vs-cmrr-vs-common-mode-impedance
Ferrite Mixes on HF – Chokes vs Broadband Transformers
Why the same ferrite behaves very differently depending on how you use it — and why winter QRO is unforgiving.
🔗 https://shop.rf.guru/pages/ferrite-mixes-on-hf-chokes-vs-broadband-transformers
What Recent Resistance Measurements Tell Us About the 20 m Carbon Whip
Cold weather, hard numbers, and uncomfortable conclusions for marketing brochures.
🔗 https://shop.rf.guru/pages/what-recent-resistance-measurements-tell-us-about-the-20-m-carbon-whip
Why dB Attenuation Specs on Ham Chokes Are a Mess
If the spec sheet looks impressive but explains nothing — this article explains why.
🔗 https://shop.rf.guru/pages/why-db-attenuation-specs-on-ham-chokes-are-a-mess
EIRP vs SWR – Why a 4:1 EFOC Beats a Perfect-Match EFHW
A winter reminder that radiated power matters more than what your tuner display says.
🔗 https://shop.rf.guru/pages/eirp-vs-swr-why-a-4-1-efoc-beats-a-perfect-match-efhw
Why Galvanic Decoupling at the Receiver Input Dramatically Improves HF SNR
Sometimes the biggest RX upgrade isn’t an antenna — it’s breaking the right ground loop.
🔗 https://shop.rf.guru/pages/why-galvanic-decoupling-at-the-receiver-input-dramatically-improves-hf-snr
How Antenna–Shack Decoupling Cuts Noise and Boosts HF Reception
Less current where it doesn’t belong means more signal where it does.
🔗 https://shop.rf.guru/pages/how-antenna-shack-decoupling-cuts-noise-and-boosts-hf-reception
Magloop Efficiency Myths – And What Really Determines Performance
Copper, current, and losses — not magic geometry — decide how well a magloop works.
🔗 https://shop.rf.guru/pages/magloop-efficiency-myths-and-what-really-determines-performance
Stop Chasing the Holy Grail Antenna
Because the perfect antenna doesn’t exist — but understanding does.
🔗 https://shop.rf.guru/pages/stop-chasing-the-holy-grail-antenna
Stop Calling Your Choke “40 dB” – The Hidden Math They Never Tell You
If it sounds too clean to be true, it probably skipped the impedance calculation.
🔗 https://shop.rf.guru/pages/stop-calling-your-choke-40-db-the-hidden-math-they-never-tell-you
SWR Loss Is Largely a Myth – And Why Textbook Models Mislead Hams
A seasonal favorite: why reflected power isn’t the villain it’s made out to be.
🔗 https://shop.rf.guru/pages/swr-loss-is-largely-a-myth-and-why-textbook-models-mislead-hams
Why a Perfectly Symmetric Loop Often Isn’t — Especially When It’s Low
Snow-covered ground doesn’t care about your geometry assumptions.
🔗 https://shop.rf.guru/pages/why-a-perfectly-symmetric-loop-often-isn-t-especially-when-it-s-low
The Man with the Magical AI Detector
Because nothing says “science” like a black box and absolute confidence.
🔗 https://shop.rf.guru/pages/the-man-with-the-magical-ai-detector
The Cult of the Sacred Stubs
Shorted, open, quarter-wave, half-believed — gather round and adjust your coax.
🔗 https://shop.rf.guru/pages/the-cult-of-the-sacred-stubs
Reading done? Grab a coffee, lean back, and let Mark’s warm voice do the explaining. Our collaboration with Mark — K3ZD (“Ham Florida Man”) brings many of these RF topics to life on video, with clear explanations, real measurements, and zero myth-polishing.
🔗 Watch the featured videos from our collaboration
As the year winds down, the bands fade in and out, the noise floor rises, and the same myths keep circulating — just with seasonal decorations. If this issue helps you question one claim, measure one assumption, or ignore one piece of bad advice, it has done its job.
Enjoy the holidays, keep experimenting, and remember: physics does not care about SWR, seasons, or marketing claims.
73,
Joeri – ON6URE
Founder – RF.Guru
https://rf.guru/