RF.Guru Incredible Lab Newsletter – Issue #5
Shocking Discoveries (Ground Not Included) — Where we separate signal from noise—literally.
Fresh Satirical Truth Bombs
The Cult of the Mirrored Bifilar Choke – Where Symmetry Goes to Die
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/the-cult-of-the-mirrored-bifilar-choke-where-symmetry-goes-to-die
Two wires wound together doesn’t automatically mean balance. In fact, it might just mean you’ve joined a cult of symmetry worship.
A Vertical Follows the Propagation
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/a-vertical-follows-the-propagation
No, your antenna doesn’t “follow” anything. This one takes aim at the pseudoscientific poetry infecting the hobby.
The Sacred Copper Rod – A Love Letter to the Most Useless Piece of Metal in Your Shack
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/the-sacred-copper-rod-a-love-letter-to-the-most-useless-piece-of-metal-in-your-shack
It’s shiny. It’s grounded. It’s… completely pointless for RF. But it feels right, doesn’t it?
HamRadio – The Faith-Based Wireless Religion
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/hamradio-the-faith-based-wireless-religion
From sacred SWR to miracle tuners, the religion of ham radio is alive and well — and desperately needs a reformation.
The Common Mode Conundrum – When Physics Meets Folklore
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/the-common-mode-conundrum-when-physics-meets-folklore
What really flows on your feedline may surprise you. Or terrify you. Especially if you believe in “clean” systems.
Deeper Technical Dives
Hidden Noise Machines – Understanding EMC in Everyday Electronics
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/hidden-noise-machines-understanding-emc-in-everyday-electronics
Your QRM probably isn’t from the neighbor’s solar panels. It might be inside your own shack.
Understanding Common Mode Buildup – And the Need for Multiple Chokes
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/understanding-common-mode-buildup-and-the-need-for-multiple-chokes
One choke is a wish. Two is a start. Here’s why common mode isn’t solved with a single ferrite and a prayer.
Non-Resonant TX Antennas in RX Mode – The Hidden Noise Problem
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/non-resonant-tx-antennas-in-rx-mode-the-hidden-noise-problem
Transmit antennas used for RX can silently ruin your noise floor — especially when they’re mismatched voltage collectors.
Understanding Near-Field, Far-Field, and RFI/EMC in Ham Radio (160m–2m)
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/understanding-near-field-far-field-and-rfi-emc-in-ham-radio-160m-2m
You can’t fix what you don’t understand. Know your fields. Know your enemy.
Short Radials and the Myth – Misreading Rudy Severns’ Work
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/short-radials-and-the-myth-misreading-rudy-severns-work
No, your 3-meter radials aren’t “almost as good.” Here’s what Rudy really said — and what the ham community chose to ignore.
Practical RF Wisdom
The Inductive Load – Why It’s the Convenient Radiator in RF Systems
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/the-inductive-load-why-it-s-the-convenient-radiator-in-rf-systems
Your tuner loves it. Your PA might not. Let’s decode the benefits and caveats of inductive loading in real-world antennas.
Physical Length vs Electrical Length – What’s the Difference?
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/physical-length-vs-electrical-length-whats-the-difference
They’re not the same, and thinking they are leads to design nightmares. Here’s how velocity factor really works.
The Truth About SWR, Resonance, and Efficient Radiation
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/the-truth-about-swr-resonance-and-efficient-radiation
A low SWR doesn’t mean efficient radiation. It just means less reflection at that point. Let’s stop pretending otherwise.
Antenna Tuners Don’t Tune Antennas – The Transmatch Misconception
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/antenna-tuners-dont-tune-antennas-the-transmatch-misconception
It tunes the system — not your antenna. And sometimes it tunes you into trouble.
The Open Wire Balanced Feedline – The Forgotten Ultra-Low-Loss Champion
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/the-open-wire-balanced-feedline-the-forgotten-ultra-low-loss-champion
It’s old school. It’s hard to route. But it’s unbeatable. Time to dust off the parallel wires.
Myth-Busting Debunkers
ARRL, K6WX & “Ground is a Myth” – But There’s Much, Much More to the Story
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/arrl-k6wx-ground-is-a-myth-but-theres-much-much-more-to-the-story
We agree on the surface. But here’s the nuance — and why safety and a return path for a current loop are not the same thing.
RX vs TX Grounding – Totally Different Games
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/rx-vs-tx-grounding-totally-different-games
A repeat? Yes. Because it’s that important. And still misunderstood.
Coaxial Cable – The Myth of Being Unbalanced
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/coaxial-cable-the-myth-of-being-unbalanced
The Cable That Carries Your Signal — And Your Problems
Why an LNA Won’t Fix Your Receiver’s Dynamic Range
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/why-an-lna-won-t-fix-your-receiver-s-dynamic-range
You can’t amplify your way into higher Dynamic Rage. You might just make the mess louder.
The Ham’s Obsession With Resonance
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/the-hams-obsession-with-resonance
It’s the holy grail that wasn’t. A 1:1 SWR does not mean everything’s okay — just that something isn’t bouncing back.
Have a question, spot an RF urban legend, or want to suggest a new topic?
Shoot me a message — every article starts with a curious OM asking "why?" and sometimes "oh why oh why ?"
73,
Joeri – ON6URE
Founder – RF.Guru
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/knowledge-base