RF.Guru Incredible Lab Newsletter – Issue #4
Where RF meets reality — and myths get politely (or not) obliterated.
Fresh Satirical Truth Bombs
Nectasy and the Myth of the Perfect Polar Plot
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/nectasy-and-the-myth-of-the-perfect-polar-plot
Think your NEC model makes you a better operator? Think again. This one’s for the pattern worshippers and polar plot prophets.
The Cult of Reciprocity™ – Why Your Antenna Doesn’t Care About You
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/the-cult-of-reciprocity%E2%84%A2-why-your-antenna-doesn-t-care-about-you
Turns out antennas are not sentient. They don’t know — or care — that you’re transmitting and not receiving. Reciprocity? Maybe. Relevance? You decide.
Deeper Technical Dives
The Truth About Low Noise Figures: Why MMICs Beat Low-NF Op-Amps in Real-World Antennas
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/the-truth-about-low-noise-figures-why-mmics-beat-low-nf-op-amps-in-real-world-antennas
Lab specs lie. Here’s why MMICs win in the noisy, ugly, real world of actual antennas — not spec sheets.
Why MMICs Behave as High Impedance Below Their Intended Frequency Range
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/why-mmics-behave-as-high-impedance-below-their-intended-frequency-range
A mystery solved. And no, it’s not magic — just RF physics.
RX vs TX Grounding: Totally Different Games
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/rx-vs-tx-grounding-totally-different-games
Ground loops, noise injection, and shielding gone wrong — learn why grounding for RX and TX isn't a one-size-fits-all story.
Practical RF Wisdom
The 5 Silent Killers of Your Power Amplifier — And How to Avoid Them
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/the-5-silent-killers-of-your-power-amplifier-and-how-to-avoid-them
If your amp could scream, it would. Here’s how to avoid turning your finals into toast.
The Perfect SWR of 2:1 on an Inductive Load — Or Not
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/the-perfect-swr-of-2-1-on-an-inductive-load-or-not
A great match to your tuner might still be a disaster at your PA. Here’s what SWR isn’t telling you.
Why Resonance Isn’t Always the SWR Sweet Spot
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/why-resonance-isn-t-always-the-swr-sweet-spot
That 1:1 may look pretty, but that doesn’t mean it’s working efficiently. Hint: look at X, not just SWR.
Myth-Busting Debunkers
Why “Wideband” EFHW Transformers Like the 49:1 Are Not Truly Wideband
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/why-wideband-efhw-transformers-like-the-49-1-are-not-truly-wideband
Spoiler: wideband in marketing, not in physics. EFHWs aren’t meant to be wideband — and here’s why that matters.
The Back-to-Back EFHW UNUN Transformer Measurement Myth
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/the-back-to-back-efhw-unun-transformer-measurement-myth
That clever-looking test setup? Completely wrong. Learn why back-to-back tests say more about your bench than your transformer.
ON6URE PotaSupreme™ Eats PotaPerformer for Breakfast
https://shop.rf.guru/pages/on6ure-potasupreme%E2%84%A2-eats-pota-performer-for-breakfast
Fun. Brutal. Accurate. This is where we put field mythology through the lab shredder — and the so-called “performer” doesn’t survive ;(
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