RF.Guru Incredible Lab Newsletter – Issue #3
Where physics and antennas meet reality (and sarcasm).

Featured Technical Insight

Faraday Rotation: The Invisible Force That Shapes Your HF Reception
Understand why your signal is vanishing, shifting, or fading — and how to receive in LHCP or RHCP to beat it.

RF in the Shack? It’s Skin Effect, Not Common Mode
Stop blaming CMC for everything. Here's why your coax shield is really betraying you.

The Hidden Truth About the Counterpoise: It’s Not What You Think
Spoiler: your “counterpoise” might just be a floating mess. Here’s how to fix it.

The SWR Myth: The Story of the Lost Power That Isn’t Really Lost
High SWR doesn’t always mean lost power — here’s why it’s more about reflections, not waste.

Engineering-Driven Antenna Design

NextGen Non-Resonant Traps: Engineering Performance Through Frequency, Means, and Symmetry
Traps aren’t black magic. They’re engineered solutions. Here’s how to design them the right way.

The Power of Non-Resonant Traps: A Smarter Way to Multiband Dipoles
Multi-band without the myth: avoid the resonant rabbit hole.

The FullHalfwave Series: Dual Half-Wave EFHWs Reimagined for Real-World DX
Finally — an EFHW built on physics, not wishful thinking.

Real Advantages for Field Ops

Left-Hand and Right-Hand Circular Polarization on the Low Bands: A Field Day Advantage
LHCP and RHCP give you an edge — especially when Faraday starts to play dirty.

Key Innovations Shaping the Ham Radio Industry

Diminishing Returns: Why 500W is the Sweet Spot of HF Power
Save your finals. Spend your money on smarter improvements.

RF Satire Corner

The Magical Mystery Wire: Confessions of the End-Fed Believers
Because “but I can make contacts with it!” is not a design principle. A sharp (and honest) take on the End-Fed cult.

Bonus
Missed Issue #2? Catch up here

 

Have questions? Need further insights? Or spotted something that’s not technically correct? Don’t hesitate to contact me — we’re always happy to clarify, update articles, and it might even lead to a good follow-up piece.

ON6URE