2018 Albuquerque Duke City Hamfest/ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention

Antennas are our link to other amateur radio stations via the ether.  Getting our rig’s radio-frequency energy to a distant station via the ionosphere is a big part of the magic of ham radio.  Sadly, much of the magic is often separated from reality in the form of exaggerated performance claims that don’t pan out, along with rumors, eHam reviews, and our need for shiny new things.  There is plenty of anecdotal material from other hams who claim their antennas “WORK,” based on  WithOut Real Knowledge, per Alan Applegate, K0BG.  I will explain how and why certain antennas work better than others and what considerations are necessary for their successful installation.  This presentation could both save you a lot of money and greatly improve your enjoyment of HF radio!