Brew and Activate · June 23 · 2 hr 8 min

Most Hams Get Resonance Wrong—Do You?

Most amateur radio operators learn that a low SWR means a good antenna and a high SWR means a bad one. But what if that isn't the whole story? In this episode of Brew & Activate, we're tackling one of the biggest myths in amateur radio: the idea that resonance and SWR are the same thing. We'll break down what resonance actually means, why reactance (X) is often more important than SWR when tuning an antenna, and how an antenna can be perfectly resonant while still showing a 2:1 SWR. We'll also explore resistance (R), impedance matching, feedpoint impedance, and how to read antenna analyzer measurements in a way that helps you make better decisions in the field. Whether you're deploying antennas for Parks on the Air (POTA), chasing DX, experimenting with end-fed wires, or simply trying to understand what your analyzer is telling you, this discussion will change the way you look at antenna tuning. In This Episode What resonance really means Why X = 0 matters The difference between resonance and matching Why low SWR does not always mean a good antenna How to interpret R and X on your analyzer Real-world examples from portable operations Common SWR myths many hams still believe Join the Conversation Do you agree that SWR is one of the most misunderstood measurements in amateur radio? Have you ever chased a perfect SWR only to discover it didn't improve your signal? Drop your thoughts in the comments and continue the discussion with the Brew Crew. ************************************************************* Affiliate Links: I receive no compensation for these and want to pass on the savings to all my followers. Mad Dog Coils: Receive an additional clamp when ordering any Mad Dog Coil - Use N1JUR in the order/shipping notes https://maddogcoils.com.au/ Reliance Antennas: 10% off with Free Shipping. All orders of any Reliance Antenna or product use N1JUR at Checkout. https://www.relianceantennas.com/ Seeed Studios: Discount Codes on all Meshtastic Devices on my website n1jur.com SpoolTenna: https://spooltenna.com SHOW LINKS: Discord Brew and Activate - https://discord.gg/EcuySeKkVv Brew & Activate Podcast - https://rss.com/podcasts/brew-and-activate/ Brew and Activate Merch - https://livefreeandham.com/shop POTA Bucket List - https://n1jur.com/pota-bucket-list Guests/Hosts: Shannon's Channel (KC1OHT) https://www.youtube.com/@shannonkc1oht Help Support the Channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/N1JUR Buy Me a Beer: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/n1jur N1JUR & KC1OHT Shop: https://www.livefreeandham.com/shop

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Most amateur radio operators learn that a low SWR means a good antenna and a high SWR means a bad one. But what if that isn't the whole story?

In this episode of Brew & Activate, we're tackling one of the biggest myths in amateur radio: the idea that resonance and SWR are the same thing.

We'll break down what resonance actually means, why reactance (X) is often more important than SWR when tuning an antenna, and how an antenna can be perfectly resonant while still showing a 2:1 SWR. We'll also explore resistance (R), impedance matching, feedpoint impedance, and how to read antenna analyzer measurements in a way that helps you make better decisions in the field.

Whether you're deploying antennas for Parks on the Air (POTA), chasing DX, experimenting with end-fed wires, or simply trying to understand what your analyzer is telling you, this discussion will change the way you look at antenna tuning.

In This Episode

What resonance really means

Why X = 0 matters

The difference between resonance and matching

Why low SWR does not always mean a good antenna

How to interpret R and X on your analyzer

Real-world examples from portable operations

Common SWR myths many hams still believe

Join the Conversation

Do you agree that SWR is one of the most misunderstood measurements in amateur radio?

Have you ever chased a perfect SWR only to discover it didn't improve your signal?

Drop your thoughts in the comments and continue the discussion with the Brew Crew.