My cutting edge misunderstanding is that of standing wave ratio in relationship to antenna system efficiency. I'm of the brand, at least until now, that measurement of one-to-one at the transmitter is an indication of a perfectly matched system. However, as a result of Joel Hallas, W1ZR, the zombie myth lifecycle of one-to-one measurement at the transmitter, was slain by the mighty pen of scientific literature.
The American Radio Relay League published Basic Antennas: Understanding Practical Antennas and Design authored by Joel Hallas, W1ZR (2012) and his mighty pen struck deep into the flesh of this shack hatched zombie.
His DNA altering ink took form as text wherein Hallas stated, "To perform the most accurate measurement, you need to measure at the load itself, which is usually an antenna." (p 26-4, 2012)
I did not consider two reference points within the system that is both the top and bottom of the feedline. Hallas (2012) suggested the reference point at the transmitter is the most logical sample location for measuring standing wave ratio. Consequently, sample data at the transmitter only, may lead to a false positive conclusion that one's antenna efficiency is optimal.
Imagine, the mixed martial arts match between that of the author and the shack hatched zombie, and Hallas suggested an optimal one-to-one is a direct function of lossless feedline.
Hallas further stated that standing wave ratio is equal at both reference points that is at the transmitter and the antenna feedpoint only if the feedline is lossless (2012). In reality where zombies fear to tread, the author continued to say, that real world feedlines have loss and those losses affect antenna efficiency.
His DNA altering ink reached further when Hallas gave an example where a one point six to one measurement at the transmitter is logically acceptable. However, at the antenna feedpoint the measurement is four to one, resulting in a 60 percent loss as 40 watts now radiates from the antenna system.
In my opinion especially in regards to demonstrating the validity of Micro dB Theory that loss is a very big deal.
Overall, we must, absolutely must consider the function of built-in antenna tuners which is a complete misnomer. It matches the load at the transmitter and does not tune an entire antenna system. One maybe sitting in the shack never realizing that only one reference measurement was made of the entire system without consider other sample locations such as antenna feedpoint.
For me, I say; long live the zombie, the zombie is dead.
73 from the shackadelic near the beach.