Brew and Activate

One of the biggest myths in amateur radio has nothing to do with antennas... it's the coax connecting your radio to them.
Does coax really have to be 18 feet long? Can changing the length of your feedline lower your SWR? What exactly is velocity factor, and why does everyone seem to have a different answer?
This week on Brew & Activate, we're diving into another ham radio rabbit hole to separate physics from folklore. We'll explain velocity factor in plain English, explore why coax behaves the way it does, and connect the dots between transmission lines, SWR, resonance, impedance, and real-world station performance.
Whether you're building a portable POTA station, setting up your first HF antenna, or just trying to understand why your analyzer says one thing and your radio says another, this episode will help you make sense of what your coax is really doing—and what it isn't.
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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
Follow me on:
Website: https://n1jur.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

Who needs another pair of socks when you can bring another antenna?
This week, Brew & Activate is coming to you from my Airbnb for a special Vacation Edition! There won't be the usual 90-minute show or deep technical dive. Instead, we're slowing things down, grabbing a cup of coffee, and seeing what happens when portable ham radio becomes part of the adventure.
We'll be setting up a travel-friendly station, activating a new Tiles location, making contacts live, and chatting about why some of the best operating isn't from the shack—it's from wherever life happens to take you.
Whether you're operating from a campsite, a cabin, a hotel, an Airbnb, or just your backyard, this stream is a reminder that amateur radio doesn't have to stay home when you leave town.
So pour yourself a fresh cup, kick back, and pretend you're on vacation with the Brew Crew for the next 40 minutes.
☕ Live portable radio operation
📻 Tiles activation from the Airbnb
🌎 Travel-friendly ham radio setup
💬 Plenty of conversation, coffee, and RF
If you've ever packed a radio before packing your suitcase... this one's for you.

We spent the last two episodes learning what SWR and resonance actually mean. Now it's time to answer the biggest question of all:
How do you know if an antenna is actually performing?
In this final installment of our three-part antenna deep dive, we're moving beyond analyzer readings and getting into what really matters on the air. We'll explore why two antennas with identical SWR readings can perform completely differently, how antenna height affects your signal, why efficiency matters, and what changes as Solar Cycle 25 begins its downward swing.
We'll also tackle one of the biggest misconceptions in amateur radio: the idea that a low SWR automatically means a good antenna.
*************************************************************
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
Follow me on:
Website: https://n1jur.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527

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

This Friday on Brew & Activate, Mike N2MAK joins me to talk about the upcoming ARRL June VHF Contest — what it is, how he is preparing for it, what operators should expect, and why VHF contesting might be way more connected to portable operating than people realize.
We’re going to dig into the crossover between portable radio, VHF/UHF operating, contest strategy, field setups, antennas, location, timing, and making contacts when you’re not running a monster station on a mountain with a beam the size of a small bridge.
If you’ve ever done POTA, SOTA, rover-style operating, simplex work, 2 meters, 6 meters, or you’ve looked at a VHF contest and thought, “Is this something I could actually try?” — this is the episode to hang out for.
Mike will be sharing how he gets ready, what bands and gear he thinks about, what newer operators should understand before jumping in, and how portable operators can use contests like this to sharpen their skills.
So grab your coffee, charge the batteries, check the coax you definitely meant to check last week, and come hang out with us live.
*************************************************************
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
Follow me on:
Website: https://n1jur.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n1jur
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092365884527