Ask almost any new amateur radio operator what they’re aiming for when they put up an antenna, and you’ll almost certainly hear the same answer: “A 1:1 SWR.” It gets repeated on forums, in club meetings, and in YouTube comments with the confidence of gospel truth. There’s just one problem – for the vast majority of antennas, a 1:1 SWR is not only unnecessary, it’s actually a sign that something might be wrong.
Let’s unpack this myth properly.
Continue reading “1:1 SWR – The Myth That Just Won’t Go Away”