Irv Finkleman wrote:
In almost fifty years of hamming I never had an antenna
that was anywhere near ideal. For many years I couldn't measure let alone
spell SWR! I tied the wire onto the output of the pi-network and
never considered antenna tuners. I thought the cold water pipe was great and all
I needed. My antennas were too high, too low, or tilted the
wrong way. Most were bent around corners, and resembled
the fractal. Propagation let me think that if I got the signal into
the air it would bounce around till I made a contact. If I heard
someone I could usually work them. The RF burns were thrilling, and
told me that I had output! I fired my arrows into
the air and never ceased having fun. Ignorance was bliss. If
I'd known much about antenna theory I'd still be working on the plans
instead of on the air!

Irv VE6BP

I guess the intended lesson here is that only by staying ignorant of
antenna theory will you ever be able to actually build an antenna and
communicate with someone.

Sorry to hear it.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL