Originally Posted By: hikermor
I'll bet it's just that the skill set to master the complexities of a J-pole antenna (which I wouldn't know from a K-pole) are a long ways from those required to build a fire in the pouring rain and gnaw on a roasted rat.

I sympathize, because I am more of the "Me, Igor. Me build fire" type..

But that is precisely what is valuable about this forum.



Actually the similarities are more than you might think.

There's no need to actually "master" the Jpole for survival. That's kind of like debating the virtues of fatwood vs. vaseline cotton balls for friction firestarting when the 90% solution is to carry a Bic and some waterproof matches in a matchsafe and your supply of TP in a ziplock.

Knowing to put a chunk of wire up high and in the clear is most of it. Tuning the antenna with simple instruments is almost all the rest of it.

Be glad for those who are fascinated with whatever it is because they will improve the product and give the rest of us a simple formula (eventually, if we can persuade them to speak English when they explain) that the rest of us can just apply as needed.

Just don't be too put off by what you need to know to apply as needed. Children have taken the highest level ham tests and passed - even in the days of 20 words per minute Morse code.