Antenna Book Face-Off: Rothammel vs ARRL - Which one reigns supreme?

[@johnwest7993]

I'd say the actual antenna Bible is Antennas, by John Kraus. It's my go-to antenna reference, though I also have a couple editions of the ARRL Antenna book, as well as Compendiums and updates and such, and other books on Antennas and feedlines and field theory. I also have some antenna references from the early 20th century that I refer to for longwave antenna design tips, since that was when the research on longwave antennas was actually done. But overall, Kraus is the standard that I've learned the most from.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

That looks like a heck of a book, it's definitely above my pay grade. I got a BA degree precisely so I wouldn't have to take college level math classes.

[@EricFullwood]

I'd like Rothammel's in ebook format.

[@Kilroy_Was_Here_1897]

I'm an antenna experimenter. I have always been frustrated with how basic the ARRL book is. Rothammel's book looks to be right up my alley.

[@spirit_of_the_abyss1020]

I would love to see one of these books published in Polish someday. It's not that I don't understand English, but I think everyone prefers to read in their native language. Well, ARRL is rich, maybe one day it will come up with such an idea and employ translators to expand its operations.

[@chuckcrizer]

The reviews and comparison that we needed. Much appreciated.

[@robertpetri2795]

Thanks for doing this comparison - excellent presentation!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Thank you for your support, It's greatly appreciated.

[@yvondubois1494]

in 1984 I bought the Rothammel antenna book (in German) and it has been my go to antenna book since then. I had several editions of the ARRL antenna books too but always go back to my old Rothammel as its content is more about antenna that the average ham can build i.e. no need for 50+ft towers, large beams, $$$, etc. Just my experience. Both are great books.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Rothammel has become the first book I grab when I need to look up an antenna concept. This information is concise, accurate, and gets me going in the right direction.

[@DonzLockz]

I was luckily gifted the ARRL Antenna book and I love it. :)

[@KQ4PBL]

New Ham here KQ4PBL!! I enjoy your videos definitely learning alot. I got my ticket last month at HamCation 2024. I took advantage and bought the ARRL 100th Anniversary Edition.

[@trapspamalot]

Love the metal Motorola speaker. One of the "best" communications quality speakers ever made. Lots of midrange punch for noisy mobile environments. When I worked for the railroad they were replacing them with the newer plastic ones, which weren't as nearly as clear. I have about 5 of them.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

You used to be able to find distressed metal Motorola speakers in the junk boxes at hamfests for about 50 cents. They would clean up nice and their wear and patina added character. Unfortunately people now want a fortune for them.

[@BreannaVK3BBS]

While I think there’s room for both on my bookshelf eventually, the ARRL book seems better for the newer diy antenna builder, while Rothammel’s appears better for the more adventurous builder.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I would tend to agree. Start with ARRL for the foundation it gives and add Rothammels to fill in the details.

[@jameyevans29]

Sometimes I wonder if I am the only one who looks at antennas while driving down the roads

[@Dap8998]

I just got started in this hobby and antennas are popping up out of nowhere it seems. One block over there is a house with 3 vertical antennas and what appears to be an end fed on the guys roof. I am going to have to stop in and introduce myself I think.

[@jameyevans29]

@@Dap8998 I have done that a few times 😂. KQ4GDB. 73!

[@RandyDBPFilms]

Same...

[@philstrons]

You certainly are not the only one

[@robert8342-w7x]

Same

[@VE9ASN]

I have both and have to agree, get both!! However, I believe every ham also needs ON4UN's Low band dxing and Les Moxon's Hf antennas for all locations, 73.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Those are a couple of books that are on my hamfest shopping list.

[@BusDriverRFI]

ON4UN was awesome.

[@glong1921]

Hello Michael Just wanted to reach out and thank you. I just received my third antenna from you and as usual it works great. 220 slim Jim. I’m getting great Signal reports 👍 Thank you so much keep up the amazing work. 73.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

That's awesome! I'm glad to hear the antenna is working great for you.

[@EricFullwood]

Antenna Physics (ARRL) Practical Antenna Handbook (Carr)

[@BusDriverRFI]

I bought an arrl ~1971 antenna book. Nothing on a 1:1 balun. Nothing on a lossy choke balun Nothing on common mode currents Nothing on coiled cable. It's from back in the day when real antennas were made. Actual antennas which are matched at the antenna feed point.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I've got a copy of the antenna book from that era. Many of the antenna designs use open feed line, but not because they are considered 'real antennas.' At that time most transmitters and transceivers used tube finals and were able to match the impedances that open feed antennas presented. Coax fed antennas didn't come into fashion until solid state transceivers became popular a decade later. Hence the lack of information on baluns, chokes, and common mode currents in that edition of the guide.

[@BusDriverRFI]

@@KB9VBRAntennas much of what you read today is just pseudo science such as Rothammel's buch. It's there to appease the average ham so they can build an antenna that does something and has a fairly low SWR. The old books were from a time before so much dumbing down of the subject. It's sad that no one wants to learn the subject anymore that doesn't base its theory on pseudo science instead of actual science equations. It's really sad.

[@BusDriverRFI]

@@KB9VBRAntennas now days it's all unprovable pseudo science.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I'd have to disagree with that statement. But you can believe whatever you want.

[@BusDriverRFI]

@@KB9VBRAntennas Why are there no modeling of the common mode currents or improvement of these imaginary currents on antenna modeling programs? Only forward and reflected currents.

[@RobB_VK6ES]

All of my ARRL books dated back to the 80s and 90s. I bought the centenary pair of ARRL handbook and the Antenna handbook. While the antenna book is pretty good I was disapointed in the handbook. No homebrew projects for example. ARRl need to do better with worldwide distribution. I had to buy direct from ARRL and international delivery added 50% to the cover price.

[@hjvldesktop4789]

I have a 1968 print of Rothammel's book. It is a lot thinner than the modern one.

[@workingwiththelight3119]

Couldn't afford better cover? This black colour really puts me off!

[@kd5you1]

The ARRL 20th Edition Antenna book is the only one I have tried, but I'm still not able to tune it to any frequency. :D Great video though! 73 KD5YOU

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

With those older editions you need to use open feed line and a good manual tuner.

[@kd5you1]

@@KB9VBRAntennasAh, that's where I went wrong. :)

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

ON4UN's low band dxing is also good.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

That book is on my hamfest shopping list.

[@thuff3207]

Rothammel looks more like an engineering manual. To me it looks to be a very good resource but you really need the ARRL book too for another reference.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

That's a good description of Rothammels.

[@CE2LSI]

Podria venir en español

[@chronicjohn1978]

I prefer Rothammel in origin German of course

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Auf deutsch sehr bitte. My years of high school German probably wouldn't help me.

[@CoolStuff..]

Cool

[@rickeaston3228]

In order to learn about antennas, you must read "Electromagnetic Fields and Waves" and 7 coarses of Calculus is required. Then you will begin to understand antennas and Xmission lines. There is no short cut.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Naw, I prefer to look at a couple of youtube videos and go from there.

[@rickeaston3228]

@@KB9VBRAntennas You could not read one of my videos on antenna or any thing else. Hams are pretenders, that is all.

[@DaDitDa]

To fully comprehend the mathematical models derived by Heaviside from Maxwell 's work does require knowledge of multi-variable partial differential equations and closed vector fields; but lacking this background does NOT preclude one from gaining a practical understanding of EM field concepts, antennas, transmission lines and related matters. One of the pioneers in development of electric and magnetic field theory, Michael Faraday, had no background in advanced mathematics, yet his practical observations and theories formed the basis of today's EM mathematical models and theory.

[@Frank_K4FMH]

Hmm. MIT doesn’t list 7 courses with calculus in the title…guess there’re weak in math…lol

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Pretenders of what? I'm not an electrical engineer, nor do I pretend to be. I've got a bachelor of arts degree precisely so I wouldn't have to take any college level math classes. That certainly hasn't held me back from my appreciation and practical application of antenna systems.