[blantonl]

One thing that is so critical in RF exploring is antenna design, and you can see where the author learns that very quickly.

It's kind of like the old adage in audio where you can have the best sources, AMPs, scalers, etc... but your speakers are the crucial component.

In RF, it's really is about the antennas.

[procarch2019]

Specifically selecting the right type of antenna and placing and orienting it correctly. Very easy for omni’s (mostly). Terribly annoying for spatial or directional.

Radios are fascinating. Optimizing and enhancing your radio capabilities is a black hole of time and money, but in return you gain knowledge and satisfaction.

[ajsnigrutin]

It's interesting to me, that these things were almost impossible to do correctly in an amateur setting (equipment needed was a $10k+), and now with devices like NanoVNA, SDR dongles and some aliexpress shopping, you can do everything for a price of two prime steaks at a local restaurant.

NanoVNA to tune the dipole (1/4l), gain is fixed, autogain off, move the dipole around the antenna with sufficient attenuation on the transmitter (or even better, rotate the antenna itself), and you can get reasonably accurate radiation graphs. Also tuning an antenna with a NanoVNA is very easy and if the antenna geometry is simple enough, orientation is simple too.

10+ years ago, you needed a friend working at a local college to take you in at night to measure stuff :)