Interesting opinion. The reality is, just because someone chooses to use SWR when tuning an antenna does not mean the antenna is not tuned, it is simply tuned to a different point. Seriously, does it really even matter if you choose one or the other?
Do you know how much of a performance difference there is between the low SWR point and the resonant point? You will never notice this difference in the real world, which leads to the question again, why does it matter which you choose to tune the antenna to? If you claim resonance because you think it will give the absolute best possible performance, well...
Do you know where peak signal strength lines up? It doesn't necessarily line up with either SWR or resonance. Sometimes it is close to one, sometimes it is close to the other. Something that is often not even considered can have more of an effect on this than tuning to either of these tuning points, namely the coax. The more losses in the coax the closer peak gain lines up with the low SWR point and it doesn't take much, 1 dB is more than enough, to cause a shift in where peak gain for an antenna system is. There is a very good reason for this.
I am saying this as someone who has used several methods to measure field strength over the years, starting with a field strength meter, then using a spectrum analyzer, and now I am experimenting with a second antenna attached to the s21 (in short second) port of a VNA, and so far the results of measuring antennas with all of these devices agree with what I posted above.
There are multiple VNA's out there that can calibrate out the effects of a feed line, so you don't necessarily have to measure at the feed point of the antenna to get accurate measurements. One of them costs around $50 so its also not like they are prohibitively expensive. The only real issue is if common mode currents exist they will affect the readings, however, it is not difficult to tell if they are present after using one of these devices a few times...
I'm sorry if this sounds mean but seriously, freecell, its like you think you are talking to newbies, but in reality you are making yourself appear to be the newbie...
The DB
