The Shocking Data: How We Are Burning Hard-Earned Watts and Money Through Inefficiency

Are you burning hard-earned money and watts without even realising it? Most hams spend over £1,000 on an IC-7300 or equivalent big-six rig, then lose up to 85% of their power through an inefficient antenna system. That “100W” radio can easily become just 15W on air. This video reveals the shocking reality of $/dB — why your expensive rig can easily underperform a cheaper radio paired with the right antenna. Whether you’re going portable or operating from your backyard, the antenna is where most of your power (and money) disappears. Using the same efficiency mindset that dominates professional road cycling — particularly how Olympic and World Time Trial Champion Remco Evenepoel wins races by squeezing every last watt out of his body and bike — we show how amateur radio operators can dramatically improve their results without spending more money. We break down real antenna efficiency numbers, expose the marketing hype, and prove that choosing the right antenna often delivers far bigger gains than upgrading your radio. Stop wasting watts. Stop wasting cash. Get the results your rig was built for. 🛠️ Tools like SuperGrok help you cut through the marketing BS and design the right antenna for your exact situation. Also check out Mark the Florida Ham Radio Man (@BustRadioMyths) and his excellent video on receive-only antennas — it pairs perfectly with this one. Timestamps 0:00 – Efficiency Intro 1:52 – Pro Cycling Real-Life Example (Remco Evenepoel) 7:11 – Relating This to Amateur Radio 10:56 – Robustness of Modelling Software 11:18 – When Facts Are Beaten Hands Down by Stories 11:41 – Coils as an Example of Inefficiency 17:40 – Wires 19:53 – Home Antennas 25:39 – The Song That Explains It All 27:13 – End #radio #radiocommunication #hamradio #cb #antenna #efficiency #icom #yaesu #kenwood