Richard Fry wrote:
"Such networks don`t add or subtract electrical degrees, however. They
only reduce/cancel the natural reactance of the physical radiator in
use."

True if the only mismatch is reactance. A too-long antenna can be
electrically shortened for matching purposes by tuning it to resonance
with the proper series capacitance. A too-short antenna can be
electrically lengthened for matching purposes by tuning it to resonance
with the proper series inductance.

Reactance varies quickly near the resonant length. Radiation resistance
varies more slowly tending to increase at a steady rate as the antenna
is lengthened.

What radiates is current in a length of antenna. What gets current into
an antenna is a conjugate match. Reactance is zeroed out, and source and
load resistances are matched. That`s what`s needed for maximum power
transfer between generator and antenna.

Analysis may have been more abundant than needed for practical purposes.

The velocity of current through a coil has been disputed. Some said it
was almost instantaneous. That was new to me. The nature of inductance
is to produce counter emf which by Lenz`s law opposes current into an
inductance and temporarily delays current changes in an inductance. Only
in a pure resistance is there instantaneous correlation between voltage
and current.

It is believed that the speed of light "c" is a speed limit on
electromagnetic waves. An action in one place must have a delayed
response elsewhere depending on distance.

I can imagine a wave launched at one of an inductor sweeping across its
length and ignoring the round and round path of the wire, but I don`t
know of any of the old authors in my collection who say that such a
short-cut happens. Conductors are the source of free electrons which
permit current flow and my experience is that electricity goes where it
is wired.

Best regards, Richard Harrison, KB5WZI