Steve Nosko wrote:
And besides, how do you KNOW with 100% certainty that this
"shortened 1/2 wave" [let's say a 32 ft dipole on 40M] has been
"lengthened" (by use of loading coils) to 1/2 wave length rather than, say
oh, I don't know...3/2 "electrically"??

One looks at the current distribution. The current at the end of a
wire is zero. 1/4 electrical wavelength (90 degrees) back from the
end of the wire, the current is at its maximum. That's at the lowest
purely resistive point. If that point is on the antenna, it is
electrically 90 degrees from the end of the antenna. If that point
is on the transmission line, it is electrically 90 degrees from the
end of the antenna.
--
73, Cecil, W5DXP