The Best Antenna Book! Rothammel's! Interview With Hans DK5JI

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[mikeo]

Working in a technical field with Germans for over 25 years I smile about this because he is spot on the technical aspects of exchanging the language is very difficult. He has done English speaking people a great service.

[KBVBRAntennas]

Rothammels is an awesome book and it is my go-to reference in understanding an antenna concept. From there I can jump to other primary sources. Of course us living in Wisconsin/Minnesota (10:20) are able to say Karl's name properly right off the bat.

[MaryBrownForFreedom]

His accent brings me back to my childhood growing up in New Ulm MN... MANY German language speakers... in high school it was the most taken language class and came in handy when walking downtown... the old ladies would switch to German to talk about you, I loved to turn around and go back at them in it! I have forgotten most of it... use it or lose it! New Ulm had a week long festival Heritagefest... aka Minnesota's biggest week long drunk LOL Schells Brewery in town so that was the beer we all drank because it was cheap direct from the brewery! If you get a chance to try it go for it but it can be an acquired taste...

[VEASN]

The XYL got me a copy last year for Christmas, it's an invaluable resource.

[Siskiyous]

A great interview. Hans is a very good man. RAB is real delight.

[AndrejaKostic]

So a little bit about the background here, and the stuff that was mentioned around 09:00
From what I could gather during the WWII amateur radio in Germany became progressively more politicized. After the end of the war, the remaining German territories were split into 4 occupation zones, and amateur radio was banned in 1945. Of those zones, the 3 western zones (French, US, and British) formed the Federal Republic of Germany, also called West Germany, and the Soviet zone became the German Democratic Republic, also called East Germany. During the reunification at the start of 1990s, the states forming the GDR split and joined the Federal Republic of Germany, leaving the West Germany as the only remaining Germany.

If I remember correctly, in the western occupation zones, first amateur radio activity was allowed sometime in 1949, and the DARC, the German Amateur Radio Club, was formed in 1950. In the Soviet Zone, where Karl Rothammel was living, amateur radio was allowed later on.

Also, about the book being popular in strange places... Well, one of the publishers was the publishing house of the National People's Army, the armed forces of East Germany, and through that cooperation, it made its way through publishing houses of other eastern block armies, translations were produced, and the Rothammel's book became THE antenna book in the eastern block.
After the reunification, the publishing house of the German Amateur Radio Club continued publishing the book, and Alois Krischke, who was working with Rothammel, continued producing the new editions. He died recently, and the 13th edition was the last one which he made, and which was translated into English.

[tonywilliamitis]

Great interview! I have thought about the book for a long time but this pushed me over the line. I just ordered it with your code. Thanks.

[stevengrey]

Thank you for covering this. I ordered the book.

[PapasDino]

TNX Josh, just ordered a copy from GigaParts (thanks for the code!)...had been looking for it since DXE stopped carrying it. 73 - Dino KLØS

[vkycj]

Hello Josh and Hans. This was a fantastic interview and I'll be getting a copy from Gigaparts. Thanks for all your efforts Hans in creating the English version of the book. Oops, it's out of stock so I'd better keep trying. 73, Jamie VK2YCJ.

[Utahforrest]

Excited for this. I’ve had multiple people recommend this book to me

[YouTubeChapters-dotcom]

Hello, I've made timestamps so viewers can jump to interesting moments

🕒 Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction to Hans and Rothammel's Antenna Book
01:54 - Book's target audience and comprehensive coverage
05:31 - Hans' background and translation experience
08:06 - History of Karl Rothammel and the book's origins
10:29 - Unique features and diverse antenna coverage
15:32 - Global interest and translation approach
17:50 - Highlights on wire antennas and practical setups
20:38 - How to navigate the 1, 600-page book
25:33 - Book's comprehensive nature and future updates
29:58 - Hans' personal antenna experiences
32:31 - Value of antenna knowledge in ham radio
33:40 - Final recommendations and where to find the book

[davidgettman]

Ran right out and ordered it Josh! Thanks.

[batica]

The book was translated into Serbo-Croatian in 1983 and was (is) very popular in Yugoslavia. Strange that it didn't get a Slovenian version back then as well.

[LanceKTM]

GREAT show! Can’t wait to get the book!
My wife hates you Josh…

[LBEJ_Bjorn_Otto]

Very interesting to hear Hans’s view on the book and its history. This book is a very good reference book and you should buy one 😊

[ChrisRobinsonKFNFW]

This book should be required with the AARL book for any radio nerd!

[LarryAllenTonar]

ThxJosh — a copy (back) ordered on the basis of this good interview & "JOSH" $7 off.

I was sad that you didn't discuss your "emergency J-pole" construction!

I would have enjoyed some discussion of antenna modelling coverage in tbe book (use of which might have improved your "emergency J-pole's chances).

Interesting that he's already queued-up at least one 2ed topic: "hex-beam" antennas, which have already had several generations of companies selling various versions.

[Utahforrest]

Just ordered! Thanks for the discount code!

[alken]

interesting; I wonder if that 13:15 may related to "trottel-fest und idioten sichr" what was printed on messerschmidt bf-109 radios, I personaly saw one as a kid
... no offense to our good neighbors NOW here :-)