I recently setup a Meshtastic lora node and realized antennas are complicated… I never knew there were ones that are most resonant on specific frequencies and stuff, the importance of having the impedance close to 50ohms for best performance. And fake amazon ones that give you only 8cm of antenna wire inside a 37mm shaft 🤦‍♂️

That said, I am shocked that something the size of my thumb can communicate 1km through buildings, and uphill to the other side of my village on such low power. This radio stuff is really fascinating.