[Elecraft] Antenna Theory

[Mike McCoy]

I have to say, I am absolutely boggled by the depth of knowledge recently
shown on this list regarding antenna theory, baluns, etc..

So I hate to admit it in such August company but antennas remain a Black Art
to me.  There is just too much going on both 'inside' (resistance,
reactance, inductance, you name it) and 'outside' (near field influence,
soil conditions, you name it) for me to 'Grok' the entirety of what's going
on if something is awry (which in my case often is).

So I'm going to ask a really elementary question about HF antenna feedlines:

It would appear to me from all I've read/heard that overall a balanced
feedline is generally much less 'problematic' and in fact often preferable
to unbalanced coax.

Since there seems to be no clear advantage to using coax (other than the
fact virtually every piece of equipment made has a SO-259 on the back) why
then is coax THE most prevalent feedline in actual use?

73
Mike - K5PU