--- In ultralightdx@yahoogroups.com, "jim_kr1s" quotes me:

> "First, the AM front-end of the Si4734 is a tuned-tank circuit with a

> fairly conventional LNA and quadrature mixer as shown in the block

> diagram....

> 

> "As Roy has pointed out, the loopstick (or air-loop) inductance is

> resonated with an on-chip varactor, which tunes in small discrete steps.

> This tuning is done each time the frequency is changed."

Gentlemen,

Radio reception and antennas involve complex, multidimensional tradeoffs, 

so I'm not taking sides (yet, anyway) in this debate.  I do agree with

Jim that a necessary first step to resolving the disagreement is to 

carefully understand loopstick resonance and how the Silabs' tuning 

method differs fro m that implemented in all other radios.

For the techies in the group who are interested, I think this can

answer most of your questions: US Patent 7561865 .

Cheers,

Scott