[glebo]

I agree that the DB rating is a bit overated somewhat. Like mentioned by 69 harley, it's pretty much two full loops (one up-link, the other down link)...well not a quad, because that would be four elements, but two full wave loops somewhat in-phase (I believe). I "assume" the DB readings were taken off the display off the PSC-5, they are not the actual DB readings of the radiation off the antenna (you'd have to put that in an anochoic chamber, or input into some high speed program). I have talked to folks and they say it does work very well in that particular environment (CENTCOM). I would like some of the PACOM/SOUTHCOM commo guys try it out. It may have different characteristics in those areas due to the inherent ground characteristics. You can figure that out just by the AO's they are in.

We will start showing/building this antenna in the 18E course, just another thing to put in their "tool box" we t show them now to build an expedient three element yagi, (for VHF/UHF) amongst a couple of others, but that takes some pieces of wood or whatever for stability and spacing. This one kinda holds its own per se.

Anyway, I wish the 18E's would dive into the ARRL antenna handbook, no telling what may show up as a great expedient antenna, or whatever else they can come up with.

cheers.