On Oct 31, 7:33 pm, "RST Engineering" wrote:
A quarter wave with ground plane has a donut pattern with a hole on
top.

No sir, a vertical dipole has a donut pattern with a hole on the top. A
quarter wave with a ground plane has a donut sliced longitudinally (like
slicing a bagel for cream cheese) with a hole on the top. Practically zero
radiation on the back side of the ground plane.

Aw comon. Now we are nit picking to win an argument. My main intended
point was that it has a hole on top irregardless if its a half or full
donut.


Also, my logic tells me (gain reciprocity notwithstanding) that a

ducky radiates better than receives - there is simply not enough
antenna surface to collect signal like in a larger antenna. But for
ELT transmission is what counts.

Oh, my dear Lord. First the man cites the reciprocity property of antennas
(which in a hundred years has yet to be disproven) but HIS logic says that a
ducky has to transmit better than it hears.

Please take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_pattern .
Reciprocity refers to radiation/reception "pattern" (geometry) being
the same and not to total radiation/reception efficiency. The second
equation says the total power actually received depends on
A(theta,phi) the "effective area or effective aperture of the antenna"
for a receiving antenna - i.e. the size of the antenna. A small tuned
antenna can send most of its power out (not necessarily directionally)
but will receive much less signal than a large antenna simply because
it has small receiving area. We are confusing directional gain with
RF power transmission efficiency.

Sorry, sir, I want nothing more to do with this conversation. You evidently
belong with those geniuses who sell magnets to put in the carburetor to
double the gas mileage.

Why do you have to use insults? If you really don't want to comment
just don't.