Eddie,
Vortex claimed the q82 mk1 was consistently 2 s-units up on a vector 4000,
can you see that been true even on the most generous cb s-meter unless other factors were messing the test up ?
I have handled & had a look at a q82mk1,
my local buddy swapped from a new v4k that got smashed up in wind to the q82 on his gateway,
i see nothing in the construction that would make it perform much different to a new vector 4000 and i don't see it on air either,
q82 monopole is similar diameter with one tube size fatter radials & one tube size fatter teflon gamma,
im not casting my vote for the 3/8 cone until i test both versions at the same time,
i have to be sure i can replicate the results,
the difference i did see is so great that i can't see how it can be true unless other factors are causing the difference,
we are talking about 3.6dBm increase from the same monopole in the same place with the only difference been the radial length & gamma settings,
I just cleaned another set of tubes & other parts to ensure theres no possible bad or higher resistance connections anywhere,
don't scrap the model before i redo the test.
