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Just for grins...

That 5 dBi gain mentioned is 'free-space' gain. that translates to about 3 dBd gain, if the antenna is mounted in such a way as to minimize -all- detrimental effects (environment, height above ground, etc.). All that translates to maybe 1/2 of an 'S' unit, if that 'S' meter is properly calibrated (which almost none are). Just going by tose numbers, it is reasonable to expect to see that sort of 'improvement' when comparing a 5/8 w antenna with a 1/4 w antenna. Doing the same comparison with a 1/2 w antenna will show a much smaller difference, something on the order of maybe 1.5 dBd difference, which isn't typically noticeable.
It's just a fact that any antenna can be optimized. There are several ways of doing that, it just depends on which route you want to go with which antenna. Thinking that a particular style/shape/length/number of radials making up a 'groundplane' (or the 'other half' of the antenna) is the ultimate answer just isn't gonna hold much water. I guess it'd be enough if you were dying of dehydration, but it ain't gonna fill a good sized puddle.
- 'Doc

<blockquote data-quote="W5LZ" data-source="post: 205334" data-attributes="member: 129">Just for grins...That 5 dBi gain mentioned is &#039;free-space&#039; gain.&nbsp; that translates to about 3 dBd gain, if the antenna is mounted in such a way as to minimize -all- detrimental effects (environment, height above ground, etc.).&nbsp; All that translates to maybe 1/2 of an &#039;S&#039; unit, if that &#039;S&#039; meter is properly calibrated (which almost none are).&nbsp; Just going by tose numbers, it is reasonable to expect to see that sort of &#039;improvement&#039; when comparing a 5/8 w antenna with a 1/4 w antenna.&nbsp; Doing the same comparison with a 1/2 w antenna will show a much smaller difference, something on the order of maybe 1.5 dBd difference, which isn&#039;t typically noticeable.It&#039;s just a fact that any antenna can be optimized.&nbsp; There are several ways of doing that, it just depends on which route you want to go with which antenna.&nbsp; Thinking that a particular style/shape/length/number of radials making up a &#039;groundplane&#039; (or the &#039;other half&#039; of the antenna) is the ultimate answer just isn&#039;t gonna hold much water.&nbsp; I guess it&#039;d be enough if you were dying of dehydration, but it ain&#039;t gonna fill a good sized puddle.&nbsp; <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink&nbsp; &nbsp; ;)"&nbsp; data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />&nbsp;- &#039;Doc</blockquote>

[QUOTE="W5LZ, post: 205334, member: 129"] Just for grins... That 5 dBi gain mentioned is 'free-space' gain. that translates to about 3 dBd gain, if the antenna is mounted in such a way as to minimize -all- detrimental effects (environment, height above ground, etc.). All that translates to maybe 1/2 of an 'S' unit, if that 'S' meter is properly calibrated (which almost none are). Just going by tose numbers, it is reasonable to expect to see that sort of 'improvement' when comparing a 5/8 w antenna with a 1/4 w antenna. Doing the same comparison with a 1/2 w antenna will show a much smaller difference, something on the order of maybe 1.5 dBd difference, which isn't typically noticeable. It's just a fact that any antenna can be optimized. There are several ways of doing that, it just depends on which route you want to go with which antenna. Thinking that a particular style/shape/length/number of radials making up a 'groundplane' (or the 'other half' of the antenna) is the ultimate answer just isn't gonna hold much water. I guess it'd be enough if you were dying of dehydration, but it ain't gonna fill a good sized puddle. ;) - 'Doc [/QUOTE]

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