Dave VanHorn wrote,
lobe?

Cuz it's easier decoupled with it's 1/4 wave radials, and is less
likely to have feedline radiation than the funky 5/8 antenna with 1/4
wave radials. In direct comparisons here, the 1/4 GP was a good bit
better than the 5/8 with 1/4 radials.

Interesting. You obviously have developed a far superior measurement
technique than most antenna engineering firms, and maybe even NIST. Your
results disagree with pretty much everyone who measures antenna gain
professionally, and the ARRL handbooks, but hey they must all be wrong then.

Though it's entirely done in the HF spectrum, a pretty detailed analysis is
presented he
http://www.cebik.com/58-3.html
A good ground, and cleaner near-field space, is easier to come by at VHF and
UHF, so I would expect results to be somewhat better than what was seen here
even at the high end of the HF spectrum.

If you google a bit, you'll probably find some articles on converting a CB
antenna to a 5/8 2 meter antenna.


In volume 1 of the Antenna Compendium series is an article entitled "The
5/8-Wavelength Antenna Mystique" by Donald K. Reynolds, K7DBA.
I don't think Reynolds would disagree with Mark too much.
73,
Tom Donaly, KA6RUH