wrote:
As someone who is relatively inexperienced with the hobby, I am
amazed
at the confusion and mysticism surrounding the "G5RV" antenna. It
appears to be nothing but a dipole, with a length of "balanced line"
to
transform the impedance to a better match for coax at certain
frequencies.

A little consideration reveals that this antenna should suffer from
unwanted return currents unless a balun is used (like any coax-fed
dipole), and substantial loss in the coax at certain frequencies. So
why is this antenna better than two pieces of reasonably long wire
driven with balanced line and a tuner? What am I missing?

-JJ

(A) The G5RV feedpoint impedances are relatively low within some of the
ham bands. (B)It's a coax-fed antenna which does not need a balanced
antenna tuner which are scarce, complex and expensive.

w3rv