Buck--
See: http://www.maxstream.net/helpdesk/article-27
Gain of a dipole is 2.15 dB over an Isotropic - but
qualify that as in a direction perpendicular to the
direction a dipole points! a deep null in signal
occures in the directions that a dipole POINTS.
If vertical polarized , there is a deep null of the top,
and bottom of the dipole- maximum radiation around the
circumfrence , perpendicular to the dipole. (kinda like
a donut) . The only time you will see bigger numbers
is do to sales hype, or- because someone has included
ground reflections into the gain situation ! At least
a couple of antennas on E-BAY, and other places have used
this when "advertiseing" their antennas- If an antenna
pattern looks more like a punk rocker's hair-do, then the
goodyear blimp, or for a dipole/longwire, like a cigar,
the pattern shown has considerable ground reflections,
with undesireable angles of radiation. (at least that
the best way I can describe the situation, someone)
do better??). Jim NN7K

Buck wrote:
What is the gain of a dipole over an imaginary isotropic antenna? I
believe I read 7.x somewhere. Whatever it was, it was greater than
anything I expected.

Thanks
Buck