Reg Edwards wrote:
I suppose, Cecil,
that if you keep repeating the same old tired line, over and over
again, you might find someone who will agree with you.

I agreed with Cecil the first time he said it.
But I'm only a foreigner.
So whatever I say doesn't carry any weight.
Or does it?

I dug out my linear network theory book and would like
to present a few quotes and comments:

"The real world is inherently non-linear."

Lightning hitting an antenna can cause arcing and melted
wires.

"Although nature is non-linear, linear approximations over
defined ranges of validity are valid representations of
non-linear phenomena."

Amateur radio antennas are usually confined to that limited
linear range.

"The necessary and sufficient conditions for a linear system
a (1) validity of the principle of superposition;
(2) preservation of scale factor.

Does doubling the power input to the antenna ~double the
radiated power? Does it ~double the non-radiated losses?

"Fortunately for the engineer, however, linear systems are
frequently excellent approximations to reality and have a
wide range of validity in the real world."

Maxwell's equations in particular. Textbook equations for
traveling waves and standing waves assume linearity.
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp