Roy Lewallen wrote:
If you think a DC short will reduce noise, why not just put an RF choke
or moderate value resistor across the feedline conductors of a
conventional dipole?

Because that still leaves only one path for the RF
precipitation static, i.e. through the receiver. The RF
is not going to travel through the high impedance of the
RF choke but it will travel through the lower impedance
of the other conductor in a folded dipole or loop if it
exists.

However, an RF choke will eliminate arcing which certainly
does reduce noise.
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com