"Wes" wrote in news:1176385196.714553.293960
@y5g2000hsa.googlegroups.com:



The ARRL Antenna Book implies that rho is used
by amateur radio operators while Gamma is still
used in some professional circles.
--

As far as I'm concerned, Gamma is the complex reflection coefficient;
rho is its magnitude.

Hi Wes,

My preferred usage is the same, and for the reason that Gamma and rho can
be written directly in html as the greek symbols, and in ascii text as
Gamma and rho. The notation that rho is the magnitude of the complex
reflection coefficient and that the complex reflection coefficient is
written as rho with a bar over it is not conveniently and consistently
expressed in a short notation in ascii only media.

If it is declared (as I did in my post) then the usage is fair. The
sidetrack onto "standard" notation was just another diversionary tactic
from YKW.

Owen

Glossary:
YKW - You Know Who