"JB" wrote in message
...


The 1/4 wave ground plane has a useless pattern. Main lobe at about 30
degrees above horizon, but broad enough to be usable and simple to build.


The quarter-wave antenna's height above ground has much more to do with the
elevation angle than the fact that the antenna is a quarter-wave ground
plane. Using EZNEC, I see that a quarter wave antenna situated 3 wavelengths
above real/high accuracy ground of medium characteristics has a main lobe 4
degrees above the horizon. At that angle, the gain is 5.1 dBi. You can
confirm this if you have a copy of EZNEC.

John