On 12/20/2010 10:07 AM, Bob Dobbs wrote:

...
Probably the two words of 'language'
that's so far been omitted are - 'capture area'!
A bigger net will capture more fish
even if you decide to throw most of them back.
I think it's better to have enough catch
to be able to throw some back
than bemoaning an empty net.

Well, I can certainly understand where they are coming from. When
getting started in radio, I battled with small antennas from the get-go.
First off, I was 15 years old. My mother didn't want me climbing great
heights or stinging unsightly wires about the property. Luckily, I
interested my father in the hobby ... soon real antennas started happening!

One advantage I had back then, which may be lacking today, is that there
were a LOT of people interested in SW and Amateur Radio, even CB. In
visiting others stations and listening posts, it became quite apparent,
those with the longer higher antennas were receiving signals I was
totally missing ... there is much truth in the phrase, "Seeing is
believing."

Capture area is a major factor, and I did mention it earlier in a post a
few dozen back, or so ... combined with sufficient antenna, matchboxes,
baluns, filters/notch-filters, tuners, etc. one can end up with very
impressive results!

But, the guy who just wants to pull out a whip on a portable and catch
what he can is just as valid ... if it is something you want to hear and
the signal is good, it is all good. Just never hurts to know what is
possible, if you ever want to explore in that direction ...

Regards,
JS