"gareth" wrote in message
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What is the nature of free space such that it requires antennae to be at
least 1/4 wave before accepting radiation efficiently?

Is it that some form of electric "twist" must be appled to Free Space, and
that the maximum "twist" occurs with 1/4 cycle of a quarter wave?

Were there to be two short antennae closely spaced, but fed 90 degrees
out of phase, would that result in efficient radiation?

What if they were spaced by 1/4 wave but with the feeders completely
screened
from Free Space, or does there have to be all fractions of antnna betwen
the two extremes?


Why not build a model on, say, 70cm and find out for yourself?
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;-)
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73 de Frank Turner-Smith G3VKI - mine's a pint.
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http://turner-smith.uk