On Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:57:03 -0700, Jim Lux
wrote:

All of this kind of confusion is trying to make one sort of model (a
transmission line) fit something else (a radiator).

Hi Jim,

I've seen this kind of assertion made before, generally as a blanket
prohibition/warning/incantation/supplication/condemnation - but never
with any demonstrable problem that wasn't an example of designed-in
failure suited to the argument.

Lest there be any confusion: an antenna IS a transmission line.

The clarity to this confusion starts with the Biconical Dipole. S. A.
Schelkunoff describes it as a "Linear" antenna and used transmission
line math to build the mathematical model for the thin wire dipole in
his classic publication "Theory of antennas of arbitrary size and
shape," Proc. I.R.E., 29, 493, 1941 and S. A. Schelkunoff, "Advanced
Antenna Theory, " John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, (1952) I'm
inclined to allow the weight of his work stand until someone tips it -
or can demonstrate I incorrectly read his thesis. Somehow given the
weight of authorities (Ronold King being one) that cite him for this
very reading (specific to the correlation) are abundant, I will await
heavier lifting to tip the math.

Accessible reference work can be found by searching the PTO with his
patent number: 2235506.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC