Tom, W8ji apparently is an expert with antennas having lectured
at Dayton and has authored many technical articles around antennas,
states that radiators must be straight for maximum efficiency,
apparently
a break off from the standard ham statements of bigger is better as
well as more wire is better.
I have searched and searched for the reason why such a statement is
spread around as if it is has a factual or a mathematical statement to
back it up. For instance a quad radiator is not straight! Nor is a
loop or nor a helical as well as many others. At the same time it is
recognized that all is not understood about radiation and never has a
radiator been constructed that complies in its entirety with Maxwell.
I have untold books on antennas but none (not including ARRL stuff)
provide any sort of reason that this could be true.
Is anybody aware of a recognized author stating why this should be
considered true when current leaning is towards point radiation which
obviously seen as a break away statement..