I think one other factor not factored in (sorry, I just had to do that,
it's friday), is that no one has written a good optimizer for loop/quad
yagis.

I wonder if one could craft a converter that makes equivalent loops out
of regular dipole elements, then you could convert optimized yagis to
loops yagis. That assumes a lot, of course, like spacing between the 2
types works the same. Probably won't work at all, but if it's possible
to do it, I bet I have the way. Same one I gave to Brian to do scaling
in YO.

tom
K0TAR

Ian White, G3SEK wrote:

I'm sorry that you and your friends weren't successful... but that
doesn't prove it can't be done.

Microwave operators regularly use long quads (loop yagis) with 20, 30
and even more elements. Range measurements *prove* that they work, about
the same as conventional yagis of the same boom length, but the loop
elements do have some constructional advantages for the low microwave
bands.

As with any yagi-type antenna, you need to add significant numbers of
extra elements and boom length in order to see a significant increase in
gain. If you do it right, the gain will come.