[Antennas] Unity Gain Rephrased Question

[Ed Griffin]

At 05:59 PM 6/23/2004,  "A10382" <a10382 at snet.net> wrote:

snip
>The only important thing is that the antenna being speced is
>measured/compared the very same way to the referenced one.  Again,
>'gain' is only a comparison and  does NOT add or amplify RF  power - it
>only focuses the radiated power where you want it - like the lens behind
>a flashlight bulb compared to a bulb hanging from it's cord.
>Whenever you hear the word 'gain', you should be asking "Gain? Compared
>to what ?"
>====
>73, Frank

Perfect explanation Frank.

I personally prefer comparisons made to an isotropic (free space).  That 
way I know how it compares to a dipole (2.14 dBi) and that ground 
reflection is not added to the numbers.

Ed