[Elecraft] Rhombic antenna "gain"

[Fred Jensen]

Mike:  Rhombics can be operated either terminated or unterminated.  If 
unterminated, they are bi-directional with half the power in each lobe.  
If terminated, the resistor absorbs half the power in the reverse lobe.  
Either way, half your power goes the "wrong" way, either behind your 
desired direction or heats a big resistor.  They have a very low 
radiation angle and a fairly narrow beamwidth which is why they're flame 
throwers and very common in military and commercial stations, 
particularly in the days of point-to-point radio circuits.  V-beams, 
sometimes called Half-Rhombics are sort of likewise only broader azimuth 
patterns more suitable for maritime ship-shore telegraphy circuits.  For 
ham applications, Google W6AM

73,
Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 9/13/2019 3:24 PM, Mike Markowski wrote:
> Can you expand on this, Ken, or if easier, a reference?  I'm curious 
> what tradeoffs are made.  I used a rhombic at Ft. Monmouth, NJ before 
> the Army base was closed in 2011, and used to boom into Europe and 
> Russia.  It was amazing.  I also got copies of WWII manuals on rhombic 
> construction while there.  You know, just in case I became wealthy 
> with tens of acres of land.  :-)
>
> 73,
> Mike ab3ap