I certainly won't dispute anything "Ole Buck" or anyone else may say 
concerning the efficasy of the G5RV dipole. I use one here because, 1: it 
fits in to my available space. and 2: because it works on the bands I need 
it to, that is, 80, 60, 40 and 20 meters. and, as a bonus, it seems to work 
remarkably well on 12 meters too. I don't claim that it is the best of all 
possible antennas. However, having been lectured over the years by hams who 
are trying to set me straight, I refer back to my reasons for using it (see 
above). Nothing personal, Ron. I completely understand why you posted these 
findings. But my bottom line is that I'm on the air, every day, having fun 
in this great hobby. If not for the G5rv, its flaws not withstanding, I 
probably would not be. Lou WA3MIX
Lou Kolb
Voice-over Artist:
Radio/TV Ads, Video narrations
Messages On-hold:
www.loukolb.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dr. Ronald E. Milliman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 13, 2015 11:47 AM
Subject: Truths about the G5RV antenna


> There is considerable debate about the G5RV antenna, e.g. how well it 
> works;
> is it truly an all-band antenna, etc. In fact, we have had similar 
> exchanges
> right here on our Blind Hams's email list. In my pursuit of the best
> antennas to erect in various situations, including the current location of
> my new home in a highly restricted area, I have studied the G5RV and in 
> the
> process of my research, I found the following information written by my 
> good
> friend Buck over at Buxcomm. If you don't know Buck, he is an old 
> ex-marine.
> He's pretty rough around the edges, as the expression goes, but old Buck
> tells it the way it is with no BS. Here is what Buck says about the G5RV
> antenna, which is pretty much the same thing that all other really
> knowledgeable people say about the G5RV:
>
>
>
> *****
>
>
>
> ".About thirty years ago we ran several antenna range tests on the G5RV. 
> We
> used a high-frequency,
>
> National Bureau of Standards (NBS) calibrated Potomac Instruments FIM-41,
> field-intensity meter. The
>
> companion antenna was the HF NBS calibrated measurements dipole.
>
> The weather was clear, and the transmitting station was adjusted to 100
> watts, into an original G5RV
>
> antenna.
>
> The purpose for conducting these tests was because we had constructed
> several G5RV antennas and the
>
> performance of each one was, at best, poor! Our findings were despicable 
> on
> the HF bands, with the
>
> exception of 20 meters.
>
> Sometime later we came across some of Mr Varney (G5RV) notes. In his notes
> and description of his
>
> G5RV antenna, we learned that he had really designed the G5RV to be used 
> as
> a good 20 meter antenna,
>
> nothing more. Somehow over the years his antenna became (assumed to be), 
> an
> HF or multiband
>
> antenna. This assumption was so far from the truth and from Mr Varney's
> original design.
>
> THE G5RV IS NOT A MULTI-BAND ANTENNA ! The only HAM band where it has a 
> zero
> (0)
>
> current node IS at 14 MHz (20 meters).
>
> For several years, we've attempted to give notice to our friends and
> customers that relate to the G5RV.
>
> Most of our findings have fallen on deaf ears, or to the G5RV users who
> would not hear the truth.
>
> Any antenna, (non-resonant long-wire, included), can be tuned to resonance
> on almost any HAM band.
>
> This is why many good manufacturers build and sell antenna tuners. You can
> confirm this notion each
>
> time you use an HF mobile antenna.
>
> HERE NOW, IN HIS OWN WORDS:
>
> 312
>
> After several years, our findings are being realized by some of the 
> leading
> transceiver
>
> manufacturers. To support our findings, on page 8 of several YAESU
> transceiver
>
> manuals, Yaesu engineers inserted a short paragraph that finally 
> put-to-rest
> these
>
> findings. The following text is an excerpt from one of those Yaesu
> transceiver manuals
>
> "ANTENNA CONSIDERATIONS
>
> Every effort should be made to ensure that the impedance of the antenna
> system be as close
>
> as possible to the specified 50-Ohm value. Note that the "G5RV" type 
> antenna
> does NOT
>
> provide a 50-Ohm impedance on all HF Amateur bands.
>
> Any antenna to be used with the FT-950 must be fed from the transceiver 
> with
>
>
> 50 Ohm coaxial cable. Therefore, when using a "balanced" antenna such as a
> dipole, remember
>
> that a balun or other matching/balancing device must be used to ensure
> proper antenna
>
> performance. etc... "
>
> Excerpt from Page 8 FT-950 OPERATING MANUAL.
>
>
>
> We like to sell antennas, and we like to sell the G5RV (+), however, it is
> our sincere objective to be
>
> completely above-board about this antenna. It is NOT an all-band HF
> antenna."
>
>
>
> *****
>
>
>
> Dr. Ronald E. Milliman
>
> Retired Professor of Marketing