However, if we place the folded section in a planar arrangement relative to the main element, then the currents in the fold-back do not fully answer to transmission line characteristics. Hence, the linear load tends to act very much like a loading coil, but with a lower resistive loss. Experiments suggest that the linear load, when placed at the outermost portion of the element, tends to be much more efficient than when placed at the element center. As shown in the figure, the folded section must point outward for this advantage. Some past commercial linear loaded elements claimed to start at mid-element for lower losses, but they folded inward toward the element center.
Loading only has so many forms.
However, let's introduce an ambiguity into this picture. Such debates have clouded our understanding not only of this particular element, but as well of the entire host of geometric antenna shape revisions based on fractal and other geometries. Consequently, it is possible to accurately analyze the performance potential of most of the antennas that comprise the geometric revision of classic antenna shapes. The gain of most geometric revisions tends to decrease in normal curves for the reduced footprint of the antenna, although some of the losses associated with inductive loading are avoided. Hence, these antennas tend to approach the limits of gain for shortened antennas, subject only to wire losses.