Rodney

There are differences, are they a problem? Depends on your definition of problem. One, to range check, you must remove the antenna from the transmitter if it is a rubber duck or be prepared to walk a quarter of a mile away. The second, a slight loss of range, usually not enough to worry about. The direction of strongest radiation is just the opposite of the usual long antenna, i.e. as mentioned above, point the rubber ducky at the plane for maximum range; just the opposite of what to do with the normal antenna.