Antenna deployment - impact on receiver range
Antenna shape and range
As I understand it, the antenna on a 72 mhz receiver should be approx one meter, or about 39 inches long. And I imagine the best reception profile would be to have that antenna deployed straight out.
Can anyone tell me the impact of maintaining the length of the wire but modifying the shape of the deployment?
For example, if I deploy it in a zig zag line for 15 inches to bury it inside a styrofoam model, how would that impact range? I am not cutting it short. Will this shape reduce the range significantly? So I need to take a 40" antenna and embed it in 16" of foam
What is the likely impact on range? Am I better off using some other shape? How much range am I likely to lose compared to leaving it hanging straight? 5%? 20% 50%?
This is a technical question about antenna shape and could be applied to any receiver antenna and has nothing to do with the brand or model of receiver.
Thanks to all the technical wizards out there who might be able to provide some insights.