alan.b.pearce@stfc.ac.uk wrote:
> A better idea would probably be to use a 'rubber ducky' style coiled
> wire if a 1/4 wave is too long physically. In a lot of cases a 1/4
> wave length of wire wound around a suitable diameter will do better
> than a straight shorter aerial. It may require a bit of tweaking to
> get the +/-j component tuned out, but with suitable test equipment
> that is easy to do.

In this case you might be able to use a plain old 1/2 wave center fed
dipole.  At 434MHz a 1/2 wavelength is about 13.6 inches, and you usually
want just a little less than 1/2 wavelength anyway.  A circuit board
something like a 12 inch school ruler with the dipole along one edge and th=
e
electronics in a glob in the middle should work well enough.  This should
fit easily vertically on the performers' backs.

If they are all vertical, you know the polarization, so a similar vertical
dipole as a transmitter should work fine too.  The more fancy antennas are
there partly to be less dependent on polarization angle, but unless these
performers are lying on the ground or bending over at the time the lights
are switched, this actually works to your advantage.


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