A quarter wave with ground plane has a donut pattern with a hole on
top.

No sir, a vertical dipole has a donut pattern with a hole on the top. A
quarter wave with a ground plane has a donut sliced longitudinally (like
slicing a bagel for cream cheese) with a hole on the top. Practically zero
radiation on the back side of the ground plane.



Also, my logic tells me (gain reciprocity notwithstanding) that a
ducky radiates better than receives - there is simply not enough
antenna surface to collect signal like in a larger antenna. But for
ELT transmission is what counts.


Oh, my dear Lord. First the man cites the reciprocity property of antennas
(which in a hundred years has yet to be disproven) but HIS logic says that a
ducky has to transmit better than it hears.

Sorry, sir, I want nothing more to do with this conversation. You evidently
belong with those geniuses who sell magnets to put in the carburetor to
double the gas mileage.

Jim