What type of antennas are the quad, Yagi, and dish?

The quad, Yagi, and dish antennas are classified as directional antennas because they are designed to focus and radiate radio waves in specific directions rather than evenly in all directions. This directivity enhances signal strength and reception quality in the intended direction, making these antennas particularly effective for point-to-point communications and for receiving signals from a specific source.

Directional antennas like the Yagi utilize elements that create constructive interference in the intended direction while minimizing it in other directions. Similarly, the quad antenna, which utilizes a loop design, and dish antennas, which concentrate signals using a parabolic shape, also exhibit directional characteristics. This is in contrast to other types of antennas such as isotropic antennas that radiate equally in all directions or non-resonant antennas that may not direct signals as effectively. Understanding the directional capabilities of these antenna types is essential for optimizing communication systems in ham radio operations.