N4LQ wrote:

Then how come it doesn't give us 20db of forward gain? I mean, we blocked
20db off the back and applied it to the front and we still only have 5db of
forward gain. Where did the extra 15db go?
. . .
Something just doesn't add up.

My car goes about 100 MPH (I assume) in the forward direction, but only
about 15 MPH in reverse. When I'm in reverse, where did the other 85 MPH go?

The answer to that question is about the same as the answer to yours, so
when you figure out the answer to my car question, you'll have the
answer to your antenna question.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL