I could be completely wrong on this, but this is how it was demonstrated to me if I remember correctly...If you look at the internal construction of a Shakespeare it is glass surrounding a wire. Digital's are glass surrounding an element rod. The construction is quite a bit different from what I have seen. Granted, it could be different models etc. Memory is a bit foggy.
There are a lot of variables involved other than antenna (atmospheric, connections, cable runs, height, etc) but performance of the same Raymarine radio using both antennas on the same boats was remarkably different, on not just one, but two boats. The Shakespeare was a Galaxy 500 something, 8' while the Digital was the 529-VW. Both had factory installed terminals, not cut and crimped aftermarket. I would chalk it up to other variables if I didn't see the better performance more than one occasion. It would take some convincing to get me to go back away from the Digital 529 at this point.
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