the Arrow antenna has been critiqued by Kent Britain, WA5VJB
http://wa5vjb.com/references/Cheap%20Antennas-LEOs.pdf
he says that some have measured the Arrow for gain on 435 mhz @ 4 dbi (isotropic) . . . . and that further analysis showed that for the element lengths used on 435 mhz that it peaks at 457 mhz and not 435 mhz . . . Kent is a well respected VHF/UHF antenna person who has plenty of credibility . . .
Kent opines that the Arrow, as built does not have its elements insulated from the boom. It uses dimensions for insulated elements . . . so much for the Arrow . . . .
Now for the ELK : a local friend of mine owns an Arrow and he uses it successfully. He bought an ELK and attempted to compare the Arrow and the ELK . . . . he could not make an across town QSO on 435 mhz from his second story window with the ELK , so he sent the ELK back for a refund .
I have worked and exchanged QSLs with several hundred satellite users . . .the majority of the folks that have worked and QSLed me (close to 250 + ) have been using either the Arrow or ELK based upon the information on their cards. So they are popular. Are they optimum ? A lot of anecdotal information would seem to say NO . . .
Thirty-five years ago I worked Oscar 6 with a homebrew 2 mtr yagi that probably was worse than either the Arrow or Elk but I worked YV and KL7 from Indiana on CW with about 15 watts to the 3 elements which my XYL waved around at my directions . . . not any more . . .what do I use these days : a pair of circular polarity yagis on 10 foot booms manufactured by M Square . . . .
Folks ask what should they buy ? Maybe a Ford or maybe a Chevy . . . neither is a Cadillac . . . .
Jim W9VNE