NetStumbler.org Forums

Hello,
I'm trying to find a more complete description for the design of a 3.75 X 16 inch cantenna. In the Antenna forum this is regarded as optimal for an antenna, but I cannot find info on the placement of the lead and element.
But while searching, I came across this article..
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/columns/article.php/1008901
..which concludes with this statement..

Homebrew 802.11 devices will not outperform most commercial products. You can forget about a potato chip container or soup can following today's move toward Non Line-of-Sight wireless connections - one tree branch and you're toast. So, what draws people to tinker with their Airport AP or WLAN card? The same drive for freedom...

I read as much as I could about NLOS on the web, but still cannot determine why a homebrew antenna would be obsolete in a NLOS environment.