Posted: 6/20/2011 4:31:21 PM EDT
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I've got LOTS of space and NO restrictions.....Been thinking of a BIG Loop like this. Maybe hang up in the trees and bring it back together at eve of barn to the ladder window line feed...
Also have all the room in the world for a monster dipole if I so chose. Tomorrow I expect my Ladder Window Line and a 4:1 Balun from HRO in ATL....any thoughts? |
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I use a horizontal loop like that. Unfortunately I've never compared it to a dipole. It does work great as a multiband antenna. I can't get mine to tune really flat on 6 meters but otherwise it's good for all bands. It's kind of a cloud burner on the low bands but close in it does a good job. My longest contact on 160 is about 500 miles out, longest contact overall is about 6000 miles on 17. One thing that it does very well is that it's quiet on receive. Comparing noise with other guys in my club, it's always a few S-units down on band noise.
I use ladder line from the feed point to an SGC auto tuner and 100 watts. I have 3 corners in trees and one corner is on the peak of my roof. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I have always heard loops are better than dipoles on the low bands, but I have no knowledge or information to back up that statement. But you have HEARD SOMEONE SAY IT DOES!! It MUST work! |
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I shot string over a limb with a sling shot, then used it to pull up paracord. I tied the ends together so the cord makes a big loop like on a flag pole. I tied a short piece on that loop about 3 feet long and a small loop in the end of it. I ran the antenna wire through the small loop. No need for insulators but I don't run high power anyway. I tied the end of my flagpole line loosely around the tree trunk. If I want to take it down, I just untie it from the trunk and pull on one end, which brings the little extension piece down to me, again just like a flag on a flag pole.
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From naval warfare novel author Don Keith:
http://www.donkeith.com/n4kc/article.php?p=12 and also http://www.donkeith.com/n4kc/article.php?p=13 |
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I've had a couple full wave 80 meter loops. They are extremly quiet on RX. As noted above, the lower the band, the more NVIS action you get....but it actually depends on the height-above-ground vs. the band you are operating on. Higher is better, especially on the lower bands. You'll like your loop. 
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Hey, PC, have you ever tried a Super Loop 80? There are a number of guys on some regional nets, many of the net controls and asst net controls, using them to good effect.
I've been thinking of trying one. It's no longer than the 75 m segments of my fan dipole. http://larc.hamgate.net/SuperLoop.htm http://www.radioworks.com/csuperlo.html http://web.archive.org/web/20080612065919/www.bloomington.in.us/~wh2t/Super+Loop+Antenna.htm http://members.cox.net/wc4r/superloop.html http://www.iw5edi.com/ham-radio/30/super-loop-antenna |
| I'm running one right now. Well, not right now, because I'm at work, but you know what I mean. Mine tunes 80, 40, 20, 17, 12, and 10m, with a tuner. I built it myself, but there are places on the internet that sell them. I spent about 35 bucks on parts. The biggest expense was the balun, followed by the ladder line. |
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Quoted: Hey, PC, have you ever tried a Super Loop 80? There are a number of guys on some regional nets, many of the net controls and asst net controls, using them to good effect. I've been thinking of trying one. It's no longer than the 75 m segments of my fan dipole. http://larc.hamgate.net/SuperLoop.htm http://www.radioworks.com/csuperlo.html http://web.archive.org/web/20080612065919/www.bloomington.in.us/~wh2t/Super+Loop+Antenna.htm http://members.cox.net/wc4r/superloop.html http://www.iw5edi.com/ham-radio/30/super-loop-antenna Currently, I'm kind of limmited to being portable here in this RV park. When I can get some time at home, I have several things I want to do. One is add a loop antenna around my house.....when I can get some time at home. Thanks for the links, I'm gnna look into them. |
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Quoted:
I have always heard loops are better than dipoles on the low bands, but I have no knowledge or information to back up that statement. Loops are reputed to be quieter than dipoles... something to do with 'end effect' IIRC... Other observations
* Signal reports are usually equivalent or better with the loop than my 20 or 40 meter dipoles at 38-40 feet. * QSB seems to be less of a problem with the loop than the dipole - the fades aren't as deep and sometimes not there at all while the dipole could be horrible. * The loop is a little quieter than the dipole, especially on the lower bands. * My experience so far has been that the computerized models of loops are over-optimistic compared to real operation in the field. You can get a rough idea with modelling software but that software doesn't take into account how much the wire droops from the corners to the middle of each side, etc. The exception to this is corner-fed loops, they do have a strong lobe as the models predict. from this article |