Posted: 3/20/2015 1:44:08 PM EDT
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I have always run 2 HF antennas and switch back and forth depending on conditions thru an antenna switch so i can compare. I have tried just about every type wire antenna you can build over the last few years , i always switch over to compare it to my other antenna and when i build a new one i compare it to both . If the new one works better then i will take the worst one down till my next project , my wife says i cant leave anything alone.
The best overall performer i had found was an 80 meter OCF dipole which i recently built which i was very happy with , then i was looking at a about a half a spool of 14 ga. stranded wire i had laying around and decided to play around some more. So i decided to put up an 80 meter horizontal loop for NVIS , well i had just enough wire for it and could only get it to about 30 ft .in height, which i had always heard that a loop needs to be 50 to 60 ft. up. I was doing it for NVIS so i wasnt worried about it only being 30ft. , well now i have 1 antenna up , it out performed any antenna i have ever tried and is super Quiet compared to the others from now on i am a loop man actually it is a perfect square. Just thought i would share this . |
| Loop antennas (full size) always worked great for me. It's a perfect choice if you live in high RF noise area. I used to have 4 el. rotatable Cubic Quads at 100 ft. It was a killer antenna. A Yagi is no match for a multi-element quads. Horizontal loops work very well too, even at lower heights. I've been thinking of building one for 160m. Beware that 14Ga THHN wire from Home Depot is too heavy and will stretch a lot. Use copper-clad, stranded steel wire. I bought 600ft from the Wireman. it's not too expensive and it won't stretch. It has black, non reflective jacket. I can barely see it in the air. |
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Quoted:
Details? Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile rather than hijack too much ... Back when using the FT-707 & 160m loop was attached via ladder line to MFJ-945D tuner balanced line input (which had an internal 4:1 balun). http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=677505 Prepping for the TS-590S (& after increasing 80m loop to 294') http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_22/678126_Sizing_up_full_wave_160m_loop_for_use_with_TS_590s.html At the time, didn't really know how to read SWR output on TS-590S, since then now know that the internal ATU is almost always getting a solution in the 1.0 - 1.1 neighborhood if a solution is possible. Also, added a static bleed point on the 160m loop ladder line feed where it passes through the masonry wall. As memory serves, I have 550K ohm 2 watt resistance (via 4 paralleled 1/2watt 2.2 meg ohm resistors) between each leg & ground rod connection. Nick |