[Elecraft] Good Low Horizontal Loops

[k6se@juno.com]

Ron, AC7AC wrote:

"These sources say that such a loop has a major lobe straight up, thanks
to the gigantic reflector right below it (the earth) with radiation at
lower angles dropping way down to zero at the horizon - very similar to a
low dipole or any horizontally-polarized radiator only a small fraction
of a wavelength above the earth."
==========
Although radiation from a low horizontal full-wavelength loop or from a
dipole is several dB down at low angles compared to a ground-mounted
vertical with a good radial system (or a high horizontal antenna), it
still can work DX.

W8JI in Georgia finds that his vertical array on 160m consistently
outperforms his 300-foot high dipole on DX except on occasions during his
sunrise peak when the high dipole is better to VK.  Theoretically this is
because the ionosphere slopes downward to the west at sunrise and
enhances the signal from higher-angle radiators.

Other stations that have both a vertical and a high dipole notice the
same sunrise phenomenon on 160m.

73, de Earl, K6SE