[Elecraft] Horizontal Loop Antenna

[Sverre Holm]

> -----Original Message-----
> I ran a square loop with 65' sides, up 20 feet, fed at a 
> corner, through EZNEC.  The antenna would be a good NVIS 
> antenna on 80 and 40 meters, with maximum radiation straight 
> up on 80 and at 55 degrees on 40. It would be good for QSOs 
> up to a couple of hundred miles, but poor for longer 
> distances.

I have had such an antenna for almost 5 years. About 75 meters long and at a
height varying between 5 and 10 meters. It is fixed in five positions, two
on my house, and three in trees in my garden. Based on the www.cebik.com
simulations, my expectation was also as a local antenna on 80 meters, but it
has turned out different: Now I have had QSOs with 65 countries on 80
meters, most of them using QRP CW and with all continents including
Australia (... 100 W CW, not QRP!). 

Probably I have been lucky with special propagation that has helped me,
Pedersen rays or what have you. It could also be that I have a stream
through my garden which makes the soil especially favorable or some other
reason, but anyway I am very happy with the antenna.

The concerns regarding mounting on the house, RFI and coupling etc are of
course independent of this and will reduce performance.

73

Sverre
LA3ZA
http://www.qslnet.de/la3za/