[Elecraft] 160m loop experiment a big failure

[FredJensen]

On 10/15/2011 4:14 PM, goldtr8 at charter.net wrote:
> So I dont know if the problem is that everything is in the middle of the
> loop, or running ladder line into the shack is a bad thing, maybe the
> tuner internal balun is not the correct one.
The answers are Yes, Yes, and possibly but it probably doesn't matter 
given the first two.  I gave up on balanced line anywhere near the house 
many years ago, nothing seems to tame it.  Shack in the middle of the 
loop pretty much makes everything in your shack coupled to the antenna.  
What the E-field doesn't get, the H-field will.  Just basically a 
difficult situation to engineer.
> One thing I have researched this morning is that I need a current balun
> and I should have it external to the shack and run coax between it and
> the shack.  Also I should have the shield grounded like I do with the
> dipole to direct ground.
I doubt it will make a huge difference, and you need a huge difference 
in this config, but it's antennas, they're magic and ferrites over your 
coax are cheep ... worth a try.  Getting the balanced line out of the 
house should make a big difference.  Everything that is part of your rig 
or connected to it should be grounded to a single point, also tied to 
the safety ground [green wire, often the bare wire in the utility 
sockets] of your mains.  Be careful about multiple connections to 
"earth," there are serious safety considerations here.
> So I thought I would share my current failure while I ponder my next
> move or give up on the loop.   Ok I wont give up, YET!
I'd try it with the coax balun outside, maybe run as close to the ground 
as possible [under it would be best, on it a second choice, but not 
elevated where it can become an unwanted receiving antenna for your own 
signal, unless of course you are seeking to talk to yourself. :-)  You 
can also try winding your coax a few times through a ferrite core or two 
right before it enters the house.  Jim, K9YC, is an expert here: 
audiosystemsgroup.com/publish.htm

Good Luck,

Fred K6DGW
Auburn CA