[Elecraft] 160m loop experiment a big failure

[Rich - K1HTV]

Don,
   How did you plan to use the 160M loop? If you want to work the locals (within
500 miles) a low (less than 100 ft high) 160M loop is a great sky warmer. If you
are more interested in working DX on the Topband then give an Inverted-L a try.

I've had very good luck with two that I've built. The one that favors Europe,
Africa, the Caribbean and So. America has only 30 feet of the 135 feet of wire
vertical. The rest of it is horizontal, ending up around 50 feet high in a tree.
This Inverted-L is fed with 50 Ohm coax with a 500pf capacitor in series at the
base of the antenna.  Presently there are 16 short (1/8 wavelength, 65 ft)
radials. The second Inverted-L has 60 ft. of vertical with the rest horizontal,
sloping down to 30 feet. This antenna favors the west and northwest. It has 8
quarter wave, 130 feet, radials.

Running the K3 barefoot with these Inverted-L antennas, since I've moved to my
new VA QTH,  I've increased my Topband DXCC total from 201 to 222 countries
confirmed running 100 Watts or less. Some of the best DX to the east includes
4X, S0, 5N, D4 and UA6. To the south CE, CX, VP8/F and to the west FO,
FO/A,T30,T2,KH6,ZL  & a number of KL7's to the NW. So, as you can see the
Inverted-L, even without a lot of the wire being vertical, can perform well as a
DX antenna. It certainly will outperform a 160M loop.

So, if you are interested in making longer haul QSOs on 160M, I would ditch the
loop and go with an Inverted-L. If you have a tower, I would shunt feed it, but
that's another story.

73,
Rich - K1HTV

= = =
   

-----Original Message-----
From: goldtr8 at charter.net [mailto:goldtr8 at charter.net] 
Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2011 12:15 PM
To: Elecraft
Subject: [Elecraft] 160m loop experiment a big failure

I set up a 160m loop in the yard to try one out from all the great reading I did
regarding the antenna.

For me I can get it to tune with no problems except the RF in the shack is
terrible.
.
.
.
.
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!

Cheers

~73
Don
KD8NNU