[Elecraft] OT mfj 1786 loop antenna

[Fred Jensen]

I have an AlexLoop, I use it with my K2 and KX1 on field events and 
SOTA.  It replaced a Buddipole.  So far as I can tell, it works about as 
good as the BP did in any of its various configurations.  It's a small 
magnetic loop, it performs pretty much as the theory says.  It's not 
real effective on 40m [too small], and the tuning on 40m and 30m is 
pretty critical.  Much better on 20m and up.

Verticals tend to be noisier than horizontal antennas or magnetic loops, 
and the loop has the advantage that you can sometimes null a 
concentrated noise source.

AlexLoop is QRP only.  I've never used the MFJ but I would imagine it 
would perform similary.  One caution:  Even at QRP powers, some serious 
voltages show up in small loops.  I sit below my AL so I can tune it and 
be somewhat out of its field.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2013 Cal QSO Party 5-6 Oct 2013
- www.cqp.org

On 8/11/2013 9:39 AM, Stephen Selberg wrote:

> In my quest to find a low profile antenna, I've looked at a lot of
> possibilities. I was curious if anyone has and experience with the MFJ 1786
> loop antenna. It looks like it has decent reviews on eham. I can deal with
> tuning it whenever I move the dial. I realize it's only rated to 150 so an
> amp is out of the question. My other option is going with the zero five
> flag pole which was mentioned in a previous thread. It looks like there's
> been great success with the AlexLoop. So I'm assuming the mfj loop would
> work well. But you know what they say about when one ASsumes hihi.