[Elecraft] Magnetic Loop Antenna Question

[w7aqk]

Terry,

If you have the inclination at all, why not build one!  It's really not all 
that hard to do.  Quite a few years ago I did that, and the thing worked 
pretty well.  I got the info from a QST article from back in the 90's.  The 
hardest part might be finding a proper capacitor for tuning, but if your 
junk box has much in it, you may have that problem solved.  I complicated 
things a bit by adding a small low voltage motor to turn the capacitor.  You 
need to use one that has a very low rpm rate for that, but they are 
available.  Not counting the motor, the whole thing cost lest than $10 to 
build.  I used copper tubing, but you could use coax shield.  I recommend 
copper tubing.

Even though band conditions are rather poor these days, you can still do 
good things with a mag loop--especially on 20 meters.  You may not be able 
to run that amp through it, unless you get a pretty husky capacitor, but 15 
watts is not usually a problem.  You just might be surprised at what you can 
do with one of these things.  They are fun to play with.

73,

Dave W7AQK