[Elecraft] Experiences using a portable HF loop

[S Smith]

 Tried posting w/ web interface....that didn't work, so will try
here....please excuse dups if that occurs.
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I've had good results using LMR400 (outer conductor) and an air dielectric
tuning cap which will handle the 10-15W power of a KX3.  In some informal
testing comparing a 6 foot diameter loop and a 1/4 wave wire antenna (40
meters) using a car chassis as a counterpoise, the loop beat the wire by
5dB (NVIS path) (C/N on spectral display).

How efficient is the loop? I don't know - not as efficient as a 4" diameter
copper pipe 6 foot loop, but I do know it's relative ;)

A mobile whip is *very* inefficient.  The loop in this case is generally
*less* inefficient :)
You can make contacts on both.

K4HKX did a very detailed comparison of loop antennas with full dipoles and
other HF antennas.  He posted his results here:

qrz.com/db/k4hkx

Very interesting read.

I'm playing around with a mobile loop idea for 80 and 40 meters using the
KX3.  If it works as good as I think it will, it should give me about the
same performance as adding a KXPA100 - or not... that's why playing with
ham radio is fun.

73's
Steve
WD4SDC

On Fri, Apr 21, 2017 at 9:24 PM, Eddy Avila <k6sdw at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Greetings all, I'm curious to hear from anyone using a portable HF
> magnetic loop. I've read the theory behind them so I'd like to hear your
> opinion about them? How efficient these antennas are, especially running
> qRP.
>
>
> Thanks all,
>
>
> 73
>
>
> ed
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