[Lowfer] New antenna readings for USA

[Paul A. Cianciolo]

Hey Guys,

I just finished working on the antenna and here are the results.

Time 3:00 PM Saturday
30 degrees

Snow cover of about 10"

The antenna is finally erected at a respectable height so the bottom of the
100' circumference diamond, is about 7 feet of the ground.

The loop is constructed of 6" wide aluminum flashing.  I figured what I did
not have in loop circumference I could make up in surface area. I realize
that aluminum is has about 2 x the DC resistance as copper but have you
priced copper flashing lately?

Solder was a bit difficult at first but after a little research on the net I
was rather easy.  There are (2) 50 foot pieces of flashing in the 100' circ.
loop, Soldered together.  The joints will rip the aluminum before they give
way.

After getting the antenna erected, I find that it takes 26,000 PF to make it
resonate.
The core I was using on the old antenna was a #43 2.5" diameter torid. I
wound 35 turns of #22 for the primary and did a pass thru of the antenna for
the 1 turn secondary.  Next I made a current probe as WA describes in his
loop article part 2.

100 turns terminated into a 100 Ohm resistor on the prescribed toroid, 1 amp
= 1 volt.  This also had a 1 turn pass thru.

After a lot of farting around here is the final tally.  The scope read 6.5
volts P to P which I believe the RMS equivalent is 2.30 volts.  This seemed
high until I thought about the number of turns on the matching transformer.
The best current reading were with 28 turns on the primary.  This would show
an impeadance of .06 ohms?  Turns ratio = 28  28*28 = 784
50 ohm coax divided by 784 = .063 ohms.  So if P= I sqr*R  Then 2.3 amps Sqr
= 5.29    5.29 *(R).063 = .334 watts?  Sort of in the ball park.

Tha antenna is pointed north and south at this time.  I hope it radiates

Please Comments?

PauLC
W1VLF





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