[Lowfer] antenna current

[John Andrews]

Eric,

The losses in a decently installed "Ashlock Loop" are a lot less than the
best Part 15 vertical antennas, so the current in the loop will be higher.
Mine runs about 1.05 amps. There is, of course, no free lunch. The radiation
resistance of the loop is much lower than the vertical. This means that the
power involved with radiating a signal (as opposed to heating trees and
worms) is generally greater with a decently designed vertical. The exception
comes when you have a lot of lossy dielectric material near the vertical --
the loop will generally win in that case. If you are blessed/cursed with a
lot of trees, and not much open space, the loop is the way to go. But if
you've got a clear lot and the ability to do a decent ground system, go for
the vertical.

So don't be discouraged when you hear about the larger currents in the
loops.

John Andrews