[Lowfer] loop performance

Tue, 27 Jan 2004 22:00:43 -0600

Hey Eric,

The round loop will have the most area of any loop made out of the same
length of wire. If your friend has any trees around, the loop is best
because of tree losses. The longer the horizontal run the larger the ground
losses. Go high and make it round or square if possible. It will work if
only 40' high plus the usual 6 to 8' off the ground if that is all you guys
can get up. Do not go shorter than 200' of wire and try for 1/2 inch pipe,
large coax or #8 wire. #12 works but there is a good increase in signal by
going larger.

Read Bill's loop articles. I will email them to you direct.

Mike>WE0H

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Eric KD5UWL
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 8:24 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Lowfer] loop performance

Hi, Loopers,

No, I'm not considering a loop -- my QTH is not cut out for it, and I
presently prefer the omnidirectional properties of a vertical.  But people
change ...

But I have a friend who'd like to get started and he just bought 20 acres
that is currently frightfully devoid of antennas.

Before I make any suggestions to him I'd like to learn a little more about
The Loop.

I have a specific question.  It came to my mind when he mentioned he had
room for a very long wire.  I haven't told him yet what you guys said
about horizontal wires not working for LF TX...but while thinking about
that, this question came to mind:

Have you seen any difference in performance of loops with equal wire
length but of varying shape?  Specifically, can you tell a difference when
your loop is "perfectly" round as opposed to being something closer to a
square, with essentially horizontal runs near top, bottom, and/or sides?

If there is a difference, I'd think it would be most noticible from the
same loop -- that is, say your loop wasn't very round when you first put
it up, but ran with it, and then got it rounder over time.

73
Eric

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