[SOC] Loop antenna

[Dan W. Dooley]

I'd like to get hear some comments from those who may have worked with big
loop antennas.

I'm contemplating building one literally around the house which should end
up to be at or near a full wavelength on 80 m.  I believe that's about 272
feet.

I propose to run the wire following the roofline of the house which will
mean that for one, it won't be very high - it's a single story house, but as
on all four sides, it will follow the raised eves, there will be some parts
of the wire higher than others and perhaps a little bit of a vertical
component involved.  There will be places where it will run close to metal
or other wires (rain gutter sections, satellite TV coax, my tower, the mast
for my vertical, etc.)  These will be a small percentage of the whole run,
however.

I wish to feed it with open line or ladder line of some sort.  Not yet
decided what.  And, tune it with a Dentron SuperTuner.

So, my questions are:  What size of wire should I use (diameter)?  I don't
have an amp, so maximum power will be 100 watts.  Should it or should it not
be insulated?  I will attach it (stapling?) to the underside of the eves so
it will be in contact with wood but no metal.

Yes, it's likely to be used on other bands.  It's not to replace my
Butternut vertical, but to possibly suplement it.

Anyone using or have ever used anything of this sort, and what might I
expect performance wise with it?  As low as it would be, I wouldn't expect
it to be a real DX getter, at least on the lower bands, but could I be
underestimating it?

If I had the structures allowing, I'd run it higher of course.  I don't.



Dan W. Dooley  WB5TKA  Bedford, Texas
    e-mail to: dandooley@pipeline.com
    Web site: http://www.qsl.net/wb9tka
May Goddes love blest ye alle
"Ancient Pistol, I do partly understand your meaning."