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During a recent ops session, I commented to some that I suspected something was wrong with my new Alpha Loop antenna. I was making very few contacts and noted a scratchy sound in the receiver when tuning the antenna near resonance.

I found the problem today. As the pic shows, the plates of one section of the variable cap were shorting when fully meshed, or nearly so. This was immediately visually obvious, and an Ohmmeter check confirmed a dead short in certain tuning positions (as with the AlexLoop, the two sections are in series, so only by opening the box could the continuity check be made).?

I am baffled as to how something that cost so much for so little could go out the door in such obviously defective condition, apparently without real testing. Does Alpha have any QC at all??

As a parenthetic, I noted that as with the AlexLoop, within the main coax loop the center conductor and shield are shorted, though only the center SO-239 pin is connected inside the box.?

I think I can simply bend the cap plates to fix the problem. However, I first plan to diplomatically but nonetheless emphatically communicate my displeasure to Alpha and see what they offer. They should be embarrassed and IMO should send me a replacement box. I had contacted them previously, and they wanted me to ship the antenna back to them at my cost and pay them $25. to test and ship back the product ().?

Suggestions? Best, --David KM6RI