Hi everyone,
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Nice to speak briefly today.
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Someone (Peter, RQZ?) mentioned building a "wellgood loop" from M1GEO. . I have built three of these for different people and have a 1m diameter version made with 1/2 inch heliax at my remote site.?
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It is very good, with comparable performance to a dipole at 60ft on 40m and 30m, slightly down on 80m compared to the dipole and a lot worse for DX than my 580ft beverages. It isn't very good on 160m compared to the bevs and dipole, but a larger loop would probably fix that.
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As it uses a cheap 75R coax, it is easy to site well away from the local noise sources that you hear on the tx antenna and is a good addition to any antenna arsenal, assuming you have a separate rx only input on your radio. LZ1AQ argues that small Rx loops only need rotating to null out the noise and that they are omnidirectional for signals coming via the ionosphere, so no rotator is required once you have set it up unless your interfering noise sources move. I have tested it with a rotator and agree with LZ1AQ at my location.?
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If you have been considering a rx loop like a wellbrook (at >?400!) then this is a viable semi-homebrew alternative. I think the fully prepopulated boards were ?46 plus postage, fully assembled. You just need to provide the loop itself and coax, mast and enclosures. Happy to provide info or 3d print some bias-T boxes for clifton people if you need them.
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Cheers
Steve, M0BPQ
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Bob Hammond G4DBW