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Locked 1044-Foot Loop


 

I've been away from this subject and this group for a long time. I am building a new house and I am now planning a loop.

I want the loop to be approximately a square with each side about 261 feet long. I could make it bigger, but I'm not sure that would be worth the extra trouble. So its circumference is two wavelengths on 160 metres. I can install it about 50 feet high in trees using one skyhook from a tree on each corner. I could vary the height some but I can't put it much lower since the trees have few branches lower. I will use a handmade tool consisting of a slingshot / fishing rod reel to get the support ropes into the trees. I plan to run 600-ohm ladder line from one corner down to my shack window where I will use a 4:1 balun to transition to a short coax jumper to bring through a shack window into my Drake MN-2000 manual tuner.?

I intend to use the loop on all HF bands as well as for DXing on the medium-wave broadcast band. I selected the dimensions based on EZNEC modeling. The loop should have a low SWR on 20 metres. Though I'm not worried too much about that since there will be high SWR on other bands. Using balanced feeder should make this not so important.

I'd be interested in comments or suggestions for changes from any with experience in this area.?

Murray VE7RC


 

With further consideration, I think the loop is more likely to be a rectangle as follows: two sides 165 feet, two sides 357 feet. I don't have enough space to make it a 261-foot square.

Murray VE7RC


 

The length and height sound good

I never had much luck w the sling shot approach.? ?Even wrist rocket was lacking in performance.? ?I now use a dog retrieval training tool per Bob Heil's YouTube video?

My dog loves chasing it when I'm not using it as an antenna launcher?


Good luck,
?K9IC?


 

Hello Frank

I just found your note about a dog-toy launcher-device and wonder
how far/high it can lob a weight and throw-line. website for it ?

Thanks for additional info.

73? Dick/w7wkr at CN97uj

On Sat, Feb 25, 2023 at 1:20?PM Frank Sweeney via <k9ic_repeater=[email protected]> wrote:
The length and height sound good

I never had much luck w the sling shot approach.? ?Even wrist rocket was lacking in performance.? ?I now use a dog retrieval training tool per Bob Heil's YouTube video?

My dog loves chasing it when I'm not using it as an antenna launcher?


Good luck,
?K9IC?


 

Murray
I have one for 160 m. I feed it with ladder line to 1 to 1 balun then coax to the inside of the house.
my favorite antenna. Mine is only have 20 feet and does well on 160 in the USA. On the upper bands it is very directional being fed from the corner to the opposite direction which is to the south east of the United States from the northwest. On 10 and 12. I think it acts like a rhombic .


 

Frank,

Though Bob's youtube presentation is interesting, it is way overkill for my situation. The difference for my situation is I have lots of? tall, skinny evergreen trees. The problem with these trees is they have too few branches at lower heights. The branches they have start at about 50 feet high. But this is good in the sense that the branches and foliage don't get in the way of a slingshot. I have many times used a manual slingshot with fishing line reel attached to place a light fishing weight connected to thin line where I wanted it. It does take time, and patience, and repeated shots to get it right. You also must use a light weight and very thin line. Subsequently, once the weight reaches where you want, you pull up thicker and thicker rope over repeated pullups.?

Murray VE7RC


 

Pat,
Interesting that you find yours works well at 20 feet high. This doesn't surprise me. Modeling shows how different the performance of loops can be at different heights. According to EZNEC, a higher fixed loop isn't necessarily better. The main lobe shape and maximum angle of radiation are very different depending on height. And unlike a good rotatable beam, with this type of fixed loop you want as omnidirectional as you can get. I notice in the model the directionality you mention. With a two wavelength loop at 160 metres results will likely differ from what you find.

In my case, the best direction is going to be in the SW through W direction. This is OK since I'd like to focus on the Pacific and Asia directions anyway. I figure I should be able to hear and work US/VE stations regardless. If I found Europe and Africa just weren't being received, I could go crazy and install a similar smaller loop in the other direction to favour the east. Also, I think modeling of this type of antenna only goes so far. Trying one for real will tell the tale.

Murray VE7RC


 

good luck
still to cold here to mess with antennas yet? ?but pre planning some small tower stuff for the six meter cycle coming.
73
Murf