Just wondering if anyone has tried the LOG or loop-on-ground antenna, intended mainly for rx-only:
https://forums.radioreference.com/receive-antennas-below-30mhz/370110-160-20m-log-loop-ground.html
I bring it up here since Field Day is approaching, and this might just be another tool in your antenna kit. At the very least, a convenient way to put up (down really!) yet another antenna, possibly in what would have been wasted space.
Matt, KK5JY's page got me interested in trying this.
The Loop on Ground Antenna - the "LoG"
In a nutshell:
Basically a non-resonant, lossy 160-20m (15m with squirrely pattern) 60-foot circumference loop in a square placed *directly* on ground. Uses a 9:1 (or even 4:1 if that is all you have) transformer. Follow good coax transmission line sanitizing by using at least ferrite chokes at feedpoint and one at rig, preferably using a physically isolated 1:1 breaker if you have that. Ok to ground coax PRIOR to the antenna loop but only if you have the galvanically isolated breaker. Objective is to not fool yourself by making coax the real antenna with common-mode.
Ample signal strength without preamps, even though it is about 20-30 dbi low. although if you want to move the signal-to-noise window up, the preamp in your rig is fine enough. I don't need it. But no more S-meter eye-candy. S0 noise floor.
Transmit on it? I wouldn't waste my time pumping 99% of my power into the dirt. But on receive, receiver gain is more than enough with standard amp in your rig. Directional pattern looks NVIS omni to skywave, but again receiver gain, rather than transmit power wasted, makes it much less so in an rx-only application. Or perhaps use a tx/rx switch and a dedicated transmit antenna. Two lower-angle lobes at adjacent corners of the square - so move the feedpoint to another corner to "point" this thing.
At first glance at the pattern in EZnec, I didn't think I'd waste my time. Glad I actually tried it. I delved into the "dog" or dipole on ground, but seem to prefer the loop. I felt no need to make this antenna resonant, but maybe you would with an auto-tuner etc.
https://forums.radioreference.com/receive-antennas-below-30mhz/370110-160-20m-log-loop-ground.html
I bring it up here since Field Day is approaching, and this might just be another tool in your antenna kit. At the very least, a convenient way to put up (down really!) yet another antenna, possibly in what would have been wasted space.
Matt, KK5JY's page got me interested in trying this.
The Loop on Ground Antenna - the "LoG"
In a nutshell:
Basically a non-resonant, lossy 160-20m (15m with squirrely pattern) 60-foot circumference loop in a square placed *directly* on ground. Uses a 9:1 (or even 4:1 if that is all you have) transformer. Follow good coax transmission line sanitizing by using at least ferrite chokes at feedpoint and one at rig, preferably using a physically isolated 1:1 breaker if you have that. Ok to ground coax PRIOR to the antenna loop but only if you have the galvanically isolated breaker. Objective is to not fool yourself by making coax the real antenna with common-mode.
Ample signal strength without preamps, even though it is about 20-30 dbi low. although if you want to move the signal-to-noise window up, the preamp in your rig is fine enough. I don't need it. But no more S-meter eye-candy. S0 noise floor.
Transmit on it? I wouldn't waste my time pumping 99% of my power into the dirt. But on receive, receiver gain is more than enough with standard amp in your rig. Directional pattern looks NVIS omni to skywave, but again receiver gain, rather than transmit power wasted, makes it much less so in an rx-only application. Or perhaps use a tx/rx switch and a dedicated transmit antenna. Two lower-angle lobes at adjacent corners of the square - so move the feedpoint to another corner to "point" this thing.
At first glance at the pattern in EZnec, I didn't think I'd waste my time. Glad I actually tried it. I delved into the "dog" or dipole on ground, but seem to prefer the loop. I felt no need to make this antenna resonant, but maybe you would with an auto-tuner etc.
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