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Old January 23rd 09, 12:46 PM posted to rec.radio.amateur.antenna
PhattyMo[_2_] PhattyMo[_2_] is offline
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First recorded activity by RadioBanter: May 2008
Posts: 9
Default Receiving Loop Antenna Question

Ian Jackson wrote:
In message
,
writes
On Jan 21, 9:57 pm, "Spin" wrote:
If i were to construct a square receiving loop antenna for the am bcb
that
is 24" or more per side..... how important would the guage of the
wire be &
also solid versus stranded wire? Antenna would be used indoors.


Doesn't matter much. Maybe a slight difference in Q with thin
vs fat wire, but overall no big deal.
I've got loops made from thin copper motor wire, and also
one from insulated #14 gauge stranded house wire. They all work.
From a mechanical standpoint I think a diamond is easier
to deal with..
Here is one of my favorite designs for a cheap simple PVC
loop. You can slap one together pretty fast. Kind of like PVC
tinker toys.. :/ You do have to drill the holes, but that's easy.
http://home.comcast.net/~nm5k/loop5.jpg

What about ribbon cable? I've got a fair length of ribbon cable
(something like 25 wires - the sort used in PCs to connect hard drives
and the like) put away for a rainy-day loop antenna project. While I
could make one large loop using all 25 wires for the really low
frequencies, I'll almost certainly cut it up and make several smaller
loops with fewer wires for the higher frequencies.


Or put some taps on it,say every 2 turns? each one connected to a pole
of a large 12 position rotary switch.. then you can select a small
loop,or a really large one,for the low stuff. :-) Tuneable!