QST's Louisiana Loop
 

I am considering building the Louisiana loop shown in this month's QST.
It is basically an inverted delta loop. I don't know if I can model
it on EZNEC (I guess I can...but I've only progressed through a dipole
or two).

I actually intend to string it up among some trees in the backyard in a
sort of temporary fashion.

Realizing the directionality involved, I will aim it toward Asia over
Alaska.

Now, any caveats or recommendations or ? before I embark on my first
antenna build?

I don't at present even know the feedpoint impedance but I intend to use
RG8U for feedline if that's possible. There is no mention of an UNUN or
Balun in the article.

What do youse think? Thinks?

John
AB8WH

PS, I'll give the hoberman sphere a rest for a while (hi)

QST's Louisiana Loop
 

jawod wrote:
I am considering building the Louisiana loop shown in this month's QST.
It is basically an inverted delta loop. I don't know if I can model
it on EZNEC (I guess I can...but I've only progressed through a dipole
or two).

I actually intend to string it up among some trees in the backyard in a
sort of temporary fashion.

Realizing the directionality involved, I will aim it toward Asia over
Alaska.

Now, any caveats or recommendations or ? before I embark on my first
antenna build?

I don't at present even know the feedpoint impedance but I intend to use
RG8U for feedline if that's possible. There is no mention of an UNUN or
Balun in the article.

What do youse think? Thinks?

John
AB8WH

PS, I'll give the hoberman sphere a rest for a while (hi)

Hi John, The model does not account for the metal tower right in the
middle of the delta loop. It will have some effect on the feedpoint
impedance, as well as the pattern.

If I were to string it up among trees, I would go with a standard (not
inverted) delta loop configuration. According to the article, it gives
about 1 db more forward gain at an elevation angle that might favor dx.
You won't have to worry about a tower messing things up either.

As for feeding the loop, consult the ARRL Antenna book for the various
methods. For a single band Quad or delta loop, I would use a series
transmission line matching transformer. Thats what I think.

Gary N4AST

QST's Louisiana Loop
 

QST's Louisiana Loop
 

jawod wrote:
I am considering building the Louisiana loop shown in this month's QST.
It is basically an inverted delta loop. I don't know if I can model it
on EZNEC (I guess I can...but I've only progressed through a dipole or
two).

I actually intend to string it up among some trees in the backyard in a
sort of temporary fashion.

Realizing the directionality involved, I will aim it toward Asia over
Alaska.

Now, any caveats or recommendations or ? before I embark on my first
antenna build?

I don't at present even know the feedpoint impedance but I intend to use
RG8U for feedline if that's possible. There is no mention of an UNUN or
Balun in the article.

What do youse think? Thinks?

John
AB8WH

PS, I'll give the hoberman sphere a rest for a while (hi)
This antenna was meant to be fed as a multiband antenna using open wire
feedline and a tuner.

Its height dependent. The takeoff angle on 20 is high. I myself would
use a dipole with open wire feedline. However the authors intentions was
for a compact multiband antenna. If you have trees use the large loop
as in the ARRL antenna handbook.

For a better antenna that feeds with open wire line and that has a ideal
low angle pattern on all band from 20 meters to 10. Look at the
horizontal magnetic slot antenna. You can find details in the latest
RSGB handbook.

A good tuner for these antennas is the Balanced Tuner by Measures.


Pat

QST's Louisiana Loop
 

test wrote:
jawod wrote:

I am considering building the Louisiana loop shown in this month's
QST. It is basically an inverted delta loop. I don't know if I can
model it on EZNEC (I guess I can...but I've only progressed through a
dipole or two).

I actually intend to string it up among some trees in the backyard in
a sort of temporary fashion.

Realizing the directionality involved, I will aim it toward Asia over
Alaska.

Now, any caveats or recommendations or ? before I embark on my first
antenna build?

I don't at present even know the feedpoint impedance but I intend to
use RG8U for feedline if that's possible. There is no mention of an
UNUN or Balun in the article.

What do youse think? Thinks?

John
AB8WH

PS, I'll give the hoberman sphere a rest for a while (hi)

This antenna was meant to be fed as a multiband antenna using open wire
feedline and a tuner.

Its height dependent. The takeoff angle on 20 is high. I myself would
use a dipole with open wire feedline. However the authors intentions was
for a compact multiband antenna. If you have trees use the large loop
as in the ARRL antenna handbook.

For a better antenna that feeds with open wire line and that has a ideal
low angle pattern on all band from 20 meters to 10. Look at the
horizontal magnetic slot antenna. You can find details in the latest
RSGB handbook.

A good tuner for these antennas is the Balanced Tuner by Measures.


Pat
Pat,
Thanks for the input.
I have a question.

Why do you say that the antenna was meant to be fed using open wire
feedline?

In the article, it shows an SO239 bulkhead to be attached to RG8U cable.

John
AB8WH

QST's Louisiana Loop
 

jawod wrote:
test wrote:
jawod wrote:

I am considering building the Louisiana loop shown in this month's
QST. It is basically an inverted delta loop. I don't know if I can
model it on EZNEC (I guess I can...but I've only progressed through a
dipole or two).

I actually intend to string it up among some trees in the backyard in
a sort of temporary fashion.

Realizing the directionality involved, I will aim it toward Asia over
Alaska.

Now, any caveats or recommendations or ? before I embark on my first
antenna build?

I don't at present even know the feedpoint impedance but I intend to
use RG8U for feedline if that's possible. There is no mention of an
UNUN or Balun in the article.

What do youse think? Thinks?

John
AB8WH

PS, I'll give the hoberman sphere a rest for a while (hi)

This antenna was meant to be fed as a multiband antenna using open
wire feedline and a tuner.

Its height dependent. The takeoff angle on 20 is high. I myself would
use a dipole with open wire feedline. However the authors intentions
was for a compact multiband antenna. If you have trees use the large
loop as in the ARRL antenna handbook.

For a better antenna that feeds with open wire line and that has a
ideal low angle pattern on all band from 20 meters to 10. Look at the
horizontal magnetic slot antenna. You can find details in the latest
RSGB handbook.

A good tuner for these antennas is the Balanced Tuner by Measures.


Pat
Pat,
Thanks for the input.
I have a question.

Why do you say that the antenna was meant to be fed using open wire
feedline?

In the article, it shows an SO239 bulkhead to be attached to RG8U cable.

John
AB8WH
I Hope we talking about the same antenna?

I am talking about the antenna in this months QST page 38 ZS6AAA

"The Compact Quad Multiband Hf Antenna" August 2006

So i hope i have not crossed wires here. But this antenna is open wire
fed, supported on a single fibreglass pole.


Pat

QST's Louisiana Loop
 

Maxwell Smart #99 wrote:
jawod wrote:

test wrote:

jawod wrote:

I am considering building the Louisiana loop shown in this month's
QST. It is basically an inverted delta loop. I don't know if I can
model it on EZNEC (I guess I can...but I've only progressed through
a dipole or two).

I actually intend to string it up among some trees in the backyard
in a sort of temporary fashion.

Realizing the directionality involved, I will aim it toward Asia
over Alaska.

Now, any caveats or recommendations or ? before I embark on my first
antenna build?

I don't at present even know the feedpoint impedance but I intend to
use RG8U for feedline if that's possible. There is no mention of an
UNUN or Balun in the article.

What do youse think? Thinks?

John
AB8WH

PS, I'll give the hoberman sphere a rest for a while (hi)


This antenna was meant to be fed as a multiband antenna using open
wire feedline and a tuner.

Its height dependent. The takeoff angle on 20 is high. I myself would
use a dipole with open wire feedline. However the authors intentions
was for a compact multiband antenna. If you have trees use the large
loop as in the ARRL antenna handbook.

For a better antenna that feeds with open wire line and that has a
ideal low angle pattern on all band from 20 meters to 10. Look at the
horizontal magnetic slot antenna. You can find details in the latest
RSGB handbook.

A good tuner for these antennas is the Balanced Tuner by Measures.


Pat

Pat,
Thanks for the input.
I have a question.

Why do you say that the antenna was meant to be fed using open wire
feedline?

In the article, it shows an SO239 bulkhead to be attached to RG8U cable.

John
AB8WH

I Hope we talking about the same antenna?

I am talking about the antenna in this months QST page 38 ZS6AAA

"The Compact Quad Multiband Hf Antenna" August 2006

So i hope i have not crossed wires here. But this antenna is open wire
fed, supported on a single fibreglass pole.


Pat



Pat,
Sorry OM, I was talking about the "Loosiana Loop", an inverted delta
loop on a PVC mast. This one's on p. 32.

QST's Louisiana Loop
 

jawod wrote:
I am considering building the Louisiana loop shown in this month's QST.
It is basically an inverted delta loop. I don't know if I can model it
on EZNEC (I guess I can...but I've only progressed through a dipole or
two).

I actually intend to string it up among some trees in the backyard in a
sort of temporary fashion.

Realizing the directionality involved, I will aim it toward Asia over
Alaska.

Now, any caveats or recommendations or ? before I embark on my first
antenna build?

I don't at present even know the feedpoint impedance but I intend to use
RG8U for feedline if that's possible. There is no mention of an UNUN or
Balun in the article.

What do youse think? Thinks?

John
AB8WH

PS, I'll give the hoberman sphere a rest for a while (hi)
Well, here's something new...responding to my own post (sort of)

As I started to collect parts needed for this antenna, I realize that
lightweight aluminum tubing at 7/8, 3/4 and 5/8 inches is not available
from Loews.

What's a good local source for aluminum tubing?

QST's Louisiana Loop
 

On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 18:04:05 -0400, jawod wrote:

What's a good local source for aluminum tubing?

Hi John,

Look in the yellow pages for "metal shorts."

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

QST's Louisiana Loop
 

Which is also where you look if you're trying to protect the genetic
integrity of possible future offspring while being exposed to
significant electromagnetic radiation.

Dan

QST's Louisiana Loop
 

jawod wrote:
jawod wrote:
I am considering building the Louisiana loop shown in this month's QST.
It is basically an inverted delta loop. I don't know if I can model it
on EZNEC (I guess I can...but I've only progressed through a dipole or
two).

I actually intend to string it up among some trees in the backyard in a
sort of temporary fashion.

Realizing the directionality involved, I will aim it toward Asia over
Alaska.

Now, any caveats or recommendations or ? before I embark on my first
antenna build?

I don't at present even know the feedpoint impedance but I intend to use
RG8U for feedline if that's possible. There is no mention of an UNUN or
Balun in the article.

What do youse think? Thinks?

John
AB8WH

PS, I'll give the hoberman sphere a rest for a while (hi)
Well, here's something new...responding to my own post (sort of)

As I started to collect parts needed for this antenna, I realize that
lightweight aluminum tubing at 7/8, 3/4 and 5/8 inches is not available
from Loews.

What's a good local source for aluminum tubing?

If you can't find Aluminum, see if you can get emt conduit in lengths
that will work. (heavy)

Don't use Aluminum. Hams have been building Quads and Deltas for 60
years using bamboo or fibreglass, with the wire taped or ty-wrapped to
the bamboo (fishing pole). You can get the fibreglass from Maxgain if
you want to go that route.

If you are dead set on duplicating the Author, try Texas Towers, they
sell different lengths of Aluminum.

Gary N4AST

QST's Louisiana Loop Looziana Loops!!
 

jawod wrote:
Maxwell Smart #99 wrote:
jawod wrote:

test wrote:

jawod wrote:

I am considering building the Louisiana loop shown in this month's
QST. It is basically an inverted delta loop. I don't know if I
can model it on EZNEC (I guess I can...but I've only progressed
through a dipole or two).

I actually intend to string it up among some trees in the backyard
in a sort of temporary fashion.

Realizing the directionality involved, I will aim it toward Asia
over Alaska.

Now, any caveats or recommendations or ? before I embark on my
first antenna build?

I don't at present even know the feedpoint impedance but I intend
to use RG8U for feedline if that's possible. There is no mention
of an UNUN or Balun in the article.

What do youse think? Thinks?

John
AB8WH

PS, I'll give the hoberman sphere a rest for a while (hi)


This antenna was meant to be fed as a multiband antenna using open
wire feedline and a tuner.

Its height dependent. The takeoff angle on 20 is high. I myself
would use a dipole with open wire feedline. However the authors
intentions was for a compact multiband antenna. If you have trees
use the large loop as in the ARRL antenna handbook.

For a better antenna that feeds with open wire line and that has a
ideal low angle pattern on all band from 20 meters to 10. Look at
the horizontal magnetic slot antenna. You can find details in the
latest RSGB handbook.

A good tuner for these antennas is the Balanced Tuner by Measures.


Pat

Pat,
Thanks for the input.
I have a question.

Why do you say that the antenna was meant to be fed using open wire
feedline?

In the article, it shows an SO239 bulkhead to be attached to RG8U cable.

John
AB8WH

I Hope we talking about the same antenna?

I am talking about the antenna in this months QST page 38 ZS6AAA

"The Compact Quad Multiband Hf Antenna" August 2006

So i hope i have not crossed wires here. But this antenna is open wire
fed, supported on a single fibreglass pole.


Pat



Pat,
Sorry OM, I was talking about the "Loosiana Loop", an inverted delta
loop on a PVC mast. This one's on p. 32.

No wonder i got confused my brain spell checker did not recognise
"Looziana"

Pat

QST's Louisiana Loop
 

Richard Clark wrote:
On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 18:04:05 -0400, jawod wrote:


What's a good local source for aluminum tubing?


Hi John,

Look in the yellow pages for "metal shorts."

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

Whenever I wear metal shorts, my impedance goes WAY up.

My wife's permissivity is not up for discussion.

QST's Louisiana Loop
 

I am talking about the antenna in this months QST page 38 ZS6AAA

"The Compact Quad Multiband Hf Antenna" August 2006

So i hope i have not crossed wires here. But this antenna is open wire
fed, supported on a single fibreglass pole.


Pat

Hi Pat

Actually the "Compact Quad" is meant to be fed by 50 Ohm coax through a
1:1 balun attached at the end of the open-wire matching section. Here
the VSWR should be under 5:1 on the 40, 20, 15 and 10m bands. Of course
you can also use open-wire line, but then the VSWR at the radio will
depend on the length and characteristic impedance of the feed-line.

73
Andrew ZS6AAA

QST's Louisiana Loop
 

What's a good local source for aluminum tubing?

Here in SoCal it's DIX Metals:

http://www.dixmetals.com/



"Richard Clark" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 18:04:05 -0400, jawod wrote:

What's a good local source for aluminum tubing?

Hi John,

Look in the yellow pages for "metal shorts."

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

QST's Louisiana Loop
 

Sorry -- I just checked Dix's catalog -- no tubing. Try this one:

http://www.saf.com/alumextru.html


"Bob Agnew" wrote in message
news:73azg.12399$lv.1300@fed1read12...

What's a good local source for aluminum tubing?

Here in SoCal it's DIX Metals:

http://www.dixmetals.com/



"Richard Clark" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 18:04:05 -0400, jawod wrote:

What's a good local source for aluminum tubing?

Hi John,

Look in the yellow pages for "metal shorts."

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

QST's Louisiana Loop
 

Bob Agnew wrote:
Sorry -- I just checked Dix's catalog -- no tubing. Try this one:

http://www.saf.com/alumextru.html


"Bob Agnew" wrote in message
news:73azg.12399$lv.1300@fed1read12...

What's a good local source for aluminum tubing?

Here in SoCal it's DIX Metals:

http://www.dixmetals.com/



"Richard Clark" wrote in message
. ..

On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 18:04:05 -0400, jawod wrote:


What's a good local source for aluminum tubing?

Hi John,

Look in the yellow pages for "metal shorts."

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC




Thanks, Bob.

You know, I couldn't find any at Lowes but, surprisingly, I did find
SOME at a neighborhood hardware store.