While horizontal loops are supposed to work well, I didn't have space
for one and needing something very low profile, put up an 80m delta
loop of sorts made from #18 copperweld. The apex is about 50 ft up
in a fir tree and the base runs about 5 feet off the ground along a
cedar fence. It's fed in the corner with a 4:1 current balun and
then about 40 ft of RG-8X to the shack. SWR is low on the harmonic
frequencies. Since I'm on the second floor, I run 1/4 wave
counterpoise wires around the floor of the shack in addition to a
ground rod some 10 ft below the shack. Great antenna? No, but if
conditions are reasonable I can work DX. Picked up TA3DD last night
on 17m which was a thrill for me with this set up. And again, it is
hard to see. Now when the CCNR's expire in 2009, it will be a
different story!
Gary W7TEA
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