I would like to add my opinion here, for what it is worth.
As I live on a small property, I am limited in choices for RX antennas.
I have been using a 3 turn co-ax loop for some years now, and always compared
it to other types of loops, Flag, Pennant, K9AY and my TX vertical, a T
antenna.
About a week ago I replaced the co-ax loop with a flag, I have kept the co-ax
loop on the ground, still upright and aimed at EU.
I have been doing AB tests between the flag on the pole and the co-ax loop on
the ground and compared it to my TX antenna too.
At first the co-ax loop seemed better, then I discovered that my transfomer was
faulty/wrong, and after making a new one, the flag seemed better than the loop.
In all cases the TX antenna was worst for RX. This morning however, the TX
antenna was the only one to bring a signal to my ears!
I also get good results when I use the MFJ 1026 to phase the co-ax loop and the
flag.
What I have found is that the size of any loop is important to get a decent
signal to noise ratio, (too small is no good) ,that decoupling the line is most
important to get any decent pattern out of the loop. I would still like to try
a small rx 4 square array, but even that is difficult on my property.
In short, if you have nothing else, a co-ax loop will get you there, in my
opinion it is better than my TX antenna for rx.
If I lived on a farm, I would not have bothered with it.
73
Raoul,ZS1REC
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160 meters is a serious band, it should be treated with respect. - TF4M
_______________________________________________
160 meters is a serious band, it should be treated with respect. - TF4M
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