From WH2T
Dr. Ace's

 

How To Make Amateur "Ham" Radio Antennas
First let me give you some background information. After living on small city lots all of my adult life (other than during my military service) in 1994 I moved to a rural mini farm.

I had many questions about HF and MF antennas but after exhaustive research of readily available published antenna information most of my questions remained unanswered. So I decided to do the necessary work of building the antennas and performing the tests and measurements myself.

For the 160 mtr band I made a 1/4 wavelength inverted L antenna, then a 3/8 wavelength inverted L antenna, then a 1/2 wavelength inverted L antenna, then a 3/4 wavelength inverted L antenna. I discovered, stick with the 1/4 wavelength inverted L antenna.

About Loop Antennas:
I first made a 1 wavelength 160 meter horizontal loop, then a 2 wavelength 160 meter horizontal loop, and then a 3 wavelength 160 meter horizontal loop antennas. I never intend to again put up any loop antenna larger than 530 feet of wire for 160 meters. I have experimented on other frequencies with up to a 10 wavelength loop antenna.

I know what the antenna modeling software predicts and I also know how the antennas behave in the real world. Also, If you are a big DXer, I believe there are better choices than a loop antenna for the 160 meter band. I am a rag chewer and the loop antenna serves my purpose ideally.

I know there are people who might disagree with this next statement. But, experience is a good teacher. A loop antenna should be an odd multiple of wavelengths i.e. 1, 3, 5, etc... An even number of wavelengths causes the loop to be a higher impedance and more difficult to match to coax. I don't care what the antenna modeling software predicts, I have been there and done that, I speak from real experience. But if you are feeding the antenna with low loss, high impedance, open wire transmission line and using a balanced tuner. Keeping the antenna an odd multiple of wavelengths should no longer be a consideration.

I have personally used a 160 meter band Horizontal Full Wave Loop antenna with very good success. I worked all 50 states and several countries with 100 Watts using the antenna on the 160 meter band. With a good antenna tuner the antenna will work 6 thru 160 meters.

I currently use a 75 Meter Full Wave Horizontal Delta Loop and a 160 meter band 1/4 wavelength inverted L antenna for the 6 thru 160 Meter bands with a tuner.
I hope this info is helpful.

Here are Links to some of my favorite Antenna Designs. Most of the HF antenna designs here are for full size antennas. You will not find any Info here on the G5RV antenna!

Inverted L Antenna Info

  Mini Super Loop Antenna

 

Full Wave Loop Antenna Info

 

Double Extended Zepp Antenna Info

 

Double Bazooka Coaxial Dipole Antenna

 

How To Make A Homebrew 4:1 Balun

 

How To Stack / Co-Phase 2 Antennas

 

Fast 2 Meter Antennas Info

ALL OF THIS INFO IS PROVIDED FREE OF ANY CHARGES
Maintaining the website(s) to provide this information
Costs me both time and $$$
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP
ANY size DONATION is greatly appreciated.

 

2 Meter Band Simplex Info

Ace's Simplex Page


 
How To program every U.S. repeater and simplex frequency for the entire 2 meter FM band into the radio's memory channels.
Ace's 2 Meter FM Frequencies Info

 
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Links to Some of my Other Pages

Ace's WH2T HomePage

 

KB9RVS A.C.E.S. Club WebPage

 

A Tribute to A 911 Hero

 

Dr.Ace's Memory Test Page

 

Dr.Ace's Thinking of You Page

 

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