LOOP ANTENNAS

Basically there are 4 different kinds of loop antennas interesting to the amateur radio operator:

  • VERTICAL LOOP
  • HORIZONTAL LOOP
  • SMALL TRANSMITTING LOOP
  • SMALL RECEIVING LOOP

 

VERTICAL LOOPS:

  • Vertical Loops are loops mounted in a vertical plane, perpindicular to the earth.
  • Vertical loops may be a single stand-alone loop (mono-loop), or they may be one or elements of a directional antenna, such as a Quad.
  • There are two types of Vertical Loops:
  1. Horizontally polarized loops
  2. Vertically polarized loops
  • Whether a loop is horizontally or vertically polarized depends on where you attach the feedline to it.
  • Vertically polarized loops work better for DX whenever the antenna must be mounted closer to the ground.  In addition to having a lower angle of radiation than the horizontally polarized loop, they also reduce the local QRM (stations within about 500 miles) by a couple of S-Units.
  • Horizontally polarized loops are typically quieter (on receive) than vertically polarized loops and if you can mount them high enough, they would be preferable even for DX.
  • Horizontally polarized loops typically product a stronger signal out to about 500 miles or so.

 

HORIZONTAL LOOPS:

  • Horizontal Loops are loops mounted in a horizontal plane, parallel to the earth.
  • These are typically just one single loop in the horizontal plane.  
  • They are generally located close to the ground (about 1/8  to 1/4 wavelength high).  
  • Although they are known as "Cloud Burners", meaning they radiate alot of RF straight up, they can also be good dx antennas.