I'm not very knowledgeable about electronics or antenna design....but by experimenting I figured out that a 120 turn coil of 26 AWG magnet wire wrapped on a paper towel tube and connected to two longwire antennas stretched out in opposite directions worked great for daytime reception on AM. I just placed the coil near a small AM radio and instead of three stations I started picking up around 50 during the day. My longwire antennas were at least 250 feet long each and were connected to opposite ends of the coil. Eventually I want to build some of these loops and try that too.
Man, what a giant loop! But it sure boost the weak signals ... wonder how far this loop can capture distant AM signals at night, maybe a few thousand kilometers .... just a guest. Keep it up man.
I’m guessing having a metal grid patio table right in front of the giant loop antenna is affecting the performance of the loop antenna. You might want to test without the table in proximity as it acts similar to a Faraday cage.
Interesting topic... but when you get the finished version up, please!!! -> 1) USE A TRI-POD! This is dizzying. 2) Edit out all the chaff / dead time. 3) Please compare or contrast to a smaller size as 6' is beyond not-practical, it may not do any better than *much* smaller versions or weatherproof versions. 4) Instead of apologizing for all the negatives, just do it right and then make a video. Compared to other AM-loop antenna videos I did not learn anything here other than there is no demonstrated reason to have a 6ft AM loop antenna.
Amazing build, and amazing explanation of facts and terms. This is the kind of video people just getting into the hobby should have access to, and old hands can also enjoy. With resonance between .7MHz and 1.8MHz, would another partial loop get you right in the band from 540-1700? Seems like the antenna analyzer is saying your wire is just a bit short, but it still works just great anyway. Thanks for a great video...and a project inspiration! -K5SFC
Very interesting looking at the antenna with the MFJ, but what are you trying to do walking around in the yard with a portable radio. Are you looking at the blocking effect of the wire, or the ability of the wire to rebroadcast the signal? I really lost you there. Thanks, dave, W4GSM
Interestingly...the loop seems to gather the signal like a sponge...just walking towards the loop...his signal meter registered higher and higher signal (not sure the units...not an "S" meter, but it showed relative quadruple signal increase)...just air-coupled. Normally you'd start with the radio next to the loop and tune the capacitor for max signal...but he pre-tuned the cap with his MFJ to the chosen station frequency
Your winding spacing seems 1 to 2 inches. You should increase that to about 2 or 3 feet yet retain only 4 total loops. You may not realize that "enclosed VOLUME" of the windings determines the overall merit of a loop antenna. Your enclosed volume will be 6 X 6 x 10 = 360 cubic feet That LONGER coil will be about an order of magnitude better than your present marvel. Test the response near the coil with the raw coil SHORTED vrs OPEN. In shorted mode it will act a bit like a small mirror. Attach a NEGATIVE resistance as a load to the coil and retest. Don't just wiggle your toes in the ocean, JUMP IN!
Overkill for an antenna over-documented since radio first started. Military loops have been around for decades, and the need for a huge loop with today's components is no longer necessary for reception purposes. Use of fractal lengths vice the archaic formula could further reduce the size needed for HF loop reception.
You sir win the prize for the largest AM loop I've seen in my 50 years ;-)
I'm not very knowledgeable about electronics or antenna design....but by experimenting I figured out that a 120 turn coil of 26 AWG magnet wire wrapped on a paper towel tube and connected to two longwire antennas stretched out in opposite directions worked great for daytime reception on AM. I just placed the coil near a small AM radio and instead of three stations I started picking up around 50 during the day. My longwire antennas were at least 250 feet long each and were connected to opposite ends of the coil. Eventually I want to build some of these loops and try that too.
Great idea...I'll try that
Good for you. You're on the way to figuring out electronics. That's how I started - curiosity.
No patio is truly complete without a 6' loop antenna!
Man, what a giant loop! But it sure boost the weak signals ... wonder how far this loop can capture distant AM signals at night, maybe a few thousand kilometers .... just a guest. Keep it up man.
I’m guessing having a metal grid patio table right in front of the giant loop antenna is affecting the performance of the loop antenna. You might want to test without the table in proximity as it acts similar to a Faraday cage.
As a mad antenna builder I approve this video :D
Interesting topic... but when you get the finished version up, please!!! ->
1) USE A TRI-POD! This is dizzying.
2) Edit out all the chaff / dead time.
3) Please compare or contrast to a smaller size as 6' is beyond not-practical, it may not do any better than *much* smaller versions or weatherproof versions.
4) Instead of apologizing for all the negatives, just do it right and then make a video.
Compared to other AM-loop antenna videos I did not learn anything here other than there is no demonstrated reason to have a 6ft AM loop antenna.
Amazing build, and amazing explanation of facts and terms. This is the kind of video people just getting into the hobby should have access to, and old hands can also enjoy. With resonance between .7MHz and 1.8MHz, would another partial loop get you right in the band from 540-1700? Seems like the antenna analyzer is saying your wire is just a bit short, but it still works just great anyway. Thanks for a great video...and a project inspiration!
-K5SFC
Nice build and demonstration. Thanks for sharing it.
Nice vid. I listen to WBEN-AM (930 AM) 5000w Buffalo NY station from Toronto. How far you are located from Buffalo NY ?
What was the brand and model of your LCR meter,?
Thanks for the video. Very helpful.
A good video. I never realized that a metal patio table could be used as a reflector.
hi. how about the radio msnufacturer? there is no improvement for their products regarding AM signals?
good vid.maby try again without a 6ft diameter wire mesh table as a test bench 2 ft away??
I'm thinking that huge metal table is a problem for accurate measurements of inductance and capacitance for sure. My opinion as well.
You didn’t say where you’re at vs the distance from the radio station
Nice video. Nice to see your yard.
Very interesting looking at the antenna with the MFJ, but what are you trying to do walking around in the yard with a portable radio. Are you looking at the blocking effect of the wire, or the ability of the wire to rebroadcast the signal? I really lost you there. Thanks, dave, W4GSM
Interestingly...the loop seems to gather the signal like a sponge...just walking towards the loop...his signal meter registered higher and higher signal (not sure the units...not an "S" meter, but it showed relative quadruple signal increase)...just air-coupled. Normally you'd start with the radio next to the loop and tune the capacitor for max signal...but he pre-tuned the cap with his MFJ to the chosen station frequency
Good video. Greetings from Poland.
I'm going to stick a bunch of pins into the sheetrock above my bed and just wind an antenna onto the wall. I don't see any reason why that won't work.
Your winding spacing seems 1 to 2 inches.
You should increase that to about 2 or 3 feet yet retain only 4 total loops.
You may not realize that "enclosed VOLUME" of the windings determines the overall merit of a loop antenna.
Your enclosed volume will be
6 X 6 x 10 = 360 cubic feet
That LONGER coil will be about an order of magnitude better than your present marvel.
Test the response near the coil with the raw coil SHORTED vrs OPEN. In shorted mode it will act a bit like a small mirror.
Attach a NEGATIVE resistance as a load to the coil and retest.
Don't just wiggle your toes in the ocean, JUMP IN!
Has anyone evaluated the performance of a loop antenna constructed using the Tesla Bifilar configuration versus this conventional configuration?
Can you give us the schematic of this interesting antenna in the description by an imagelink?
Just a coil (the huge loop,) in parallel with the cap.....air-coupled to the radio
Inductance of a close-wound coil is proportional to the square of the number of loops.
Hitting like for the Tiki Torches
what was the purpose??
To show how a loop antenna with an in- parallel variable capacitor will improve the poor AM radio signal 4x
वाह 😊👌❤
Overkill for an antenna over-documented since radio first started. Military loops have been around for decades, and the need for a huge loop with today's components is no longer necessary for reception purposes. Use of fractal lengths vice the archaic formula could further reduce the size needed for HF loop reception.
A good video. I never realized that a metal patio table could be used as a reflector.
I wonder what difference it would make with a plastic table?