[Lowfer] RG-58 as TX loop conductor

[Brian Helms]

When I put up a test loop for the lower end of the medfer band, I started 
with a single #14 conductor which was extremely poor.  The loop was about 5 
feet off the ground.  I changed to loop to some cable that had braided 
shielding around it about .5 inch in diameter and it only improved the 
signal received at a remote location 6 miles a way by about a db or so.  
After this I replaced this with .75 inch copper water pipe for significant 
improvement that met the calculations on the loop program.  I don't have all 
the details on the reactance or current input of the loop but I did 
experience that the copper braid did not perform as expected vs. the single 
#14 solid conductor.  The loop has since been scrapped for other projects.  
Maybe if I get motivated I'll try it again as I did not compare it to 
another known working antenna or take the fs measurements to say how 
inefficient it was.

Brian Helms

>From: "Bill Ashlock" <ashlockw@hotmail.com>
>Reply-To: lowfer@mailman.qth.net
>To: lowfer@mailman.qth.net
>Subject: [Lowfer] RG-58 as TX loop conductor
>Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2003 21:26:48 -0400
>
>Jay,
>
>>Will have my RG-58/#12 number for you later.
>
>Well, I beat you to it. The improvement for changing from #12 to  RG-58 was 
>not as good as predicted. Darned if I didn't forget to measure the 'before' 
>loop current in the rush to beat the rain and outlast the mosquitoes, but 
>the input current increased only by 23%, against my prediction of 40%.  I'm 
>either lossing my mathematical touch or a braid of cooper wire isn't nearly 
>as as good as a copper pipe of the same diameter.
>
>What was your prediction based on the .25 ohm ground loss I gave you?
>
>Bill A
>
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