[Antennas] Ideas for best antenna for multiband HF in a small garden

Fri, 8 Nov 2002 18:44:38 -0500

Hi Gary,
You might try a mag loop antenna. They are horizontally polarized, and
rather simple to build. You do, however, need a high voltage variable cap
as the antenna voltages get pretty high, even on rather modest power levels.
They are small (typically a 1 to 1.5 meter diameter for HF), but would
require a tuning circuit.
I've recently seen this reasonably priced READY MADE one, all set to go with
two loops, one for HF and another for VHF:
http://www.hamradio-portal.com/dl4kcj/kcj_en.html
a 'google' search on magloop antennas (try searches on "mag-loop", "mag
loop", and "magnetic loop antenna") will provide a lot of good reading.
There is a 'mag-loop' email reflector list here on qth.net It has lots of
very informative postings....
Other antenna types for small plots include quad loops for 12M, 10M, and 6M.
These, however, tend to get rather large for 80 & 40M with each element
being from just over to just under 1wl.
Wire antennas, laid out in horizontal loops (even 'triangular' loops) also
work fairly well. The higher the better, but you might even be able to get
fair results as low as 10 feet from the ground. These can be built for the
same costs as a wire dipole.
Another alternative is a folded dipole or even a wire dipole with the ends
bent around the garden perimeter. There is no absolute requirement for a
dipole antenna's wire to be a straight line. I've even done them in large
corners, 90 degrees apart - and they work. not as good as a 'straight one',
but they will work.
73
Frank
 ._._.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary McKelvie" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2002 5:57 PM
Subject: [Antennas] Ideas for best antenna for multiband HF in a small
garden
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