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G8MNY > TECH 06.01.22 11:00l 128 Lines 5622 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 57616_GB7CIP
Read: GUEST
Subj: Medium Wave Magnetic DF Loop
Path: IW8PGT<HB9ON<IW0QNL<ON0AR<GB7CIP
Sent: 220106/0942Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:57616 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G8MNY@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To : TECH@WW
By G8MNY (Updated Apr 15)
(8 Bit ASCII graphics use code page 437 or 850, Terminal Font)
The antenna is the same as the old valve radio frame aerials that used to be
built into the wooden case & because of its signal capture ability. Large ones
are commonly used as an external aerial for DXing MW station & reducing QRM etc
Like the modern ferrite rod aerial, it has very high Q. Using one over just a
loop aerial will improve the signal by the Q factor & also reduce the Rx
bandwidth by the the same factor. So most of a strong broadband wideband QRM
pulses (like spike mains QRM) can't get in to the non linear mixer in the Rx &
cause the common coherrent out of band overload), At RF the aerial "seems" to
be much bigger than it really is!
Aerial _.-._
Gain /' `\
/ \
Station __³__ __³__ __³__
Carriers & / ³ \ / ³ \ / ³ \
Sidebands ÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄ
LSB USB every 9 kHz (EU)
Unlike short wire aerials it can also be used to null out QRM from a specific
direction as the aerial polar diagram has deep nulls, & usually leaves plenty
of wanted signal for the Rx.
_ Nul _
Max /' `\ /' `\ Max
<-- ³ ==X== ³ -->
\._./ \._./
Nul
The dimensions to make one are not strict & any large area loop will do.
ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÂÄ ÚÄ Ä¿
³ 6-10 turns ³ ³ /' 45ø ³ `\ /' 2x 1.4m
³ tuned plus ³ ³/' Brace ³ OR `\ /' SPREADERS
³ 1 O/P turn ³ ³ ³ `X'
³ ³ ³ WOOD SQUARE ³ ,/' `\ centre bolt
³ 1m x 1m ³ ³ FORMER ³ wire spacer ,/ `\ & wing nut
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ ÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´_pin nails À `Ù
or saw slots
ÚÄÄÄ¿_
RxÄÄ¿ ( ³/|
Ant ) ( === 2x >220pF
ÄÄÙ ( /³
ÀÄÄÄÙ
The exact number of turns depends on the L you end up with, its inter-winding
capacitance, the frequency wanted & the tuning C used. An alternate to more
turns for LF end (LW) is a switchable 1000pF cap teed across the tuning C.
The tuning C can be any of the old AM radio types mounted with a slow motion
drive on the frame if you can arrange that. Some people even use remote tuning
& loop rotation (e.g. in loft) with servo from shack PC etc.
My one was a bit smaller than 1M square, made from 4 wood strips 1x 4x 82cm
but nailed together into a diamond shape with a small horizontal brace at the
top. That has a nail pivot that engages into a tube of a stand. The cap was a
geared MW + VHF (4 C sections + presets paralleled up).
/ \
/_____\
/[]ÄÄÂÄÄÄÄ\ Nail Pivot The turns used was 8 + 1
/ Cap ± \ secondary. I did not use a
/ ± \ taped coil as this unbalances
\ ± / the tuned circuit making it
\ ± / more susceptible to near
\ ± / body interaction.
\ ± / I started with 7 turns, but
\±/ could not tune 531kHz so I
± added 1 more turn to just
_____±____ Stand about tune the whole of MW.
LOW Z RX
One turn provides a good drive for 50-75ê on MW. The lead to the Rx can just be
balance Bell/LS wire etc.
HIGH Z RX
Generally there is so much signal, that 1 turn is also OK, but try 1-3 turns
for a car radio Rx high Z input for MAX Rx signal.
FERRITE ROD RX
With a ferrite rod Rx, no output turn is need, just place the Rx in/near the
loop for signal improvements of around 20dB. Note it greatly reduces image
signals on small Rx if tuned to the correct frequency.
ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ///\
³ DF ³ [||Rx||]
³ LOOP ³ LS wire ³\\\/³
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÁ=======================/___/
If remote ferrite rod Rx needed (e.g. Rx in shack near QRM) use 1 turn & bell
wire feeder, to drive a few turns around the Rx (Rx ferrite in line).
LOOP AERIAL ORIENTATION
³Tx As MW Tx are all vertically polarized
___³___ ground wave, loop orientation needs to
\ be in the vertical plane with one edge
\ ~-_ pointing at the Tx for the maximum Rx
\ ~-_~ - _ _./³_ _ - ~ _ signal. The very sharp null point is
\ ~-_ ~- _ /_ ³ _ - - ~ _ ñ 90ø to this when none of the magnetic
~-_ ~ - _ ³ _ ³ _ - - ~ component goes through the coil. With a
~ - _ ³ _/ _ magnet field vertical wire whip aerial coupled in to
³/ component of RF the Rx as well it is possible to "Sense"
the direction of the signal as well as
just the line it is on.
QRM SOURCES
Do not put loop aerial too near mains wires running vertically in walls. TVs &
computer screens, have strong high frequency AC magnetic fields & can cause
problems. SMPSU in computers, economy lamps & even remote controls, can all
cause QRM but normally only to weak signals.
Do not use it beside metal framed windows/doors/tin foil backed board walls, as
these can effectively be a shorted loop & de-tune the loop as well as reduce
the Rx signal.
DEMOS
As well as a practical Rx tool, it makes a very good demostraition of some
hands on radio principles for public & ham students alike.
Why Don't U send an interesting bul?
73 De John, G8MNY @ GB7CIP
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