YouLoop HF Passive Loop Antenna

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#TechMinds #SDR #HamRadio

[blacksmock]

I have built several of these, all with good results. The actual signal level obtained tends to be rather low, so a sensitive SDR like the Airspy HF+ or Discovery is best although RTL-SDR + upconverter also works well. On LW, MW and lower HF they are directional, like most loops. I have my original 60cm one in the attic, lined up for North American MW reception. One of Radio Devon's low-power MW Tx's on 801 kHz is on the same bearing, so I used a portable radio to set this up. I used RG59-Mini coax as I had a large reel of it. I have been able to hear several US East Coast and Canadian MW stations with my Airspy HF+.

[MnACreations]

I have this YouLoop antenna and it works well.. I have it in front of my office window and I am hearing HF stations over 1000 miles away. I also tied some string from the top connectors to the bottom connectors to help keep the loop shape.

[gusdx]

I have mine for over six months and it works great indoors, by the window (as in the video), with AirSpy HF+ Discovery SDR which has an in-built preamp. The SNR is fantastic in both HF and VHF spectrums.

[radioactive]

I run one with a Airspy Discovery+ and it is a nice setup. Great on MW and FM Broadcast, and makes for a good quick setup on HF. My first session had me listening to Montreal FM Bcast at almost 400mi away. The key is how well it matches up to the SDR. Too much signal or gain would be worse, especially for selectivity. The YouLoop is a great match with my Airspy, as well as a good antenna for any RTLSDR. It’s loads of fun, good performer, and a nice upgrade if you are using a HF portable.

[LiquidAudio]

I love mine, it works really well with a traditional shortwave radio like my Icom IC-R75. The radio's switchable preamps are helpful with this passive design and yield a very quiet result with far better signal-to-noise performance than I'm used to with a long wire.

[EastMids]

I'm so happy to see someone using a fishing rod as a antenna pole. I'm using a 2.4m pole from Boyes (£11.50) as part of a grab bag SWL kit I've built with a fishing seat box and backpack attachment. The rod sits in the side pocket with a cable tie giving extra support. At the moment I'm just using an Xdhata AN-80 antenna and clipping it to my Tecsun Pl-368 handheld. With this setup I'm picking up CW in Russia and the USA.

[marsgal]

I recently bought one of these and it works well. It picks up all sorts of stuff with my HF+ Discovery. The noise reduction is welcome in my RF-hostile apartment.

[juliocesarpereira]

I've got two of them and they're great! A friend of mine made a similar antenna that also works great. With it I was able to listen to a station located in Cape Town, SAF distant almost 6, 400km from my qth here in Brasil.

[wbond]

I built the diy YouLoop on the SWLing blog. My performance was marginal, To try and salvage the antenna, I decided to purchase an HF receive loop antenna amplifier LAMB-1A (ebay). What an improvement in performance. I installed it in a small project box with 3 weatherproof 'F' connectors in place of the balun. Attached the diy Youloop to its balanced inputs and fed the amp with a 12 volt bias-T and connected into the SDRPlay via some RG-59.. Worked great and had about 10db of directional null. Of course mine does not get the VHF band. That was a great tip, I'll have to drag out that original YouLoop and try that. Thanks for the video, great as always... de wb7ond

[markgjvy]

Great looking loop, using semi-rigid coax hadn’t occurred to me 🤦‍♂️ So thanks for the video and ideas 👍👏👏

[TheMadRocker]

I use a plastic coat hanger with the hooks to hang mine.. works well.

[chuckp]

Thank you so much. Have you ever used it inside your home? Your voice is made for broadcasting.

[stridermtk]

Thanks for the video!
I have been playing around with this antenna design for about a week or so and it is pretty impressive indeed when paired up with the AirSpy HF+ Discovery. Signals are low with my older radios and SDRs, but my shady Malachite SDR works pretty well with a YouLoop.
I've built a couple of modular balun and crossover assemblies, as well as a one-piece soldered-together YouLoop. It's not that difficult.
Surprisingly effective baluns can be contructed from ferrites recovered from old VGA cables and folks have used various types of coaxial cable for the loop segments and feed lines. Information is out there.
73 de N2NLQ

[ralphthebrick]

Excellent antenna especially around the LW section. paired up with the HF+ Discovery makes a great portable setup. I wouldn't bother buying a copy as the real thing is cheap enough.

[MrDwadi]

I also have this antenna and it is also works not bat with RTL SDR V3.

[jaym]

Does the YouLoop work well with an SDRPLay RSP1A or is an AirSpy HF+ Discovery a requirement?

[Harvestersz]

I've had this antenna for a while now, and it works really well. It works so well that I rarely switch from it to the MLA-30+ or 53ft long wire. It just works. Really cuts down on rfi. (rspdx sdr as well as fgr-7)

I only wish it worked with my BELKA-DX. There are videos of people using one on BELKA s, but mine acts like I put a pair of earmuffs on it when I try to use this antenna.

[WilliamParmley]

Very good review. I will probably pick one of these up. Thanks!

[martinsalt]

Great review, thanks for sharing.. Looking forward to see your review of the discone antenna which comes in the kit. Planning to buy the indoor antenna kit but will wait for your review of the discone antenna.

[BenjiNotknown]

is the AirSpy HF+ Discovery where all the performance is coming from?