Building and testing the Loop On Ground LOG Antenna

In this episode, I construct a Loop On Ground (LOG) antenna and evaluate its performance against my terminated folded dipole.

SDRPlay RSP1A Software Defined Radio

Pre-made Loop On Ground HF Receive Antenna

Bi-Core BN-73-302 for balun

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The LOG antenna is simple to build, consisting of a 60-foot wire loop and a 6.25:1 balun. I built the balun by wrapping a binocular core with two turns on one side and five turns on the other to match the loop to 75-ohm coax. For 50-ohm coax, you can increase to six turns for a proper match. I used 16-gauge wire to construct the loop, forming a 15-foot per side square on the ground, held in shape with wooden stakes.

For testing, I used an SDRplay RSP1a software-defined radio and a DIY antenna switch to compare the LOG to a T2FD folded dipole. Despite both being terminated antennas, the LOG, placed outside, showed less RFI compared to the attic-mounted dipole. Surprisingly, the LOG performed well above 80 meters, sometimes outperforming the dipole due to its outdoor placement.

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[davegasque]

Been running a 25x25 square for a month now, with a Cross Country Wireless Loop kit. Most impressed with the low noise, yet great signal capture. A hidden gem of a design.

[zsradioham]

This LOG works superb. I have written an article in our club newsletter. It makes a huge difference for reception. Some days the noise is 7 - 9DB and switching to the LOG it goes down to 3 -5DB. Surprisingly one can find some conversation which is not audible on the other antennas. WORKS!

[fly]

A ham from long ago, starting to listen again with an HF "dongle" (imagine that) to my computer. 40 meters my favorite. 60' loop in the grass with a simple impedance transformer works? Hell, living in my HOA home, I'm going to give it a go. Thanks!

[michaelstora]

Most urban interference is vertically polarized. It starts random but the horizontal portion strongly couples with the ground and gets attenuated. This gives horizontal antennas a noise advantage right off the ball. Next laying an antenna on the ground reduces the signal by about 100dB and the noise by about 140bB, increasing your signal to noise ratio by about 40dB (these figures were for a Beverage on the Ground) but the loop should be similar.

[Whiteshadow]

1:25 Can you please do a video out how you built the antenna switch including where you bought the materials? BTW, I am in the Upstate.

[tlebryk]

Easy to setup for field trips. I have used 100 foot down to 40 foot circumference with 9:1 balun and all work well except that as it gets smaller, could use a preamp boost. I currently use a 29 foot 3-conductor wired like a folded dipole and connected to a Welbrook Medium aperture amplifier in place of the balun (the Welbrook amp has a 4:1 balun builtin). Thanks for the demo comparisons.

[GG-vxgi]

Good info. Just got a rsp1a and looking for antenna ideas. I have an 132 ' endfed with a 9:1 balun to try with hf and maybe add a discone. No HOA but still want to stay low profile.

Just like the gutter antenna, I wouldn't have expected the ground loop to do as good vs the dipole as it did

[yaroslavartyukh]

Mine, with yard staples completely invisible under the grass. And yes, from 1, 5 Mhz to 10 Mhz outperforms Cuschcraft R9 vertical from 5 to 10 db in SNR terms. Below 1 Mhz it take some noise from unknown neighbor sources. Compared with W6LVP magnetic loop, the LoG is a bit lose couple db's.

[wxmik-testing]

I have all of the parts to make one, I just need to assemble it. I hope to get it up yet this fall and bury it a couple inches in the ground for easy mowing and snow removal

[graphicventures]

Significant lowering on the noise floor with the LOG

[Ramius]

Can this setup be buried a few inches to not have to move for mowing?

[PatAutrey]

I’m trying to figure out how to put a receive antenna connector on my 991a - Any ideas how this is done

[oasntet]

5:2 binocular isn't a 9:1 balun, is it? More like a 6.25:1. I guess if you were matching to 50 ohms, you'd use 6:2 turns instead, and that'd be a 9:1 balun.

[geirha]

can you transmit on the ground antenna?

[davidc]

Balanced to Unbalanced - or BalUn for short

[the_radio_maker]

now, rise the loop 2mt over the ground and repeat...

[HFpirate]

NOTE: Keeping the loop at a foot or so above ground rather than laying on the ground will greatly increase its performance due to minimizing ground coupling effects