Re: Topband: Using shielded CAT5 data cable as feedline for active antenna; benefits of multi-turn K9AY loop/SAL/etc?

Sounds like you, Tom, and LZ1AQ are saying the same: in order for loops to be effective (low SNR and high signal levels), they must have large area and low reactance (inductance to be exact). Parallel loops or fat conduits increase the signal levels, while the CP configuration and other similar

Re: Topband: Using shielded CAT5 data cable as feedline for active antenna; benefits of multi-turn K9AY loop/SAL/etc?

Pete & all: I have done a number of experiments with multi-turn K9AY Loops and flags. I have only made brief mentions in print, mainly in last year's NCJ article. Still sorting out the most useful data from a number of observations. In short, what W8JI says is true -- larger conductors

Re: Topband: Using shielded CAT5 data cable as feedline for active antenna; benefits of multi-turn K9AY loop/SAL/etc?

I should have been clearer - all his work is with small loops, typically 1 meter diameter. My interest was in the possibility of improving the performance of my omnidirectional active Skimmer antenna, currently a Clifton Labs 8-ft vertical. Since some of his antennas favor horizontal

Re: Topband: Using shielded CAT5 data cable as feedline for active antenna; benefits of multi-turn K9AY loop/SAL/etc?

Pete We installed and I used exactly such an antenna at VE3/N2WQ this past year. The loops were easy to construct, and the project was built around 3x3" pieces of wood. The loops were located around 400ft from the shack; one thing we did find was that, even doubling up on the power and ground

Re: Topband: Using shielded CAT5 data cable as feedline for active antenna; benefits of multi-turn K9AY loop/SAL/etc?

Hi! I tried to measure this UTP cable as a receive line. For the results see: http://pa3csg.hoeplakee.nl/joomla25/index.php/rf-construction/115-0-10-mhz-receive-over-utp The plan is only slowly moving forward: To use one twisted pair as a receive line One pair as the supply voltage One pair

Re: Topband: Using shielded CAT5 data cable as feedline for active antenna; benefits of multi-turn K9AY loop/SAL/etc?

I did some tests a few years ago on unshielded CAT6 (UTP) cable. The twisted pairs in the cable are rated at 100 ohm nominal impedance, so I paralleled two sets of twisted pairs together and measured their VSWR. Surprisinlgy I found the cable handled 100W at 20m, with negligible VSWR. I thought

Topband: Using shielded CAT5 data cable as feedline for active antenna; benefits of multi-turn K9AY loop/SAL/etc?

I was recently reading a web page by LZ1AQ . It is full of fascinating data and design equations for the use of small magnetic loop antennas. There were two points, in particular, that caught my layman's attention: 1. He recommends using shielded CAT5 data

Re: Topband: Using shielded CAT5 data cable as feedline for active antenna; benefits of multi-turn K9AY loop/SAL/etc?

Dennis, Pete, et al., It may be useful to break the system into individual parts and then analyze/discuss its performance. Specifically: 1) The CP loops have been around for a while and have been studied by extensively. They work and work better than a single loop. Furthermore, the concept of

Re: Topband: Using shielded CAT5 data cable as feedline for active antenna; benefits of multi-turn K9AY loop/SAL/etc?

2. He cites experimental data showing that coplanar crossed loops and multi-turn quad loops both offer very significant improvement in the recovered signalcompared with a single loop. See to check whether I got this right.