{"id":33579,"date":"2018-08-17T07:47:01","date_gmt":"2018-08-17T11:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=33579"},"modified":"2018-08-17T07:47:45","modified_gmt":"2018-08-17T11:47:45","slug":"bill-tweaks-his-am-loop-antenna-for-optimal-mediumwave-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/bill-tweaks-his-am-loop-antenna-for-optimal-mediumwave-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"Bill tweaks his AM loop antenna for optimal mediumwave performance"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Mag-Loop-Antenna-Homebrew-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-31921\" src=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Mag-Loop-Antenna-Homebrew-1-777x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"625\" height=\"824\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Mag-Loop-Antenna-Homebrew-1-777x1024.jpg 777w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Mag-Loop-Antenna-Homebrew-1-228x300.jpg 228w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Mag-Loop-Antenna-Homebrew-1-768x1012.jpg 768w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Mag-Loop-Antenna-Homebrew-1-624x823.jpg 624w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Mag-Loop-Antenna-Homebrew-1.jpg 971w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/a>Many thanks to <em>SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Bill Hemphill (WD9EQD), who writes with the following update to his previous post:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>As you may remember, <a href=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/05\/bill-scores-a-homebrew-lw-mw-magnetic-loop-antenna\/\">back in May, I picked up a beautiful home-made loop antenna<\/a>. It was 25 inches on a side with 23 turns of wire. My initial testing showed that it would tune from 280 kHz to 880 kHz. While I was familiar with loop antennas, I had never tried using one.<\/p>\n<p>My initial tests were disappointing. So I spent some time on the internet reviewing AM loop antenna designs. I came across a reference to an AM Loop Antenna Calculator by Bruce Carter:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.earmark.net\/gesr\/loop\/umr_emc_calc.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/www.earmark.net\/gesr\/loop\/umr_emc_calc.htm<\/a><\/p>\n<p>I first measured the tuning capacitor and found that it tuned from 25 to 400 pF. Entering the data into the calculator:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/calculator-loop.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-33580\" src=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/calculator-loop.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"531\" height=\"493\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/calculator-loop.png 531w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/calculator-loop-300x279.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 531px) 100vw, 531px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This matches closely to what I was experiencing.<\/p>\n<p>I then proceeded to calculate various Number of Turns to see the effect on tuning range. My goal was to tune the entire AM broadcast band.<\/p>\n<p>I settled on ten turns which gives the following from the calculator:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/loop-calculator-2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-33581\" src=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/loop-calculator-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"532\" height=\"487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/loop-calculator-2.png 532w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/loop-calculator-2-300x275.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 532px) 100vw, 532px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Perfect. I removed 13 turns (which left ten turns) and then added a two turn secondary loop which would be connected to the radio. The results were fantastic.<\/p>\n<p>I have created three short videos showing the difference between using the Tecsun S-8800 without the loop on a weak station and then using it with the loop.<\/p>\n<p><strong>[Note: If you&#8217;re viewing this post via our email newsletter you might need to <a href=\"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-8JB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">view this post via a web browser<\/a> to see the following embedded videos.]<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Without the loop<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"v-iNR3Xj7r-1\" class=\"video-player\"><iframe title='VideoPress Video Player' aria-label='VideoPress Video Player' width='624' height='350' src='https:\/\/videopress.com\/embed\/iNR3Xj7r?hd=1&amp;cover=1&amp;loop=0&amp;autoPlay=0&amp;permalink=1&amp;muted=0&amp;controls=1&amp;playsinline=0&amp;useAverageColor=0&amp;preloadContent=metadata' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen data-resize-to-parent=\"true\" allow='clipboard-write'><\/iframe><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" src='https:\/\/s0.wp.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/video\/assets\/js\/next\/videopress-iframe.js'><\/script><\/div>\n<h2><strong>With Loop<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div id=\"v-SwHmpEXN-1\" class=\"video-player\"><iframe title='VideoPress Video Player' aria-label='VideoPress Video Player' width='624' height='350' src='https:\/\/videopress.com\/embed\/SwHmpEXN?hd=1&amp;cover=1&amp;loop=0&amp;autoPlay=0&amp;permalink=1&amp;muted=0&amp;controls=1&amp;playsinline=0&amp;useAverageColor=0&amp;preloadContent=metadata' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen data-resize-to-parent=\"true\" allow='clipboard-write'><\/iframe><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" src='https:\/\/s0.wp.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/video\/assets\/js\/next\/videopress-iframe.js'><\/script><\/div>\n<p>As you can hear, a very noticeable difference.<\/p>\n<p>[After making these videos] I tested the of reception of 1510 kHz on the Panasonic RF-2200:<\/p>\n<div id=\"v-rg4vO0ej-1\" class=\"video-player\"><iframe title='VideoPress Video Player' aria-label='VideoPress Video Player' width='624' height='350' src='https:\/\/videopress.com\/embed\/rg4vO0ej?hd=1&amp;cover=1&amp;loop=0&amp;autoPlay=0&amp;permalink=1&amp;muted=0&amp;controls=1&amp;playsinline=0&amp;useAverageColor=0&amp;preloadContent=metadata' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen data-resize-to-parent=\"true\" allow='clipboard-write'><\/iframe><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" src='https:\/\/s0.wp.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/video\/assets\/js\/next\/videopress-iframe.js'><\/script><\/div>\n<p>The results are amazing.<\/p>\n<p>I have logged three stations on one frequency. Just peak the one station, then tune the loop and peak the second, then turn the loop some more and peak a third station.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m having a lot of fun with the loop. When it gets a little cooler, I plan to take it to the park where there is zero noise and really put it through its paces.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Excellent job, Bill! You&#8217;ve proven that doing a little research and making small adjustments to an antenna design can yield impressive results! Thank you for sharing!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Hemphill (WD9EQD), who writes with the following update to his previous post: As you may remember, back in May, I picked up a beautiful home-made loop antenna. It was 25 inches on a side with 23 turns of wire. My initial testing showed that it would tune from [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,3607,627,433,3,26],"tags":[4339,6954,4359,4667,4357,3417],"class_list":["post-33579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-antennas","category-how-to","category-mediumwave","category-news","category-radios","tag-am-passive-loop-antenna","tag-bill-hemphill-wd9eqd","tag-homebrew-mag-loop-antenna","tag-loop-antennas","tag-mag-loop-antennas","tag-magnetic-loop-antennas"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-8JB","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":31920,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/05\/bill-scores-a-homebrew-lw-mw-magnetic-loop-antenna\/","url_meta":{"origin":33579,"position":0},"title":"Bill scores a homebrew LW\/MW magnetic loop antenna","author":"Thomas","date":"May 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Hemphill (WD9EQD) who shares the following: I went to the Warminster Amateur Radio Club (WARC) hamfest [yesterday] in Bucks County, PA. For some time, I have been thinking about making a loop antenna for AM DXing. It was my lucky day. When I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AM&quot;","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Mag-Loop-Antenna-Homebrew-1-777x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Mag-Loop-Antenna-Homebrew-1-777x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Mag-Loop-Antenna-Homebrew-1-777x1024.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43930,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/bills-first-dx-contest-using-a-panasonic-rf-2200-and-a-hombrew-diode-loop-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":33579,"position":1},"title":"Bill&#8217;s first DX contest using a Panasonic RF-2200 and a hombrew diode\/loop radio","author":"Thomas","date":"June 19, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Hemphill (WD9EQD), who shares the following guest post: My First DX Contest by Bill Hemphill, WD9EQD Being a recent new member of NJARC, this is my first time competing in this contest.\u00a0 I have always been a big fan of BCB DXing and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AM&quot;","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/NJARC-Contest-Logs-Bill-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/NJARC-Contest-Logs-Bill-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/NJARC-Contest-Logs-Bill-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/NJARC-Contest-Logs-Bill-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61431,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/12\/a-file-worth-having-bobs-guide-to-building-an-electrically-small-resonant-loop-antenna-for-mediumwave-reception\/","url_meta":{"origin":33579,"position":2},"title":"A File Worth Having: Bob&#8217;s guide to building an Electrically Small Resonant Loop Antenna for Mediumwave Reception","author":"Jock Elliott","date":"December 17, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"This post is short and sweet. If you click here--Electrically Small Resonant Loop Antenna for Mediumwave Reception (PDF)--you can download a copy of Bob Colegrove's excellent paper on the Electrically Small Resonant Loop Antenna for Mediumwave Reception. He has actually built this antenna; it works; and he uses it often.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AM&quot;","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Bob-Homemade-Loop-antenna-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Bob-Homemade-Loop-antenna-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Bob-Homemade-Loop-antenna-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Bob-Homemade-Loop-antenna-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Bob-Homemade-Loop-antenna-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31772,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/video-homebrew-am-loop-antenna-project-by-thomas-cholakov-n1spy\/","url_meta":{"origin":33579,"position":3},"title":"Video: Homebrew AM Loop Antenna Project by Thomas Cholakov (N1SPY)","author":"Thomas","date":"April 26, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Thomas Cholakov (N1SPY), who shares his latest video explaining the operation of a simple homebrew AM loop antenna: https:\/\/youtu.be\/PRMxfhLN_Ns Click here to view on YouTube. Brilliant video, Thomas! I love the fact you included a demonstration with your SDRplay RSP1A as well. Via the spectrum\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AM&quot;","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/AM-Loop-Antenna.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/AM-Loop-Antenna.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/AM-Loop-Antenna.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/AM-Loop-Antenna.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50098,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/08\/wire-antennas-vs-mag-loop-antennas\/","url_meta":{"origin":33579,"position":4},"title":"Wire antennas vs. mag loop antennas","author":"Thomas","date":"August 29, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"In the past few weeks, I've gotten a lot of questions from readers who are trying to decide if they should install a magnetic loop antenna or a simple wire antenna at their home. Obviously, most of the questions come from shortwave radio listeners, but some have come from ham\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Antennas&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Elecraft-KX3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Elecraft-KX3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Elecraft-KX3.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27341,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/video-pauls-large-aperture-volleyball-net-magnetic-loop-antenna\/","url_meta":{"origin":33579,"position":5},"title":"Video: Paul&#8217;s large aperture &#8220;Volleyball Net&#8221; loop antenna","author":"Thomas","date":"July 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, who shares the following video and notes: Here is a 10 minute narrated, detailed video on my 25 foot long by 10 foot tall \"Volleyball Net\" Loop antenna using a Wellbrook ALA100LN amp control head and antenna interface. https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ICHNlcLhAKE Click here to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Antennas&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Volleyball-Loop-Antenna-e1501154690277.jpeg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Volleyball-Loop-Antenna-e1501154690277.jpeg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Volleyball-Loop-Antenna-e1501154690277.jpeg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Volleyball-Loop-Antenna-e1501154690277.jpeg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33579"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33579\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}