20 Meter Delta Loop Antenna

[@rolfhopkinson8172]

Hi Denis and thanks for this! Shortly after moving to Victoria, BC I lived on a small lot north of the city and was able to put an inverted vee for 20, 40 and 80 on the roof. Later I wanted to add 17m and so built a corner fed delta loop similar to yours and had GREAT success with it. Now, I'm living in a condo. downtown and am lucky enough to have been able to put a 20m inverted vee on the rooftop. However, with the new sunspot cycle fast getting underway, 20m is lagging well behind in performance compared with 15m and the higher bands. Your video has inspired me to put a a 15m delta loop and in particular, your experiences using it on other bands with a tuner, I find particularly encouraging. Parts on order, I hope to have it up and running before November 2023! Thanks again ... Rolf, VA7AMV

[@johndavis3615]

I have been making and using full wave loop antennas for 40M for many decades, This goes back to when Novice band operators had to share the band with Really high power SWBC stations in Europe and eslewhere. My loop wire was parallel to the ground to give a high angle trakeoff, this attenuated the signals from the SWBC and enhanced regional signals. Perfect for working Novice ops in the US. ..I used a "Q section" of 75 ohm coax as a matching device to 50 Ohm feedline. I chose this because I had no intentions of using the antenna an any other bands. Signals were better on short haul to several hundred miles, compared to a halfwave dipole up about the same neight. I have used triangle, square and odd polygonal shapes with little difference in operation of the horizontally deployed wire. Location of trees uaed to support the wire was a big factor. Occasionally I had some QSOs into Europe or the West coast , this was like working off the side of a Yagi !! :D I enjoyed the presentation you made here. ...73...K8JD.

[@gregoryburbage7906]

Cool antenna.....the fact you even mentioned 11 meters and the swr results made my day. Most hams dismiss 11 altogether. Good stuff, thank you!

[@W-733_KWX]

too sad lots of them dismiss their own history (that actually 11m is where they started, but too snobs to publicly admit it)

[@ww3ok]

I have been considering a delta loop for some time. Your video gives me the motivation to try it.

[@MrMesospheric]

No doubt the best, lowest noise wire antenna you can put up. This was my first choice antenna type, and never looked back. Note, though, that a vertical is infinitely better for DX, and that feeding it with balanced wire, not coax, gives hugely lower line loss. Just run the twin to a 4:1 near the shack, and make the final connection with a short piece of coax. My vertical delta works 1:1 on 20m using a 6:1, not 4:1 (depends on line length, environment, etc), and about 1:2 on 10m - without any tuner. Advantage of twin also is multibanding with extremely low line loss when the SWR is high.

[@JunkyardPhysics]

Really appreciate your videos. I have a 20 ft fishing pole vertical that never fails to impress because of another of your efforts. Thank you and 73

[@edpetrovski6640]

HI Denis. I built a 40 M version of a delta loop...but I fed it at one of the lower corners with the apex at about 65 feet from a redwood tree. That made it vertically polarized. It worked superbly on 40 and 20 using an 8 to 1 balun from the coax to open wire. Thanks for the vid. 73

[@ronmiller7135]

Hi,I made this antenna for 40m.To my surprise works without tunner not just on 40m ,but on 20m also.I used clothesline.From dipole,folded dipole and delta loop ,the delta loop is the best.73.

[@M7XCB]

I will have a go making this when the weather gets warmer it very cold at the moment I will make 10 meter 1st and see how it preform. Thanks for the video.

[@haroldskinner1783]

Just found your video, this is going to be my next antenna project, 73s

[@VE3IPS]

Thanks for the idea. I have the same rig and tuner and will use a jackite to hold it all up. Yes having all 3 LDG baluns in the go bag is the way to go

[@chrisl1398]

Hi from Ontario also. Did a JOTA with my cubs today. Neat stuff. I learned a lot

[@VE3BF]

Hello from Ottawa, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. 73 de VE3BF

[@williampeacock9473]

I enjoyed watching the video of the Delta loop antenna . Thanks for all the information about how to make it.. I think I'm going to try making a multi- band Delta loop that definitely sounds like a great idea and cut down on having to buy so much COAX cable. THANKS Again 73 AE4OY William Peacock EM-81UF SOUTH EAST GEORGIA Hope to catch you on the radio one day.🤓 73

[@DK5ONV]

Hey Denis...against all Odds i tried something very different, Delta Loop Wise. 173ft. total Lenght of Wire, my CG3000 Automatic Wire Antenna Tuner and my 12m HD Spiderbeam Telescopic Fiberglass Mast. CG3000 Tuner laying on the Ground, horizontal Wire laying on the Ground and the vertical Wire Leps running up the Mast to 30ft. Heights from the Ground. Gosh...what a fun i enjoyed on 80 nd 40m Bands. The Flipside Story about it I just picked a bad Day with the shittiest Propagations since a long time for my Testrun. All in all...a bad Day on HAM Radio always beats a good Day at Work. Happy Weekend & 73 de Uncle Guenter 💯👍🙋‍♂

[@timg5tm941]

Nice video my friend - Ive just built one - 74 feet long and fed with 300 ohm twin lead into the 4:1 and same tuner you are using. Tunes 80-10. Be interesting to see how she does. Ive fed her in the bottom corner as a vertically polarised antenna.

[@davidmerchant8245]

There is Nothing about your videos that are bad, Keep making them. I will keep watching them. Good job!!!! K4AYK

[@VE3BF]

Thanks for the kind words. Now my head won't fit through the door lol. 73

[@djryder2002]

great video sir. I love Loops, its all I use. I have an 80m loop, 20m, 10m and even a 2m loop all fed with 1/4 wavelength 75ohm coax.

[@georgefetters7679]

New ham looking for antenna ideas, loved yours. Thanks. KCETGL

[@jfrphoto01]

Is KCETGL your call sign?

[@TheJimiking]

Good inspiring video. I have 50m of spare wire so might give it a go and try this antenna. Thanks for sharing.

[@RadioAdventurer]

Just plan to build a delta loop antenna and I'm looking a bit over the internet and here I came across your video. Thanks for the detailed description, soon getting supplies of the required material and building the delta loop antenna for 40m band. Sorry for writing errors :) 73's from new subscriber! 9A3GVD

[@VE3BF]

I'm glad you found the video helpful. Good luck with you build. 73 Denis

[@ВиталийНиколаев-п8н]

Vertical Delta is a good antenna. If it hangs low. It is better to feed it in the side. There will be vertical polarization. The signal beam will be pinned to the ground. better connections with DX. GDX 73 UA0CBM

[@jamesabc372]

Vertical polarization is if the Delta loop is perpendicular to the ground right? I agree the loop at its lowest point,no more than 10 ft for 20 meter loop so you don't have additional lobes that weaken the main radiation pattern. Also I think when you have lower take off angle you choose less gain. And the antenna is directional. Which is ok if you can turn the antenna to the direction to the the signals you want. Otherwise gain would be what you need. Just my opinion. I could be wrong?

[@scottdematteo]

I have been considering building a Delta Loop for 20 and 40 mater DX work. I may have to build two of them. Thanks for posting this great video. 73s W3GTR

[@VE3BF]

I want to try this as well. Maybe a video in it this fall. 73

[@wildbill1]

Great video Thanks for posting and making myself a loop antenna

[@willian.direction6740]

Great video Denis I have used one of these loops fed in bottom corner for many years as a 30m antenna. Same formula as you but I have the 75 ohm coax as the tuning stub got it out of a 1952 arrl antenna hand book which cost $2.50 at the time it was published. I like your feed point insulator come strain relief a good idea . cheers vk5cz Ian ..

[@NICKGAR7]

Super video. Well constructed presentation. Bottom left config (apex up) but with feed point at 1/4 wavelength down from apex gives most optimum for vertical polarity (as opposed to feeding in a corner). Best wishes. Nick M1DDD

[@delfinbilly]

I want to thank you for making this video for everybody to see taking time to do so. I would have like if you were able to show the whole antenna after the project was done.

[@danharding5139]

Very clear explanation. I did have a question if you could comment more about vertical vs. horizontal polarization.

[@tixilx]

Very nice presentation .... 73 from Ireland ☘️

[@kradik]

Very nice video! I've been looking to put a delta loop together for portable use. Thanks again for the inspiration!

[@ReflectingMe2024]

Very useful video Denis, thanks for posting this. And great for the /a QSO eh :). I am just looking into building my own delta loop and your video was extremely helpful. Greetings to you from here in South Wales, UK. 73 2W0JVB

[@wittbit4768]

nice set up, like the video, ru going for the muti element quad in the future, lol

[@thegailen]

Thanks for sharing your swr measurements. I have really similar results with a few different variables. I am feeding mine with 10 ft of ladder line > 4:1 balun > rg6 (75ohm). This seems to have given me a slightly better match on 20, 10 and 6. All bands are below 2:1 across the entire band.

[@redman840]

Gailen Gillespie A 2:1 balun would be ideal for your purpose,closer reducing 120-100 ohms down to the 50 ohm feedpoint impedance needed,that is,unless you use the 75 ohm impedance reduction feedline.

[@dambuster6387]

The impedance of your is 100 ohms, 4 to 1 balun is 200 ohms total and will give 25 ohm impedance in to your 50 ohm coax, miss match the balun WILL heat up better to use 75 ohm 1/4 wave stub connect to 50 ohm coax for mono band op.

[@paulhastings3109]

Nice video the last loop made here was 40 feed with coax and 4 to 1. 73 KQ4CDPaul

[@jeepnypitpits]

Hi Denis thank you for knowledge sharing, some one gave me a LDG 1:1 balun can you show us what antenna config can be use on it, example vertical with radials? Sorry kinda new with the hobby. Thank u in advance..

[@VE3BF]

Hi, Thanks for the note, it's too cold for me to be making outdoor videos at the moment cuz I'm kinda of a tuff in the winter hihi. The 1:1 balun is mostly used on dipoles but it can be used on a vertical. I have a cool inverted V antenna video planned for the spring so stay tuned. 73 de VE3BF

[@jeepnypitpits]

@@VE3BF 72 de 4I1ANA

[@vu3mes]

Just one doubt, I will be erecting the antenna on the 3rd floor roof top at 20 feet. Total height from the ground will be 50 feet, my question is is ground proximity a crucial factor?

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

How is your swr across 20? Mine is almost flat across 20m.

[@mel-ve3ojn319]

Nice Video Denis and really like the antenna, possibly going camping labour day weekend may try to build it and try it out then. Good to hear Rob RMJ too been a while since I talked to him. Keep up the great work Dennis and check out 145.370 new tower up for it..73 Mel-VE3OJN

[@midnighttutor]

Nicely presented. This is a question by a dumb guy: what kind of ground requirement do you need? If you do not have a physical ground for the radio do you need a counterpoise and if so what requirements? Thank you.

[@cqarizona4461]

Dennis..curious... say using a 40ft spider mast, could one build both a 40m and a 20m loop suspending both on the same vert pole with the 20m centered inside of the 40m ? for portable ops etc..de W7TY Idaho

[@VE3BF]

I'm thinking of trying that too, maybe this fall.

[@vu3mes]

Thanks very much, this is my next project. Best dx 73 de vu3mes.

[@bigphil6980]

hi is it possible to do a video on the multi band Delta Loop if not can you point me to someone who has already made one as I am not very technical but a video like yours where you have already made one and you give the length of wire needed and type of Balun Used I can just follow along and make one myself and I will give you credit for showing me how in any video I use it in. cheers Phil M6PGU in the UK

[@VE3BF]

Hi Phill, Funny you should ask, I have gathered all the material to build a multi band loop, I've make all the calculation so all I need now is the temperature to rise and the 6 feet of snow in my back yard to melt. Hi Hi. I hope to make a video on that one this summer. 73 de VE3BF

[@pixotica]

One question, I am looking to build an 11m antenna for cb radio for use in eastern ontario. I am interested in the v delta as bottom fed, full wave, about 36 feet of wire, Do you think this would be better than one of the coax bazooka types, or j pole/slim jims. I am considering all these designs, but am very fond of the idea, of a full wave delta do to ease of build and set up. A couple 12 foot pvc poles would do the trick to make the v.

[@michaelporter351]

Is it best to use a voltage type balun or current balun on loop antennas?

[@VE3BF]

I'm not an expert on balun, the LDG 4:1 balun in the video is a voltage balun, it's main purpose is to match the 100 ohm impedance of the loop down to 50 ohm that the transmitter needs.

[@YO2DA]

Nice setup.Thanks

[@alalan3735]

Were you using a 4:1 current balun?

[@JayN4GO]

Have you noticed any difference in running these vertical vs horizontal ? I’m thinking of making one for 80 but really need to do homework. Some feed with 75 ohm coax and others with ladder line in a corner to a balun.

[@johnkershaw9575]

Denis I enjoyed this video. I hope you will be filming a new one soon. N6NRO

[@vsonam]

Inspiring one

[@kissingbanditt]

I read some info and i'm confused if i may ask for some assistance. Is this antenna directional? Thanks for the video, i loved it...thumbs up..

[@HamRadioAdventures]

Thank you OM! 73

[@VA3JPX]

Great video Denis.

[@af4od02]

Excellent video. Thanks. I will subscribe.

[@jerryfreeman1194]

New to ham , very informative video I like the idea of being mobile 73, Jerry Memphis TN . KN4PVR

[@edpetrovski6640]

All the numbers say that a dipole at a decent height will outperform a delta loop. Yet all the dipole vs loop vids show exactly the opposite. My own experience with a 40M delta loop (first try at building and using) puts the lie to the numbers. Equilateral triangle (more or less) with the apex high...at about 50 ft...fed with open wire and a 2 to 1 balun at one corner yielded unexpectedly good results on both 40 and 20....bottom leg was only about 6 ft off the ground. It was phenomenally "quiet".....very low noise. I suppose if you can get a dipole up at least a half wavelength off the ground it would work quite well too...but on 80M that would be about 130 ft. Interestingly, I erected a two 5/8 wavelengths in phase for 75 meters with the center at about 70 ft and it was a phenomenal DX antenna....Europe was commonplace from Florida practically every night with "strongest sig from North America" comments being a fairly regular report. Worked Asia fairly frequently on 75 as well. 73 and thanks for the vid.

[@edwymer2226]

Very nice Video. Keep them coming. 73. KC3GHC. Ed.

[@kurtbrauer855]

Nice Video Denis Greetings from Thailand Kurt HS0ZBS

[@BradSnyder1]

Pretty cool! 73

[@haronrahman4254]

I like it I'm 9M2YR 73

[@julianjames4519]

Such a delta loop has an impedance 100 - 120 ohm. Probably hardly any difference if you use this balun or connect the antenna directly. If you use 2,25:1 current balun, you almost will not need antenna tuner.

[@VE3BF]

I've moved this antenna to my home QTH. It's now at 30 feet in a flat top installation. The SWR is 1.3 at 14.000 1.0 at 14. 2 and 1.4 at 14.35 this is with a 4:1 balun. 73

[@Jimmyzb36]

I Might try this. Thanks!!! KN4UXO

[@evisuya623]

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