Building a Delta Loop Antenna For 6m FM.

The delta loop full-wave antenna is easy to build, cheap, and has slightly better performance than a dipole. I built mine for my apartment to operate on 6m FL with my VRM-5080 military radio. Get extra content on Patreon: / radioprepper DISCLAIMER: The Radio Prepper logo (depicting a microphone) is indeed inspired from a famous flag created in 1775. It is NOTHING BUT a symbol of freedom and independence. It does NOT imply support to any political group. It does NOT imply, represent nor support any ideology with an intent on harming anyone. Freedom means freedom from persecution based on any human trait or belief such as, non exhaustively, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or nationality. The Radio Prepper channel is a technology and science channel with a focus on preparedness and use of radio technology for disaster relief and small group communications in times of need. It is apolitical and open to anyone sharing the same interests. .
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[@Liberty4Ever]

I love these antenna building videos. Thank you for making these videos in English so I can enjoy them. 73 de NI4B

[@RadioPrepper]

Sure thing :-)

[@jeromegrzelak8236]

@@RadioPrepper YES THANK YOU KG6MN

[@DucatiMTS1200]

A super and straight to the point video Gil. Thanks for taking the time to produce and encouraging everyone to get building. 73 de GI8WFA.

[@davidportch8837]

excellent Gil... another very useful video (especially the formula and 75 ohm cable matching advice)... many thanks...

[@joelaut12]

Nice video on the delta loop! This is what ham radio is! Building with fewest resources that give the most performance, Merci!

[@billpowell5931]

What a nice presentation! A simple and pretty effective antenna which can be put together for even portable operations. Thank you for sharing. 73!

[@mikemoore3639]

Thank you for posting this video. I was finally able to get on 6m thanks to your instruction. Awesome channel.

[@RadioPrepper]

Great!

[@cwguy8960]

Nicely done! So satisfying to build your own and have it work well. Especially when you calculate it yourself! Great video - seems like you have inspired a lot of viewers!

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks!

[@Steve_Wardley_G6JEF]

Thanks for another great informative video Gil, will have a look at building one myself.

[@sderhy]

Good job Gil, very interesting discussion on delta loops, polarization, matching and shrinking calculation. I learned a lot !

[@RadioPrepper]

Great :-)

[@AlreadyThere1965]

I saw someone build one for 20 meters and set it up in a park a long time ago. It worked great. I forgot about these but always wanted to try one. Thanks for the inspiration, think I will put one together and head to the field.

[@RadioPrepper]

Yep, I want to make one for 30m...

[@Radiogenes]

Fantastic ! Looks pretty effective

[@G0USL]

I will definitely be building one of those!

[@survivalcomms]

Great video ! Thanks for sharing !

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks!

[@carlplant6304]

Great stuff!!

[@roykilo9642]

i really enjoy your Vids...

[@stevejones8665]

Congratulations on another fine Build and 6Mtr Contact well done.👌👍

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks!

[@alzeNL]

Very enjoyable and great to follow. I will try this 6M loop before buying a 6M antenna, thats for sure !

[@RadioPrepper]

You probably won't need to buy one!

[@enriquecruz9607]

Nice Job! Great antenna Thank you from NP4KB...73

[@migalito1955]

Sweet, glad to see 6 meters is alive and well along the Mediterranean. Here, in the states 6 meters is just the length of the pickup truck. Love your weather.

[@RadioPrepper]

Not yet, but I'm working on It!

[@lyfandeth]

Tres bon! Merci, mssr.

[@AdamosDad]

I'm getting into 6m next month with a Yasue FT-991A and this seems like the simplest solution. Thanks Gil, 🎙73's kd9oam

[@TheShawna1]

Thanks for the video I'm going to make one for my military radio also the AN/PRC-77.thanks.jim KB1PFL

[@johndk9jc354]

Great contact! still need 3A 73s

[@Salah.alkhalifa]

Nice job Wonderful apartment Super balcony view!

[@RadioPrepper]

Just a bit too small!

[@Salah.alkhalifa]

Radio Prepper Good work makes small places very huge, as we say in eastern Arabia.

[@mdouble100]

Excellent demonstration of antenna building. I've wanted to build a delta loop for some time now but my desired frequency is 80 meters. Needless to say that would be a very large antenna. I'm located in Ontario Canada and routinely talk to another ststion who uses an 80 meter Delta Loop hung between some large trees. Using 5 watts, that station often out preforms stations with large beams running amps. He js roughly 200 Km from me and commonly operates as net controller for ONTARS, our local 80 meter net. Signal reports from others stations around the province suggest that the Delta Loop really performs well even as a NVIS antenna.

[@RadioPrepper]

Undoubtedly! I wish I had the space..

[@eduardopower5254]

Greaaat video. I've been inspired to build mine

[@RadioPrepper]

Great.

[@willian.direction6740]

Great antenna My old formula is 300/F then Divide answer by 6 to know the length of 75 ohm coax. Have a delta loop for 30m fed like yours with only one support for years it works well.

[@RadioPrepper]

Useful formula thanks!

[@davetelling]

Very nice video, it makes me want to build one now! 73, KJ7WT

[@marciuschester7739]

Good morning Gil, "WOW" that's amazing. I live in the desert here in Southern California surrounded by mountains and in a valley. I've been looking for an antenna with some gain that would work better than my 5/8 wave vertical. Do you think the delta loop would outperform the vertical on 11 meters? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I ask you because all of the other's here on KZbin don't like to help citizens band operator's.

[@RadioPrepper]

It's all about angle of radiation and the delta loop might just work a bit better... Cheap enough to give it a shot...

[@MoTown44240]

I would choose horizontal polarization for CW mode. This antenna is so simple to build, though, that I would build one for vertical and one for horizontal polarization and use an antenna selector switch. I will use spliced down the middle for the horizontal part and use zip ties to keep the wire in the channel. The PVC will weather better since both the antennas will be up and outside permanently. KB8AMZ

[@RadioPrepper]

Indeed I should have used PVC. As to polarization, my 6m radios only have FM...

[@warplanner8852]

Gil, excellent video on a great antenna. Especially valuable was the math you demonstrated. I like how you readjusted the constants to reflect your empirical swr observations. But, damn you! You have awakened my desire to start collecting mil surplus again! ..just when my bride thought those big, ugly radios were gone! Merci, mon ami! 71/72 de k6whp dit dit

[@RadioPrepper]

LOL.

[@johnkershaw9575]

Hi Gil, Great video. The Delta Loop in the Triangle Configuration is my primary HF antenna. It is cut for 40m and also works great on 20m. It's top is about 35 feet up and the bottom is about 8 feet off the ground. This is a wonderful antenna and works much better than my dipole. I love your design with the wood to keep the bottom straight. On my sides I us PCV pipe to hold out the ends. It's feed from the bottom left but I plan to feed it a third of the way up to see if I get a lower angle. Although on FT-8 I am able to cover lots of territory including France all the way from California. I've contacted 22 countries so far. Take care. John N6NRO

[@RadioPrepper]

Nice, I ought to make a couple for HF too!

[@johnpeterson7264]

Great video ! If I make a circular loop (instead of a triangle) where should I feed it for vertical polarization ?

[@RadioPrepper]

I haven't thought about that! Probably on the side...

[@8r4n]

The auto-generated English captions are funny

[@celinee7419]

WoW 👍🏻❤️

[@hfvhf987]

I experimented with a 2m full wave loop recently and was pleasantly surprised how well it worked.

[@RadioPrepper]

Was it round?

[@MBJanus]

Could you please give some explanations ? I recall an homemade antenne VHF without à real double delta but a square radiator, in fact a rectangle where the short sides were giving a plus while a little larger reflector helped to get the right Z. Well I have just to compute it to retrieve the better dimensions, it seemed really easy, only 4x2 copper pipes to weld, a little bit of wood to get the 2 frames parallel at the good distances and something as 6 dBd. No worry as a classic double loop, the accuracy involved and so on.

[@RadioPrepper]

Sorry, I have no idea what you're asking me...

[@slimjim8915]

Where did you get that SWR tester build yourself? love the video

[@RadioPrepper]

MR-100, on EBay.

[@gabrielciandrinideoliveira2336]

What equipment were you using to measure the SWR in this video? Is it some kind of DIY (KIT)? Great Video, 73. PU2PEG

[@RadioPrepper]

MR100 analyser, but today the nano VNA is a better buy.

[@ado75]

Really great "How to" video. Thanks & 73 EI9HAB

[@Kubeltube]

Thank you for sharing your practical videos which are helping me learn more about my radio hobby. Just wanted to ask two small questions - 1. did you use an antenna tuner with the VRM 5080 ? and 2. what sort of antenna analyser are you using? 73`s Steve M0MOG

[@RadioPrepper]

Hi, no tuner for the 5080. I don't have any tuner that can take 50W. I have used my Elecraft T1 but on the mid setting. My analyser is the EU1KY but today I'd suggest a Nano VNA.

[@Kubeltube]

@@RadioPrepper Thank you for the clarification

[@45auto]

5:45 any excuse to bust out the hot glue gun. 😀 My high school Spanish failed me in the second half of the video. 🤣

[@RadioPrepper]

I should have worked in the adhesives industry!

[@catalinalb1722]

Hi there. I have the MR300 antenna analyzer. Can you recommend me a good calibration loads? I have the Open, Short and 50 Ohms as SMA kit. But the MR300 requires 175 and 275. Do you know where I can find them? I did used some resistors to calibrate it but I don't trust them since I connect an PCB rfid antenna for 13.56Mhz and didn't get a good VSWR.

[@RadioPrepper]

No idea sorry. I'd look on EBay.

[@k1defjoel397]

The matching part still puzzles me. I guess i takes experience to know that you can throw a higher impedance cable in the feed line to lower the impedance at the radio end. Any online courses that can be recommended?

[@RadioPrepper]

Not that I know of. I just research on the Internet..

[@jeromegrzelak8236]

In the 1980s in the U.S.A The big thing was d loops with gama matches good bild om kg6mn

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks.

[@rkaag99]

I believe loops tend to have a lower noise floor as well.

[@RadioPrepper]

I want to try one on 30m...

[@alaskankare]

newb here, curious why you did the feed on the hanging side instead of at a corner or on the side with the corner bead?

[@RadioPrepper]

Supposedly more efficient...

[@nickmolonlabe5780]

Easy and cheap- my kind of antenna. I will be building it. One question , will the antenna work the same using English instead of French when transmitting ? ( joke ) Thanks Gil.

[@RadioPrepper]

LOL, using English the sound will have a more discreet sort of tone ;-)

[@glock35ipsc]

Great video as always Gil! I recently put one together for 20m, and I'm very impressed in it's performance with the G90. I have read that a 4:1 current balun in place of the 75 ohm matching stub will allow multiband operation, so I'm going to assemble one to try it on my 20m delta loop. If that works, I'm going to try a 40m version. Cheers and 73! Bob, W0BNC.

[@RadioPrepper]

Great, 4:1 works, 2:1 would be better...

[@glock35ipsc]

@@RadioPrepper good point, 100-120 ohms would be better with a 2:1. Thanks!

[@glock35ipsc]

@@RadioPrepper I wound a 2:1 on a 43 mix toroid, and it worked perfectly today during my POTA activation. 1.2:1 @ exactly 50 ohms at the center of the 20m band, and maintains 50 ohms across the band. Thanks for the suggestion, it was spot on! Bob, W0BNC.

[@RadioPrepper]

Awesome, I need to wing one too..

[@r188ops8]

Hi Gil, did you decide on the MH-510 instead of the MH-511 for your VX-7R then, hows it going so far for range etc?

[@RadioPrepper]

Hi, I did.. Seems to work well so far, but SWR is very high on 6m.. Maybe with a counterpoise... Thanks.

[@r188ops8]

Cool, thanks for the reply. I suppose a ‘rat tail’ might do the trick?

[@RadioPrepper]

A 1.5m rat tail!

[@r188ops8]

😂👍🏻

[@Radiogenes]

I made it! Very cheap build indeed! I made it 5.70 and then I cutted it until I made it resonant at 51.5 It has a good bandwidth. It can operate from 50 to 52mhz This type of antenna looks good for other bands... i guess there ate adaptations for vhf and uhf

[@RadioPrepper]

Great, what final length did you end up with?

[@andyogston8940]

I am intrigued. What radio are you using?

[@RadioPrepper]

It's a Racal VRM-5080.

[@FranciscoCarmo1997]

Nice video Gil! 73 de F4VSE

[@RadioPrepper]

Merci!

[@thingyee1118]

Did I spot a Spyder Co knife? Nice!

[@RadioPrepper]

Yes :-)

[@52Warlock]

Gil , a clarification question please. At 8:15 you say that you will "shorten the cable" 38cm based on your calculations. Are you shortening the 75ohm matching cable , or are you shortening the actual antenna? The only other cable/coax would be the feed line and I don't imagine that changing it's length will make a difference. Thank you , merci .

[@RadioPrepper]

It was the antenna wire..

[@52Warlock]

@@RadioPrepper Thanks Gil - long time subscriber. Learn something every time. Stay safe , be well.

[@RadioPrepper]

You too!

[@richard-fy2mu]

My french is poor but sounds like good antenna. Only thing missing here is 75 meter coax, Have you tried a Moxom antenna?

[@RadioPrepper]

75 Ohm. Yes, I made videos on Moxons for 2 and 6m.

[@richard-fy2mu]

@@RadioPrepper did not see on video lists. Great antennas as 25% size reduction put 6 meter one on patio. Works great swr not as good as wanted but 1.5:1 doable good luck.

[@prestonshute7243]

Another simply build that works. Cheers wd4dda

[@josebrivera1716]

I guess that same configuration would work for 6M SSB?

[@RadioPrepper]

Yes but with the point down; fed at the bottom..

[@fredericpeltier6916]

Bonjour Gilles je suis touts tes tuto je suis fortement intéressé pour la radio amateur surperb tuto J'ai fabriqué la Demi ondes et j'ai beaucoup plus de réception et elle est super Merci Gilles

[@RadioPrepper]

Super! (Gil pas Gilles) :-)

[@CodeDoctorJet]

At 7:09 you're using a neat looking (kit?) SWR meter. Can you share what it is? 73

[@RadioPrepper]

MR-100, on EBay.

[@CodeDoctorJet]

@@RadioPrepper You're so fast! I was just about to edit and say I'd found another comment mentioning the mr100. Thx a ton Gil. 73

[@CanuckHam]

Très bien J'aime les videos!

[@RadioPrepper]

Merci!

[@CanuckHam]

@@RadioPrepper Never thought I would ever use the french I had to take in school here in Canada but your french videos are good practice for me.

[@RadioPrepper]

Great, now you can vacation in the south of France ;-) It's much warmer than Canada ;-)

[@CanuckHam]

@@RadioPrepper I would love too :P

[@mikamurto6219]

What is that measuring device on time 7:02?

[@RadioPrepper]

MR100 antenna analyser. Today the NanoVNA would be the one to try...

[@humaxf1]

BNC-binding post adapter to the rescue. Will the 75ohm matching apply to UHF too?

[@RadioPrepper]

Probably, but it would be so short! Those binding posts are so useful!.

[@CplStiggs]

What kind of radio is this?

[@preppertechnicianee6013]

I was thinking of making a vid on catwhiskers and hand crank radio but just made a my first vid mind checking it out ?

[@RadioPrepper]

Sure, post it.

[@kd5ful]

What kind of radio is that? Looks like military surplus.

[@RadioPrepper]

Yes, Racal VRM-5080.

[@kd5ful]

@@RadioPrepper very cool, merçi beaucoup!

[@nancejo]

How do you measure velocity factor?

[@RadioPrepper]

With a VNA, but it is also given by the cable manufacturer.

[@nancejo]

@@RadioPrepper I tried a 3 foot piece of TV cable I had and the SWR is under 2 across the band . Not bad for a scrap piece of housing wire and a TV cable discard.

[@RadioPrepper]

Great, cheap and simple, and it works. Not much more you can ask for :-)

[@nancejo]

@@RadioPrepper Have you tried a shortened 10M using a coil? I thought I would try making a coil for 4 meters that could clip into my 6M loop giving a 10M antenna. Would that work or not?

[@RadioPrepper]

Not sure...

[@Roland.Hoffmann]

Ufb! Mni tnx de DL4SFC. 73!

[@sirhaugen1025]

why 306.6 in the formula instead of 300?

[@RadioPrepper]

Velocity factor..

[@sirhaugen1025]

@@RadioPrepper Ahh I see - you are doing it directly instead of after? :) got ya - thank u for reply =)

[@brunocdt2765]

Bon boulot Gil !! 73 de F4DNP.

[@RadioPrepper]

Merci!

[@brunocdt2765]

Petite question : le coax 75 Ohm sert d'adaptateur d'impédance ? J'ai pas trop suivi les explications ;) Merci !

[@RadioPrepper]

Oui!

[@RadioPrepper]

Un quart d'onde en 75 Ohm.

[@brunocdt2765]

Il fonctionne bien le petit analyseur d'antennes? J'en ai trouvé un pour moins de 50 euros je vais me laisser tenter bien sur ! Quel programme faut-il pour le connecter à un PC ? 73 de F4DNP.

[@Swoop180]

I spy a Spyderco!

[@jedisgarage4775]

What is that radio???

[@RadioPrepper]

Racal VRM-5080.

[@jedisgarage4775]

@@RadioPrepper I never saw radio like this :)

[@RadioPrepper]

I got it on EBay!

[@michaelm1keyhardy865]

Good lesson in 6m delta loop mike m0fcg m1key

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks.

[@eladadiip]

73

[@gilleslouste9285]

Bonjour Gil pourrais tu traduire en français cette vidéo super interressante

[@RadioPrepper]

Bonjour, peut être, si je trouve le temps.

[@gilleslouste9285]

@@RadioPrepper merci car cela semble très très intéressant.Pour les calculs j'aimerais une traduction, je voudrais en faire une pour 11 m

[@RadioPrepper]

Pour 11m ce serait un fil de 10.36m et un cable coax 75 Ohm de 2.6m.

[@F5MOX]

Merci Gilles je vais tenter de faire ton antenne delta loop 50 MHz à Paris 12eme et de la tester de au bois de Vincennes attachée sur un arbre avec mon FT 817 5W. 73 Gilles de Gérard F5MOX. kzbin.info

[@RadioPrepper]

Dis moi comment ça marche!