QRP Magnetic Loop Antenna on CB radio. (Tuning the Loop) Part 2

[@pda49184]

Good effort Fred.. Even the loops costing £ hundreds are tricky and over sensitive to tuning so credit to you for working out those capacitor adjustments and achieving such a good SWR result .. It'll be interesting to see how you get on with it in use. You are absolutely correct in estimating the power that those small capacitors will handle using FM or AM.. 5 watts would be a very generous figure, although you could double that using SSB.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Hi. Thanks. Yes the tiny caps do limit the power you can run. Ideal would be QRP 10 watts. Its a strange design with just a single loop.

[@Bond2025]

The video wasn't, he kept doing that "old person with a camera" thing by constantly covering the lens with his hand and fingers, blocking what he was filming. If that is some new trendy effect that is deliberate, it's a bit of a disaster as it's rubbish!

[@MakeDoAndMend1]

Hi Fred in the shed. This is George normally in the Garage. I have made my own loop antenna. Thinking of buying a commercialy made one. But was hoping a company would send me one for a product review but no joy. Enjoying your videos. George

[@lkjwertz]

Well, this is some kind of funny. When I opened up my antenna the same screw in the upper left corner cracked, too. This is a stunning good antenna. I used it on 12m and worked Japan, Indonesia and USA with 10W in FT8. The tuning is a bit tricky but getting easier over time. Nice video. Thanks and greetings from Germany ... Holger

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Hi. Good to hear you had contacts with the loop. I think you would need very good conditions on 11m.

[@boxingday11]

The Q, or the bandwidth of a mag look is inherently very narrow by nature. You've done really well to get this to work on 11 meters.👍🏻📡

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Thanks. Its tuned but wait for the testing part to pass judgement

[@boxingday11]

Ah, I wait with bated breath!👍🏻

[@Bond2025]

That *IS NOT* a magnetic loop antenna - it is a loop antenna, completely different i the way it couples, tunes up and resonates. If you need a matching network to match a VHF by design resonant loop antenna on HF, it shows how hideously inefficient this antenna is. Don't forget the ATU or matching network is only to protect the RF output stage by making it see 50ohms, it does *NOT* suddenly make the antenna resonant as it is still the wrong length and not resonant anywhere. You might get a impedance matching network to get that pile of junk to make a radio output stage happy, but transmitting on it will not get you anywhere as the actual loop is NOT resonant! Learn how antennas work. He would be better off with an end fed half wave antenna to cover multiple bands and actually be resonant and not need any impedance matching networks.

[@davidwilliams3519]

Fred you're pretty awesome. I enjoy your videos. I live in Oregon. In the USA

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Thanks for saying. Cheers.

[@Greg-et2dp]

Frid in the shed your Magnetic loop antenna 📡 on CB radio is awesome my friend 😅😅😅

[@PaulMcGeeM0WNU]

Well done for persevering Fred and getting this to tune on 27MHz, I have this exact loop antenna which I reviewed on my channel some time ago, I bought mine off AliExpress rather than Banggood so I guess all the usual Chinese outlets have them listed, like yours mine did not come with instructions, also like yourself I managed to crack the plastic screws in the tuning box when undoing them to look inside as they are indeed tight, hope you can get a contact using it, best of luck and I look forward to the next video on this antenna

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Thanks Paul. Iam glad i was not the only one to crack those screws. I did think I was being a bit heavy handed. Its a interesting design being a single loop without a coupling loop. I think its better as a receive loop than a TX.

[@befree2771]

Good job using nano-vna.

[@uncleart112]

My club manufactures the W2LI loop we sell. We found that the tunning capacitors have to be turned very slowly. Seems like you figured out. Great video. Thanks. Fred. Art- K2ADC

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Thanks for the info!

[@Greg-et2dp]

Frid in the shed your utube videos are awesome my friend 😅😅😅

[@Greg-et2dp]

Frid in the shed you did a good job adjusting the magnetci loop antenna on CB radio thats is awesome my friend 😅😅

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Thanks Greg. Hope your well.

[@Greg-et2dp]

Frid in the shed I learn lot from you about cbs radios antenna for cb radios my friend 😅😅😅

[@gtretroworld]

Good to see you’re getting somewhere with the Magloop Fred,those NanoVNA’s are a God send for the money too.I would recommend your viewers use a large Philips head screwdriver to pop it open as I did similar a while back on a none related radio project with a similar enclosure.Thanks for the video…73’s

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Thanks. Yes i agree on the Nano as they are a great piece of kit. The screw bolts are weird. No real recess to use a philips and they were very tight, way too tight.

[@Bond2025]

It *IS NOT* a magnetic loop, *IT IS A LOOP ANTENNA* - they are completely different in the way they work and resonate, but people without much knowledge often use the same term for anything in a circular shape. That is a loop antenna cut to be resonant on VHF being sold as suitable for HF bands via impedance matchers/ATU. Terribly inefficient, absolutely terrible to see people buying this when it is unsuitable. The only people that would buy this are inexperienced CBers that don't know much.

[@ronleblanc9832]

great video been looking at a loop antenna for some time now very interesting

[@ronleblanc9832]

curiosity got the best of me in canada i ordered it last night from amazon different name on it but looks exactly like it should be receiving it on the 27th of this month sept.

[@ronleblanc9832]

was $124. bucks

[@antenaseinterfacescb]

Fantastic. I am very happy with your sucess. 7351.

[@alzeNL]

Thats a nice setup for static mobile operation - get up a hill somewhere nice. I use a magloop for HF and its amazing how well it performs on very low power. Main thing is you have a capbility you previously didnt and your happy with it as well, good work !

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Thanks. Although i dont see this loop as a replacement for a home CB antenna it does receive very well and i did end up having a lot of fun with it over many weeks.

[@Greg-et2dp]

Frid in the shed my hobbies are painting pictures 🖼 and listening to shortwave and ssb iam thinking about getting my ham license

[@bennyengstrm1325]

I believe that the Mag Loop antenna is horizontally polarized. Since most stations on 11 meters FM transmit vertically, you must expect a weaker signal with the Mag Loop antenna than if both stations transmit horizontally. In any case, it will be interesting if you get the antenna working and get some contacts. The antenna is not very big, so I think you could easily build it twice as big without it taking up a lot of space, on the other hand I would expect it to be more efficient.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Yes good point. Its only 70 cm diameter. I would like a loop that ran more power but they are normally hundreds.

[@lkjwertz]

You can use a loop in horizontal direction, too. Then the radiation pattern is getting round.

[@Bond2025]

The lower signal is caused because the antenna element itself is *NOT* resonant on anything other than 2m/4m/6m by looking at it's physical size. The impedance matching networks DO NOT make the antenna resonant, they only make that pile of rubbish present as 50ohms to the output stage of the radio to stop it blowing up. Polarisation will reduce that already very low signal by up to 10 times. It's a terribly inefficient antenna and I am not sure why anyone would use this loop of wire cut to be resonant on VHF for HF bands via impedance matchers/ATU. Use a simple End Fed Half Wave resonant on multiple HF bands without the need for impedance matching, the signal will be 100 times better than that.

[@Charlottesville798]

Great Doggo!!!!

[@helraiser666painkil]

Hi Fred I just wanted to ask you about where you can possibly buy one of these loop antennas mate? Because after watching your video I'm very interested in buying one myself and I know that it would work brilliant on the 11 meters and it would be interesting to see how good it preformed on the SSB like on 27.555 and 26.285 it would be interesting to see how far away you can get with this particular antenna and if I had one then I'd stick it up with a 20 foot pole and then test it out on the SSB and also on the FM muppet UK band and also on the mid band as well so do some tests and let me know what kind of contacts you got mate OK thanks. Stephen M3SNV 73's.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

I found it a struggle on 11m. Results were shown in part 3. You can get one the same here. uk.banggood.com/20A-20W-QRP-Shortwave-High-Frequency-Transceiver-with-Portable-Small-Loop-Antenna-Broad-Frequency-Band-Low-Interference-Advanced-Tuning-Box-Exceptional-FM-Radio-Reception-p-2015400.html?cur_warehouse=CN&rmmds=search

[@bill-2018]

Metalwork around the aerial isn't good. I've never put one on an aluminium tripod. as it could affect tuning, I've had them on the shack floor or a wooden pole.. Anyway, well done Fred for sussing out how to get it to tune upwards in frequency. G4GHB.

[@Scoob.The.Wight.Adder.]

Hi Fred, fantastic info as always, great video. After seeing the loop antenna videos, I'm interested in getting one, and checked out the link in the video. I will also need to get a VNA nanno. Could you please post me the model number or a link for one ? I did a search, but it got a little confusing as there are many similar types at various prices and I just want one to do basic stuff. I'm very unfamiliar with these types of meeters. Many thanks and thank you for the fantastic video's you do. Scoob 👍😸

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Hi. Ive had my VNA Nano for a while now. This one looks the same as mine. There are plenty of videos on how to adjust them. I might do a basic guide myself in the future. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195786143451?hash=item2d95c376db:g:uCMAAOSwOzld2Sm-&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwNRKB%2BT%2Fds68obSgEV9LPnR7pUKbDEw9alYsIErpuD9CvYmQjaF4hwJNyYzw6sCZyqfLz8FUZ0d6F3KtXCt2wkTOrgQGPs9uFEqlCapvqJs569gDh6ty3x27mr4l0390zgGs7s5X%2Fg%2FD9HQiAYoz91EYmzcvDKK5HBM9d1P2UemqXqXfFco%2B%2Ff2NMPhyXaVK7AXrpIv%2BOOKa4rgUYBcsOMDx948CDD8aMLPAU9cEbkuMkPp3q5laLkbuUbTPetf3Zg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6TnqbnHYg

[@Scoob.The.Wight.Adder.]

Thank you Fred, that's really kind and helpful. Very much appreciated 👍😸❤️

[@ifell3]

Do you think the narrow band width and the lower swr outweighs the low efficiency of the antenna running only 4-5w? Guess we are going to have to wait 😅

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Yes it could. The efficiency of the single loop design is an issue. A twin coupling loop would have been better.

[@Greg-et2dp]

Frid in the shed iam going to san Diego CALIFORNIA in October 2023 19-23 for five days with my cousin and his wife we are flying there my friend 😅😅

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Sounds like a great trip Greg. Been a few years since ive flown myself.

[@larsschmidt7249]

have you tried a terminated inverted u antenna. mine works great from 1.8 MHz - 30 MHz i get well under 1.5 swr. i manly use it for listening to shortwave but i do chat on cb on ssb and antenna does not need any tuning

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

No i have not. I am going to be looking into finding a working stealth type antenna in the future.

[@T.M.G2014]

would you not try the 9900 with it turned down to 5w and see if you get any skip contacts with loop??

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

I might in the future.

[@alanslade2319]

Fred I’m very i impressed lot of work but yea I get it, thanks for letting us see you do this, bloody brilliant work can’t wait to see you get a contact ,see you soon CT 48-70 Alan.👍

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

What about a 16:1 UNUN driving a EFLW.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

I have tried a long wire before. Trouble is that 99% of local contacts are on vertical. Obv skip no issue. I am thinking of trying a inverted V dipole in the garden. Not sure about QRP noise though as iam in the middle of a housing estate.

[@mikecricket113]

the bauln box will keep RF coming back on your coax back to the shack. Cause without it your other end of the loop turns into your coax.

[@mikecricket113]

Fred, I was wondering if you used that set up with a different mag loop impedance matcher. Or you can get yourself a LDG auto tuner to put near the radio. That’s really what your missing. You can use the matcher knobs to get so about 2-1,3 swr. Then use the automatic turner to make up the rest.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

You could use a matcher to tune the SWR but then you would loose some of the TX power. I think with this loop design (single loop and no induction) you really need every milliwatt output.

[@lkjwertz]

@@mikecricket113 Don't use a tuner on a tuned loop ;)

[@johnnorth9355]

Where is the inductor loop ?

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

There is not one. I think thats the whole point with this antenna. Its more like a receive antenna.

[@lkjwertz]

Youu don't need a inductor loop. The 2nd (lower) variable capacitor is doing the matching.

[@mrtonicsvls3624]

Can you open the second mini box?

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Hi. I will try and rem next time i make a video on the antenna.

[@8807technotrasher]

вы не видите, что эта антенна не верно собрана? как соединено все. как подсоединены экран и центральная жила кабеля. автор бы сделал схему подключения.

[@ROB-M0LOL-VK2OMG]

Well you cant deny.you get your £70:00 pound value when you get these antennas of this company.i think the only things worth the money there are the bnc and pl259 plugs.apart from that i wouldn't even put a Maxcom 30e radio into it.😊😊😊

[@patrickdemeyer2210]

put a 10 turn knob on the caps.

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

You want 26.695-27.99125Mhz

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Yes for CB but the antenna is supposed to tune up into 28 megs for 10 meters. I have got that now.

[@26TM034]

seems like alot of faff for no gain.... may be good for a prison cell station.... no room snd plenty of time 😂😂😂😂

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

LOL. Its always fun to play with antennas.

[@MONTY-YTNOM]

melted wires and split plastic wire wrap.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Yes its not the best is it.

[@Bond2025]

You need to move the camera forward by 3ft and this will help with the problem you have of constantly blocking the camera with your hands and fingers. I am not sure why you don't notice this when you edit the videos and make NO effort to correct it. We can't see through your hands and I have no idea what it is you are trying to achieve by ruining the quality of your own videos this way. Watch the video again and explain why you keep covering the camera lens with your fingers, your hand and then wave your hands about across the lens and start tapping on things. People expect a much better quality and this type of production make the videos quite childish, it is what a child might do and not understand that they were blocking what was being filmed. There are lots of tutorial videos you can use to learn about video production. I notice you have only recently started doing this, other videos you never used to do it, so what has changed and caused you to think putting your hands and fingers over the lens to block what you film or to tap on things is a good idea? I'm curious as to which youtuber you started copying this from as I know one channel started doing it for a laugh to track how many watched them and copied what they did. They have a league table with the results!

[@JNET_Reloaded]

Way too much talking just do it

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Says the guy with 280 videos and just 326 subs. Maybe you should talk some more.

[@ClickinChicken]

I love your finger snap music on intro! Shit Fred, the Aliens are going to go right to your- (thanks google) Gaff. Glad you have a big back yard! 5 watts that's not bad. You can pack it in car tripod! Meep, Meep, we come in peace! Thanks Fred, good as you go! _

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Cheers and beers.

[@AEZAEZEL-187]

Hey Fred in the shed I am happy you are happy with your mag loop antenna but this antenna is NOT an antenna one would buy set it up and use on a CB radio. So i am good for a few channels but if i want to use channel 1 and then up to 20 i have to retune? Why FRED why go buy a Sirio GAIN MASTER and make a video about it that it needs no tuning i would like the video but this Banggood antenna? NO it is a failed experiment even if you aree happy!

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Yes i do agree with you. I dont think that this loop is an ideal CB antenna. I was hoping for something that people could use if you could not put up a full sized antenna. The performance TX of this single loop is not efficient enough to be worth the hassle. However its RX performance on the ground was surprisingly good.