Review of Alpha Loop and Buddipole Buddistick (

Hey Oggies, Oggie Rodney Johnson, KAØUSE, loaned me his Alpha Loop antenna and his Buddipole Buddistick. Both antennas are pretty good out away from buildings in low noise environments. I would give the nod to the Buddipole. Check them out! Subscribe: / davidcasler . Ask Dave Playlist: goo.gl/inaQeB. Tip Jar: ke0og.net/tip-jar
To learn more about me, visit: www.dcasler.com...
Tip jar (on my website): www.dcasler.com... (provides a method to use your credit card via PayPal, Also describes Patreon)
To pose an Ask Dave question: www.dcasler.com... or www.ke0og.net/a...
To order the old Technician videos on DVD: dcasler.com/how...
To order the most recent and up-to-date Amateur Extra videos on a thumb drive: dcasler.com/aev...
Theme music is "Sour Tennessee Red," by John Deley and the 41 Players, courtesy KZbin Music Library.
I use drawings from OpenClipArt.org, including the "walking man"
Technician training videos, see www.ke0og.net/t...
General training videos, see www.ke0og.net/g...
Amateur Extra training videos, see www.ke0og.net/e...
List of the Ask Dave videos, see dcasler.com/ask...
Thanks to my sweet wife, Loretta, KBØVWW, for both audio and video assistance! (Her website is www.aldea-art.com.)
My primary website: www.dcasler.com
The ham radio part of my website (direct link): www.ke0og.net
My publishing website: www.mtsneffelsp..., where you can find my fantasy and science fiction books, as well as some local history books I publish for the Ridgway Railroad Museum and the Ouray County Historical Society
My Amazon author page, which lists my print and Kindle books: www.amazon.com/....
And I'm now reading (producing) audiobooks! See my first effort here: goo.gl/0GTHsW
I'm often asked what equipment I use to create the videos. The devices include the Panasonic DMC-G7 camera, Panasonic HDC-TM90 video camera, GoPro Hero2 HD camera, Tascam DR-05 audio recorder, Audio-Technica ATR-3350 lapel microphone, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W560 digital camera, the Kodak Zi-8 video camera, my iPhone 5S, and Pentax K100D DSLR. Software used: CyberLink PowerDirector 13 on a Toshiba S55-A5294, also using Smoothdraw 4.0.5.0, FastStone Image Viewer 5.3, FastStone Capture 8.0, Audacity 2.1.1, LibreOffice 5.0.4.2, and Ink2Go 1.7.2. You can see how my studio is set up by viewing • Tips for Making Instru... .
Twitter: @dcasler

[@rttakezo2000]

Say what you will; I live in a city, in a 6th floor apartment. A magloop on my veranda has been my saving grace.

[@mdouble100]

I'm studying for my HAM license here in Canada. I must admit that learning about the properties of various antenna's can be a bit overwhelming. I found this video especially helpful and most specifically the use of the SDR display as a visual aid. Seeing the comparative signals under different conditions seems to make your verbal description of performance even more accessible and easily understood. For newcomers to the hobby like me every little bit helps.

[@eugenecbell]

Did you get your license yet? I hope you have. If not don’t give up.

[@challenger2ultralightadventure]

I use the "Alex Loop" antenna with my FT-817 when venturing to a mountain tops or back country places, it's performance has greatly exceeded my expectations. Portability and ease of use of this magnetic loop is great. I also have a buddy pole, the full dipole version. I use that on club events like field day, where I can put 100 watts into it, and operate in an off grid mode. Both have a benefits and detractors to them I have found. The loop antenna packs very small, and is clearly backpack capable, but is QRP only. The buddy pole is not back pack capable, unless you are willing to lug the size and weight which I am not, but is 100 watts capable, and has a lower Q, allowing wider coverage without having to re-tune. In short, I don't regret having both, as they clearly serve very different applications.

[@davecasler]

Thanks for adding your experience

[@73xlh]

Loved the comparison! I'm going to build a buddy stick. I'm just now getting into QRP after all these years and that looks like a good one!! I kick myself in the rear for selling my old "vacationer" antenna a few years back.

[@joerogers4227]

Thanks for the review. The comparisons are great. I value your honest evals. On one of your reviews I based my choice to order the MFJ RX only loop. Because of the pandemic I am looking at a 2 month wait for production and shipping. Thanks

[@poitevienphilip]

Mr David..hi It will be now that the Buddistick antenna now makes less noise and is no longer so deaf with the new change in the connector now it has the Versahub

[@N2LRB]

Hi Dave, thank you for your wonderful, well made videos. I look forward to them. I wanted to respond to this video though. I kept cringing as you spoke about the Alpha Loop antenna. I run the Facebook Magnetic Loop Page and I can tell you that we don't consider Magnetic Loop Antenna Compromise antenna. When I built my own I make sure it close to 90% efficient. I use my various loops indoors, as I live in NYC and have no rooftop or window sided privileges. So I use my loop on my bed, about 5 feet away from the window. I regularly make over 1,000 mile contacts. My newest DIY magnetic loop can run over 100 watts. Anyway you made it sound like something was wrong with the Alpha Loop because it has to be used at a maximum of 30 watts for SSB. That is not a negative in that wattage is determined by the capacitor. It's what most manufactures use to keep cost down. It's not that the loop is defective. I purchased a bigger capacitor to let me use more wattage in the latest DIY loop I have constructed. About the limitations. All loops are made without the use of a remote tuning device. It's the way they are build. People general make their own remote tuning device if they feel they need one. Also, the noise you heard was coming from your home. You needed to turn the loop to null out the noise. And loops are not suppose to be put up high. They are to be about 3-5 feet from the ground to be the best loop they can be. Besides, you can't tune it if it's too high to reach, LOL. As for the MFJ, one can not change the inner or outer loop like I do to make my loop the most efficient at the bands I use them in. Please remember that a lot of us are very restricted in how we can operate, put up antennas. Right now magnetic loops are the only way I can work HF. Again, thanks for your videos.

[@davecasler]

Well, we can't always agree on everything. Thanks for your viewpoint.

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

Loops are fantastic love them. Now to find you on FB 🙂. Interesting article about loops in this months QST. 04-2019

[@JMathieson]

Just got my Buddistick and confirm Dave's observation on setting it up. Initially, I had it on my deck and could only get a 2.0:1 match on 40M and 1.8:1 on 20M. Moving the unit out into the yard and mounting it on an old camera tripod, I was able to get 40M down to 1.5:1 and 1.3:1 on 20M. I used some fberglass arrows to keep the counterpoise off the ground. Aside from some fit and finish issues, this will be a great antenna for field day.

[@SuperAWaC]

i'm a newcomer to your channel (and the hobby, not licensed yet) and i appreciate your straight shooting reviews, and how you show and tell instead of just tell, especially when it comes to criticisms of things. i see exactly what you're referring to, and you provide enough context without making too many assumptions on the viewer, making everything easy to understand. that said, i like the loading coal design on the buddistick. it seems pretty clever. considering the relative cost of the antennas it seems difficult to justify the far more expensive option...

[@davecasler]

Thanks

[@eddy2561]

I've owned my Buddistick for many years....tuning the vertical on 40meters can be really frustrating as moving those small tabs in the loading coil can be a pain, IMO. Fortunately, 20 meters up and higher I short the coil out and between moving the stinger up and down and lengthening or shortening the ground wires makes tuning for minimal SWR much easier to achieve. Also, more radials is better for efficiency - its just a simple 1/4 wave vertical after all.

[@AT_68]

Dave - thank you for this video. I was looking into both of these antennas and had yet to make up my mind. From everything I saw online and read, I was leaning toward the Buddipole. This video made up my mind. I appreciate your candid yet honest assessment of both products. I look forward to more videos like this.

[@davecasler]

You're welcome!

[@cfjruth]

I have a Buddipole Mini (balanced, with the ability to break down into smaller pieces) and have found similar results to your Buddistick test here. When I first bought it, I lived on a third floor apartment and would clamp it to a painter's pole mast on the balcony. In this location, it was very difficult to hear anything through the noise. My wife and I later moved to a townhouse with a modest backyard that backs onto some woods. With the Buddipole on a guyed mast in the backyard up about 15 feet up (and about 15-20 feet from the back door), it's still noisy but considerably less so. I've heard people up and down the east coast on 40m with this setup.

[@davecasler]

Thanks for the info!

[@rogerparrett3242]

Hi Dave... Thanks for another useful video. I've got the Mini Buddipole (plus the Rotator Arm Kit), and like you, find the performance good when it's set up away from obstructions, which is not a problem since I generally operate remote with either a Yaesu FT-817nd or an Icom 7200. Slight downside is that I sometimes find the antenna bandwidth a bit narrow (I typically operate 40/20 meters) so I carry a small tuner as well. As an aside, Buddipole products are a bit pricey but I've found their quality absolutely top-notch ... 73 ... Roger / NQ8RP

[@davecasler]

Thanks for the info

[@k5rmj]

Thanks Dave for all the antenna reviews.

[@eddy2561]

Buddistick...........you must use the loading coil for 40 meters and it's a pain in the ass to tune!! From 20m up I bypass the loading coil and just raise or lower the stinker to tune the vertical. The ground radials make a huge difference....huge and the more radials the better. Thia vertical works FB when tuned. I also own the Alpha loop and keep in mind it's a compromised antenna, super easy to tune, and it works for a compromised antenna.

[@danielwebb1004]

I've done a lot of experimenting with different compromise antennas, and in my experience the biggest differences are on transmit efficiency, not receive efficiency. I have found the compromise verticals to receive well on 40m, but I've only made one contact with them. They work much better on 20m for both transmit and receive. It would be interesting to compare the reported FT-8 signal strength, or use reverse beacons to get a comparison of the transmit efficiency in future reviews.

[@davecasler]

Yes, I've been looking at the SOTA Beams WSPRlite system. I haven't dived in yet--they're a bit pricey.

[@thuff3207]

Hi Dave thank you for another great video. I have a buddipole that I have used for years with good success. Many times I have thought about getting a loop for travel so this video helped me to decide.

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Dave, Interesting the improvement when out in middle of yard. 73 WB3BJU

[@vjdav6872]

love the use of SDR with your narrative Dave ...73

[@fredrichhayek5994]

Dave, excellent comparison and information. It resolved a mystery for me. I bought the Alpha Loop (earlier version) at Dayton a couple of years ago thinking it would be easy setup (stealth) for getting signal from my backyard. No matter what I do the signals are not clear. Well, I have a house, 5 foot brick wall and several large trees and mini mountains around me. Wish I had known it was an open area antenna before I spent my money. Next time please post your reviews a couple years earlier so I can save my money! Seriously, you are a great service to us hams who do not have 30 years experience. Scott KG6RSZ

[@davecasler]

Thank you

[@jeff-73]

Man, what a great comparison vid. Thanks Dave! (long time fan of yours btw)

[@R2DMD]

Excellent review, David! You've answered all the questions I had in mind. Thanks!

[@davecasler]

Thanks!

[@DavidGillooly]

I have both the Buddipole Deluxe supplemented with the longer fixed arms and longer whips and a Chameleon loop CHA F-LOOP 2.0 . The Buddistick vertical (you can make one with the deluxe Buddipole) has better transmit performance than the loop I have. In addition, one has to expect a short vertical on 40 meters to work poorly. The longer the radiator the better. With the longer whips AND longer fixed arms performance improves but be sure to use guy ropes. The whips--I know from experience--will break or crimp when they fall from wind. Once they get crimped they fail almost immediately. The loops are pretty inefficient radiators and I have never found them useful on 40 meters. On 20 meters and above they are much better. The Buddistick is much cheaper but I would add the longer length whip and fixed tubes for better performance.

[@davecasler]

Thanks for the information.

[@iain777uk]

I really enjoy this videos because there honesty.

[@davecasler]

Thank you!

[@apkdarter961]

Thank you sir, you helped determine the direction I will go concerning my field antenna kits. Have you ever mentioned or taught about the electromagnetic tempest that surrounds objects and whether they interfere with antenna propagation.

[@davecasler]

I think you may be referring to TEMPEST, which is a form of sigint that looks for unintended emissions from communications equipment. You can learn more on Wikipedia.

[@edwardtatro5294]

Thank you Dave. Have been considering the Buddipole System.

[@Falkenroth1]

I use the Buddipole Deluxe in the field with a QRP Yeasu 817 and very satisfied with its performance.

[@davecasler]

Thanks for the info.

[@elkabong6429]

Nice comparison, Dave! It wasn't clear to me if you were setting up the Buddipole as a dipole or as a single element vertical. Which was it? Thanks and keep up the great work! 73

[@davecasler]

Vertical

[@elkabong6429]

Do you suppose the dipole would have fared better at your QTH under the same conditions? Seems to me it would. 73

[@mrkattm]

Good job, very thorough review. It occurred to me that a fun project to make the Alpha Loop more usable / user friendly would be to couple a stepper motor to the tuning knob and control it with your favorite microcontroller which I guess would be an Arduino for most folks. My guess is that it would only cost about $5 to $10 and the better part of a Saturday afternoon but once done you would have a pretty flexible antenna. Again great job and thanks for sharing.

[@davecasler]

There is such a thing, and it's generally called a screwdriver antenna, and is used in HF mobile installations.

[@F1shifty50]

I’d love to see the balanced buddipole tested. Considering it for my first HF antenna. Thank for the great informative video.

[@davecasler]

And I'd love to test it. Perhaps someday they will send me one to test.

[@322doug]

great review DAVE, and great view of the Colorado mountains.

[@MichaelHuyette]

What brand is that tall tripod in your backyard where the loop is located and where did you purchase it Dave?

[@SeattleRingHunter]

Great presentation and well spoken, thank you for your well constructed review on this topic 🤙

[@microflite]

You can compare antennas without testing the transmit capabilities, hard as that is. Mag loops made out of coax are notoriously inefficient due to the very small radiation resistance of a loop vs the ohmic resistance.

[@NICKGAR7]

Great video. I made a similar loop from junk box parts for a local old ham for rx for about $20. Very high Q as you say. Good 20m RX to USA, EU n UAE used indoors from U.K.! I guess a piece of chewing gum and a bamboo cane would solve the “mounting the mag loop higher” issue. Cheers, Nick M1DDD

[@Sams911]

maybe a dumb question, but if you have no need to transmit.. you just want to listen to 20 meter, 40 meter, etc.. can you use this antenna and is tuning required for receive as well as transmit?

[@davecasler]

If you want to use these rather expensive antennas to receive only, you can. You will find better results by tuning a bit, but tuning is not so critical as it is on transmit. If you are just receiving, get one of the W6LVP receive only amplified loops. Or just stretch out a twenty or thirty-foot wire

[@samvegas2255]

I just place an Order (11-18-2022) for the Alpha Loop antenna. I called Customer Service and the phone was answered by Steve, the founder. Steve spent 45 minutes with me explaining the difference between his design and his competitor's. First, the today Alpha is rated for 100 watts and the tuning box is weatherproof. It is back-ordered 2-4 weeks but it's because 300 units are shipping now. I know very little about what I just purchased but I know Alpha Loop was the only one called that would spend that amount of time and allow me to direct buy.

[@bradcfi2]

The LNR W4OP mag loop has remote tuning abilities. You do not have to be at the antenna to tune.

[@JonXVX]

This answered lots of questions for me, Thanks!!

[@RESlusher]

Thanks for the video, Dave. I just bought a BuddiPole setup as a late birthday present to myself. I'm planning to take it out this weekend for Winter Field Day. I looked at some of the Alpha products and wasn't all that impressed.

[@davecasler]

I hope you enjoy that Buddipole! And don't freeze on Winter Field Day!

[@RESlusher]

David Casler ...from your mouth to God’s ears, sir!

[@RESlusher]

I do have one question though that I feel kind of silly even asking. SWR just deals with the antenna itself, correct, or does the coax factor into the relationship? The reason I ask is the setup I bought comes with 25' of coax which isn't long enough to get to where my mobile shack will be set up. I was planning to add a 50' or possibly 100' run with a barrel connector.

[@davecasler]

I operated the buddipole in the backyard with about 50 feet of coax.

[@bentrider1972]

I have a Buddipole and a Buddistick.If i'm at home i use my Buddipole but if i go for a ride on my bike or anything portable i use my Buddistick.However what i dont use is the Buddipole wire counterpoise.i made a ground mount and have 8 radials each about 9 foot long.Long as i can here someone my 817 will make the qso easy. and it is much smaller and easyer to toss them out then their wire counterpoise.turns it into a portable ground plain antenna and rocks when i'm portable :D

[@davecasler]

Thanks for the info

[@eddy2561]

Hey Dave, I really appreciate your honest opinions in you reviews. It means much more than just describing the product. 73, k6sdw

[@davecasler]

Thank you!

[@remaguire]

Dave, you should check out the Ventenna HfP portable vertical. I've had a Buddipole and the HfP. The Buddipole did a decent job for me, but I have been very impressed with the HfP. In less than 3 months, I've worked 70 countries and am able to break through pile ups that aren't too, too insane. Very pleased with it. 73, NA3CT

[@Bro-f3h]

Shouldn't the tuning knob be on the bottom,

[@skippickens1843]

The gentleman who ha BudiPole helped me build a version of Buddy Pole, I have used mine nearly around the world. We were on islands in the Pacific, places in South America and went to the Arctic, great antenna for cw and phone. We got lots better reception than you are showing.

[@SteveWrightNZ]

Perhaps you might compare against a plain resonant wire dipole, just to give people a real-world feel of how poor these compromise antennas really are.

[@davecasler]

I've been comparing to my station vertical, a Butternut HF9V with ample radiators. It seems to be a good baseline.

[@CroakerOutdoors]

I agree with Steve because it would be good to see these stack up against another field deployable antenna option.

[@AlpineWarren]

My Alexloop always does better than my Buddistick in the field and is less than 1 S-Unit of loss than my 20M dipole and is 1 S-Unit better on 40m because I can't get the center of my dipole higher atn 32'. A very equal compromise.

[@woo1517]

Question about rain on the buddistick, buddy pole, or any antenna with exposed coil. If rain drops are on the coils, therefore connecting multiple together, would it mess anything up?

[@davecasler]

Rainwater is a pretty good insulator, so it won't cause much of a problem. (Salt water, on the other hand, is highly conductive.)

[@joeframo3347]

Brother Dave I watched your video when the buddipole thank you for sharing really good in the alpha antenna check out w4op antenna I think his Loop antennas the best out of all of them add a chameleon and out of alpha w4op check amount on KZbin maybe you can get one of his antennas and it can be remotely used thank you Dave for sharing your video your best friend from Atlanta Georgia

[@ak5sd]

While most "magnetic" loops must be tuned at the antenna, LNR Precision makes a version of the W4OP loop with remote control tuning. Regarding manufacturer claims, I tend to agree with that. The devil is in the detail with these loops. Since the radiation resistance is quite low, the transmit efficiency is significantly degraded if there is any parasitic resistance in the loop. Nobody does a good job of quantifying that effect.

[@davecasler]

Hi Scott. I went to LNR Precision's website and found a picture of what looked like a remote loop tuner under loop accessories, but couldn't find any associated page. Can you post the URL?

[@ak5sd]

www.lnrprecision.com/store/W4OP-REMOTE-Loop-Antenna-p86357157

[@kevinj8258]

David Casler - am willing to loan you my LNR precision w4op loop to test. Would need to check shipping cost. Just an idea so let me know. Really appreciate this video comparison. Am actually trending to use the MFJ BIG EARS lately in the field. Can agree that they all are similar and the power maximum should be QRP level. But then folks start thinking the can use them inside with bad noise. Which is setting up for failure. UNLESS you use some of the computerized noise immune modalities. Then you can still use inside with noise. - N1KTJ

[@davecasler]

Hi Kevin, and thanks for the offer. I will probably not be doing another loop test/review for the next few months.

[@davecasler]

Scott, thanks for the URL. I must've missed the link.

[@adelarsen9776]

This is a great advert for a centre fed dipole.

[@davecasler]

Indeed!

[@alphaantenna]

Funny you should mention that, an Alpha OCF Dipole ‘Gorilla Wire’ Antenna will soon be available.

[@richard-fy2mu]

Used just buddy stick. At 10 feet from my chicken wire and stucco box it seemed ok but the plate is no Bueno We rigid the plate with welded frame of rod. I would not recommend it but Buddy deluxe gave vertical with better performance. At 10 feet on wire 20 was great 40 not so good,15 not useful 10 local region acceptable.

[@revadan]

Butternut ROCKs!

[@davecasler]

If you like gooooooooooooooooooooobbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbsssssssss of radials!

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

The Loop is easily transportable. It is low swr at the exact match point and it is directional.

[@davecasler]

Easily transportable in its bag. Not easy to move very far once set up. The stock tripod that comes with it tips fairly easily, but you can go to a photography store and get a bigger tripod.

[@Pauln0ah]

Buddipole has a high Q and sensitive to rain. I would not waste my money on one- We had used one on our 3DA0 DX Pedition for a quick set up in stopping in rare grids- never again-

[@gh778jk]

350$ for two pieces of cable, a capacitor and a selfie-stick??? That's just criminal! Paddy

[@davecasler]

:-) You can always make your own! And the pic shows a loading coil (inductor)

[@gh778jk]

Funny you'd say that...that is exactly what I did.... got me a Russian variable vacuum cap, had an aluminum pipe (3" diameter) rolled into a perfect circle, gamma-match the lot and I control the cap with a stepper motor and a reduction from inside the shack. The diameter of the loop is just shy of 6'. Works a treat ! And I may have spent about the same money as that commercial loop you present here costs! 73 Paddy

[@brucebolton5115]

Ok I have to ask, what is an oggie?

[@davecasler]

My logo is OG, the last two letters of my callsign. So my viewers are oggies!

[@michaelbradley8508]

Interesting video David. I have a loop antenna from one of the othe manufacturers with similar results. Have you ever tried the MFJ-1625 antenna (www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1625) it is an antenna that is supposed to cover 80-6Ms suspended from a residence window or a stationary vehicle window. I have never spoken to anyone who has had experience with this unit and would like some feedback before I decide to purchase one. Michael VA6XMB 73s

[@davecasler]

I've never used one. Out here in Western Colorado there really aren't that many apartment buildings. If someone out there has, please reply!

[@michaelbradley8508]

Thanks - good point... I've never been there, but I can appreciate your point. My interest in this rig is for use in a 'weekend' van mobile type use. Anyone out there with experience with this unit - your comments would be appreciated. Michael '73s'

[@mygg4u]

nice... de 9w2yzi

[@bobdemartino9752]

Good information, thanks. KK4QYN