Ham Radio Antenna - A Cheap and Cheerful Multi-Band Delta Loop

I've started experimenting with a Delta Loop Ham Radio Antenna. Here is my first attempt at making one with supplies I had lying around.
► DISCLAIMER
This video is for entertainment purposes only. I'm not an expert...
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[@IZ0MTW]

Hi and thanks for sharing the whole experience. Aside from the content of this video I wanted to give you an advise on the antenna analyzer. It looks like it’s got some issues. How can it read an impedance of 138 ohm resistive and give you a value of swr 1.1? You should test it at least against few resistive loads (like 50,100 and 150 for example). Given the 50 ohm output impedance of it you should read swr 2 with a R 100 ohm X 0 ohm. I strongly suggest you to check it. 73 Diego

[@SevenFortyOne]

You have a good point. However, SWR calculation is somewhat complex and I'm not sure its proportional to impedance. But I'll check my meter anyway just to make sure.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I just took a closer look at my meter and I think you are right - it doesn't seem to be working correctly. With a pure resistive load connected directly to the coax terminal it is reading a high resistance compared to a standard multi meter. With nothing connected the SWR is measuring 2:1 instead of infinite. Looks like I need to see if I can calibrate and/or repair it Thanks for pointing this out!

[@Jiminico]

I noticed something not right with the meter immediately. Good video nonetheless! Thanks Rob.

[@jamesabc372]

​@@SevenFortyOneIf you can invest in a rigexpert antenna analyzer. 😊

[@kd8opi]

I like your style. Just show people what you did, some basics, and keep it down to earth and show the results.

[@1crazynordlander]

Thumbs up Rob! Thanks for sharing. Very simple setup! I will have to try this. Kevin

[@KC5TGTRadiosNMore]

Been wanting to build one of these for a long time. You did a great job and gave me some good ideas for mine. Thank you for taking the time to put this together I enjoyed watching it! 73

[@MENSA.lady2]

A blob from a hot melt glue gun will hold everything in place and is cheap and easy.

[@snail2171]

I had Delta loop horizontally hanging antenna. 27 meters each side of triangle. It was connected without transformer to Pi tuner on my tube power amp. Was working many DX on 80m, 40, 15, 10. 20 meters band wasn't allowed for my license category.

[@jeffdyer2393]

I use this cut for 30 meter's feed with 300 ohm twin lead no balun because there is a 4:1 in my tuner. Work's great 20-40 is usable 10-80. Great dx 20-40

[@n0vty873]

You design, build, tune antennas, some work, some don't, you are an expert. It is all based on theory.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I am not an expert...just a tinkerer

[@ChaplainDaveSparks]

¼λ stub? Sounds like a job for a _Smith chart_ ... if I only remembered how to use those from my college days ... 😊 73 de AF6AS

[@SevenFortyOne]

1/4 stub would match on one band only...it's been a while since I used a Smith chart myself.

[@NHSbandUnofficial]

I'm so confused! Maine, West Virginia, New Mexico. LOL

[@SevenFortyOne]

I get around 😎

[@northwoodsyankee3528]

You saw that too?

[@kj4zmvhamradio366]

Why make this simple antenna so complicated? 2/1 balun just use a 4/1 no stub make it a multi band simple

[@SevenFortyOne]

That's what I did...did you watch the video?

[@gotman4409]

I didn't catch how far off the ground the bottom portion was. It looks to be about 2-5 feet or so. Thanks

[@SevenFortyOne]

Yes- just a couple of feet at best. It was a temporary installation

[@a_ham_like_me]

Nice job on the delta loop! I like the use of the PVC connectors as strain relief. Also congrats on some DX during the contest. Did you notice any reduction in the noise floor at your location using the loop?

[@SevenFortyOne]

I didn't compare it to my dipole directly but it seems about the same to me...

[@a_ham_like_me]

@@SevenFortyOne Great, thanks for the reply.

[@sameer1798]

Good. I have a 22 m delta loop antenna and it works at 40.20.15.10.6 m , with only AH-4 tuner. QSO is quiet without the noise and nvis HZ1DK 37

[@SummitBidTech]

Interesting. I have some tall trees in my yard and have been using them for mono band dipoles and a 40 meter EFHW but I think they are spaced well for a multi band horizontal delta loop. I like the use of PVC for the support points and I have plenty of that lying around. Tnx

[@davidbridge3542]

Found the high quality technical drawing difficult to follow...my 8 year old daughter explained it to me 😅😅 Thanks for uploading.

[@HamRadioDX]

Great comprehensive video Rob! Good stuff.

[@arthurgumbus3969]

Hi Rob, Nice Video, I would not "fix" the two non-fed triangle insulators to the wire as you have them in the video. Instead I would allow them to "slide" or "move" as wind, ice and movement need to be accommodated for in the antenna erection. A flexible antenna and its mount points are important IMHO. I run a 80-10M Skyloop Horizontal Square Loop which is up at about 50 feet. For insulators I use old glass insulators. I am using the Balun Designs 4:1 5KW 4115et balun in a corner and feeding the antenna with LMR400. The Loops are Great antennas with many lobes and nulls as you use the antenna further up in fundamental frequencies. Very quiet antenna. If you go to my QRZ page I have a link to most of the videos, articles and tools for both square and delta loops. Thanks and Good DX with you loop. Art W1SWL in CT.

[@TheAppalachianWay]

Not knocking your combination wrench to lob the fishing line. But I tried a slingshot with little success. So I brought out a catfish rod/ reel with 2.5 oz of lead. Got my center point up 70’-80’. Like the build, 73’s

[@thormusique]

Excellent video, thank you! I love your idea of using the PVC couplers this way. I'm hoping to erect a giant horizontal loop at my place (in VT) in the coming months, so I think I'll borrow your idea. Cheers and 73!

[@jgstevens5169]

Thanks for your video. I too have considered a Delta antenna, strickly for 11 meter. Will start with the formula you used in the early part of the video, wanna be sure i have enough wire to pull it off... 😅... Clever use of your random PVC laying around.

[@tpcdude]

deta loops Rule!

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Great job on the antenna Rod, thanks for sharing

[@johnsalisbury7664]

Great video, that is the first time I watched someone go through the process. I have a 40m loop sitting here I have been waiting to raise. Thank you for the excellent ideas.

[@MikeN2MAK]

Great video! I haven’t tried a delta loop yet and this will be super helpful. Thanks!

[@roberthuet4549]

Thank for this model of delta loop antenna , I certainly try it with my transceivers.

[@TheArtofEngineering]

I threw my wrench …. It went through my neighbour’s window and killed her 🐈‍⬛…. Then I threw it again and …😂😂😂. I love antenna play! ❤ 73 de VK2AOE

[@SevenFortyOne]

You have to be more careful 😁

[@uhfybngnn1007]

Выкинь нахрен свой антенный анализатор! 100 Om и КСВ 1,1 ))))

[@J123G]

With your impedance hovering ~60-120 wouldn't it have been a better match to use a 2:1 transformer? Your 4:1 obviously worked but for someone considering the same build I'm just trying to understand the optimum match.

[@SevenFortyOne]

My meter wasn't working right in this video. Having said that, I think ideally a 2:1 would be the balun to use but they aren't as easy to come by as a 4:1. I like the phrase "perfect is the enemy of good". I tend to experiment with things I have on hand to try stuff out and iterate/refine from there to improve performance.

[@ededison9404]

Like IZ0MTW said, your meter is not working correctly. what you want to do is use ladder/window line straight to a tuner. That's how I feed my 560 ft loop and my portable 20m loop/40m doublet. KI4YTV

[@ededison9404]

My portable antenna, can be changed from loop to doublet very easily by a wire nut in the center of the loop bottom. the 40m 1/2 WL doublet is about the same length as a full WL 20m loop. As anyone who uses balanced feed line and a tuner knows swr is a coax problem. A 20:1 has the same loss as 1:1 on rg8 on 100 ft runs. yes, I meant twenty to one

[@Frank_K4FMH]

Nice video! I'm tinkering with a Delta Loop for portable ops myself. The current flow in loops is fundamentally different from dipoles(cosine dist vs sine). Was it quieter from your impression, as loops tend to be? 73 de K4FMH

[@SevenFortyOne]

I didn't notice as the band was pretty quiet that day. I haven't gotten back to it since the video but I want to do some more experimenting with this.

[@n4leqonthego852]

Great video Rob, thanks for the information.

[@rs4425]

Great ideas with this video.. thanks..

[@walteredwards544]

Thank you for this. I've always thought about trying this. Your demonstration made it a lot easier to understand. Now I just have to start collecting components. Thanks again and 73 👍🏾🙏🏾✔️💯

[@SevenFortyOne]

I just used material I had on hand. The antenna was easy to build but because of it's size a little hard to set up

[@temporarilyoffline]

Good job Rob!

[@44WM024]

thanks for your video ..Question if you can help ..does the direction of the Del;ta loop triangle matter .for my 10 and 11 meter .i am in Cape Town South Africa like to build one for DX skips lol Regards 44LB11

[@SevenFortyOne]

I think there is some directivity based on how you feed it. I suggest doing a Google search for "delta loop" and you should find some information about this

[@44WM024]

Thank you ..I will go and have a look ..thanks Regards South Africa Cape town @@SevenFortyOne

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

As an engineer, your drawing is just fine.

[@joe.O7X]

Good idea and awesome video. 73 de K7EXO

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

I like how you hung the balun..

[@iu1olr]

Great antenna! i try it!

[@davidbarr832]

Hello KJ4ZIW great vid

[@SevenFortyOne]

thanks - I'm glad you liked it!

[@northwoodsyankee3528]

Pretty cool how an antenna so cheap, simple and close to the ground can do that isn't it?

[@SevenFortyOne]

It worked surprisingly well

[@northwoodsyankee3528]

@@SevenFortyOne For sure.