Why I Love the AlexLoop for POTA

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It's no secret I'm a big fan of the Alex Loop magnetic loop antenna (magloop for short). I use it more than any other portable antenna these days. In this video I talk about why I like it so much, along with other random thoughts about operating CW. It's not so much a review, but more of a conversation about why I like it. I'm not really into doing flashy ham radio gear reviews, but I do enjoy talking about what gear I use to enable my goal of operating QRP CW portable as often as humanly possible. :)
73 & I hope this video is helpful for anyone considering an Alex Loop!
Gear Links:
Alexloop Walkham Antenna: www.dxengineering.com/parts/a...
Vivitar VPT-1250 Tripod: a.co/d/fnYji9A
Chapters:
Intro - 00:00
My Operating Context - 00:18
Why Don't More People Use Mag Loops? - 03:59
Why the Alex Loop Specifically? - 06:40
Footprint - 09:15
Performance (My Experience) - 10:05
You Might Make More Contacts - 12:20
Final Thoughts - 15:08

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Опубликовано:

26 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 42

@ve2zdx 4 месяца назад

CW is a mindfulness practice. That’s one of the reasons I do it, to treat anxiety. 73!

@w4arb 4 месяца назад

Absolutely! That’s a great way to categorize it. 🍻

@JayN4GO 4 месяца назад

Definitely helps my anxiety and ptsd as well. Takes me to my happy place

@n4jaw 4 месяца назад

ey Aaron, I don't know how I missed it but I did not know yo are a Mag Loop operator. I have had an 80 - 10 Alpha Mag Loop for almost 16 years. Since I live in an apartment it is my QTH antenna. Man, I have worked the world with it on SSB, FT8, CW, and packet, both QRP & QRO. If not for it my QRO Ten Tec rigs would be useless. Hope to catch on the bands in the coming days when the rain and thunderstorms lets up here in my area, 73 Jim

@w4arb 4 месяца назад

That’s right! I forgot you use mag loops too! I got the alex loop used on ebay a few months ago, and have been using it a lot since then. That’s awesome to hear your experience with an Alpha one. I think mag loops are quite underrated, hence the video to share the word :) I look forward to hearing you on the air again soon! 73 my friend

@DXJungle 4 месяца назад

Thank you Aaron. 🤝

@w4arb 4 месяца назад

Thanks for watching my friend! 73

@KC2BKM 4 месяца назад

"With Looove" funny! unlesss I was was standing next to ya in the woods. Lol. But i do wanna show that antenna some love.

@w4arb 4 месяца назад

😂😂 gotta treat em with love!

@ontarget1911 4 месяца назад

Well thought out video. Good thoughts.

@w4arb 4 месяца назад

TU & 73!

@Swamp-Fox 4 месяца назад

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the AlexLoop!

@w4arb 4 месяца назад

Thanks for watching & 73!

@dandypoint 4 месяца назад

You are putting out good info.

@w4arb 4 месяца назад

Thank you & 73!

@luisfigueroa3300 4 месяца назад

Hi Aaron, I have you listed in my HamAlert so I usually get awaken around 0500 here in California when you begin operating. I’ve been chasing you for months but 30 meters and 40 meters aren’t doing to well here that early in the morning. I’ll keep on plucking away. Sooner or later the propagation gods will be on my side. 73, Lou KA6VVD 😊

@w4arb 4 месяца назад

I think I need to jump over to 20 meters more. It seems like 40 and 30 are closing up earlier in the day at this part of the solar cycle. I don’t know for sure though. I’ll give 20m a try later this week and see what happens. :)

@N4AAJ 4 месяца назад

@w4arb please don't abandon 30m though :)

@w4arb 4 месяца назад

@N4AAJ Never! 30m is my favorite band. If anything, I’d abandon 40m. 😂

@N4AAJ 4 месяца назад

@@w4arb totally with you there! Tnx OM es 73

@ae4xo 4 месяца назад

I got ya today yeah!!

@w4arb 4 месяца назад

Yes! You were the first in my log this morning. TU for the contact & 73!

@Orbit2020 4 месяца назад

Nice video. Enjoying your channel. Hoping to start hunting CW POTA soon. When using your loop during an activation, how often do you change the direction of the loop, given the high Q, directionally of a loop. Keep up the good work. 73

@w4arb 4 месяца назад

Great question! I typically start with it facing East/West, then when the QSOs slow down, I turn it North/South. I don’t really think too hard about it, sometimes I don’t turn it at all if the QSOs keep flowing. TU & 73!

@KU9L 4 месяца назад

Not in the rain, of course, but I sure wish for a motorized version to work off a truck hitch, tuned from a remote control in the truck. It could sit on a 5 ft mast from that hitch. Also, a favorite picnic table of mine in Colorado has a metal roof on its tiny shelter, so the antenna would be a few feet away just like I also do with my EFHW antennas to get them away from the roof metal that detunes them slightly. Even QRP requires carefully thought out antenna setups, lol. Alex, I want to create a Lay-away plan so I can order the HamPack from DX Engineering, I am retired so my Pension makes me order a little more carefully than when I worked in aerospace & didn't have a budget, lol..cheers, Davey --KU9L

@w4arb 4 месяца назад

Hah if you want to spend a bunch of money, Alexloop makes this: www.dxengineering.com/parts/alx-rc-2 :D

@KU9L 4 месяца назад

@@w4arb I'm going to have to help a few nuns cross an interstate hwy in order for Santa to bring that accessory to me, lol

@scottdunbar4898 4 месяца назад

There's got to be a way to make them less "fiddley" by way of a better gear reduction mechanism in the tuning capacitor.

@w4arb 4 месяца назад

I think the newer model has a bigger ratio of reduction gear if I’m not mistaken. But once you get used to the feel of it, it’s really not bad. It just takes some practice.

@hitthebones 4 месяца назад

Hi! I also have alex loop. The good antenna! Yuri (r1bp)

@w4arb 4 месяца назад

Agreed! 73

@dovetomarc 2 месяца назад

Aaron, can you recommend a tripod for the Alex Loop Antenna? Thanks and 73

@w4arb Месяц назад

Sure! The Vivitar VPT-1250 is what I use with mine. It’s discontinued but can be found on the internet for sale still.

@Dave-AA0IW 4 месяца назад

LOL, throw me in that group that get frustrated with them. Throwing up a linked dipole or a trapped EFHW is so much easier for my laziness.

@w4arb 4 месяца назад

I hear ya! It takes a little patience to learn how to use them. Now I can set up, make 10 contacts, and break down all in less time than it takes me to put up a wire antenna. 😂

@ontarget1911 4 месяца назад

Get an Alex tune

@w4arb 4 месяца назад

Those are cool! I’ve gotten so used to tuning it that I don’t really need it though. :)