Try this site... much more accurate & detailed data than the old 1954 map.
https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx
For your area near Crockett, also might want to look at on TAMU Extension
Services Website - they have a lot of detailed test data for various counties
in east Texas.
73
Matt
KM5VI
-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces@contesting.com> On Behalf Of Byron Tatum
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2021 11:20 AM
To: TDXS List <tdxs-list@tdxs.net>; Towertalk Reflector
<towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Square Quad Loop
Seeking Advice - I have studied the square quad loop (wire hung in a
vertical plane) a lot in ON4UN's fifth edition Low Band DX'ing HB. I am
considering installing one for the low end of 80 meters for DX CW work. My
thoughts are to install one in-between two towers. The towers are 130' and 110'
and about 100' apart. No guy wires are in the run where the loop would be.
What I cannot decide upon is whether to feed the loop for vertical or
horizontal polarity. I have studied the charts extensively in the ON4UN HB. I
looked on the US soil conductivity map for my area, in Houston County near
Crockett, TX. It shows a poor soil conductivity, a 4. The best conductivity
shown is 30 and the worst is 2. I was surprised at this as I see traces of iron
ore in the ground in spots. I have dug quite a few holes, most 5 feet deep,
here on this 8 acres and have not encountered a seam of iron ore but find a
fair amount of ironstone chunks. According to the info in ON5UN's HB the
vertically
polarized quad loop is the best DX antenna BUT it needs good soil
conductivity to perform well. The vertically polarized quad loop does not
benefit much from increasing the height of the loop, it mainly benefits from
good soil conductivity. Since I could get the bottom wire about 25' to 30'
above the ground I am considering the horizontally polarized quad loop as the
radiation angle does decrease some as you get it higher and the gain increases
some too. Still, though the horizontally polarized quad loop appears to be no
better than a 40 degree or so angle with most radiation at higher angles.
Thought I would ask if anyone here has tried these antennas and might have any
recommendations. Also am curious if I should accept soil conductivity figures
on map or attempt to find out my conductivity by other means before ruling out
vertically polarized quad loop.Thanks,Byron W5FH
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