Topband: Grounded Loop antennas.

[JAMESAMS88 at aol.com]

Yes, I remember putting up a haywire grounded inverted U ant. across a creek 
in my back yard crossing about 30 foot of water, Guess the verticals were 
about 50 foot and horz close to 60 foot. Much to short for top band, so I 
installed a loading coil in both vertical legs. With the far end grounded I then found 
a spot on both coils that the ant. would be 50 ohms at the base at the near 
end where I hooked up the coax to the trasmitter. This ant. worked well on DX 
and I could work Europe from Iowa running about 100 watts with no problem. 
Because the antenna was grounded I had no problems with static electricity, Like 
snow static.  Big problem was when the creek flooded the next spring both 
vertical legs were destroyed by high water. I never tried it again but think a 
grounded inverted U would have lots of possibilities and may even have gain over a 
single vertical. Jim W0NFL