Topband: The WD8DSB mini-flag antenna

[wb6rse1 at mac.com]

Yes very nice article and design by Don.

Flags/loops do not exhibit gain but rather directivity. The larger the loop the greater the capture area and the less of a need for a preamp. I routinely use my full size flag without any preamp external to the rig.

A correctly designed and built full size flag will exhibit front/back of 25-30 db.

If smaller loops (and I've tried many) have "essentially the same RDF as other larger flag or pennant antennas" I could have saved myself a lot of work by never having put up a full size flag. Size matters.

For the purpose of direction finding of relatively close noise sources, Don's implementation looks excellent.

73 - Steve WB6RSE

> On Feb 23, 2021, at 10:25 AM, John Kaufmann via Topband <topband at contesting.com> wrote:
> 
> This antenna could also be used as directional receiving antenna on its own.
> Although it is not hugely directive, it can be rotated easily to peak or
> null signals or noise, and it is better than a conventional unterminated
> loop.  It has essentially the same RDF as other larger flag or pennant
> antennas but is obviously far more compact.
> 
> 
> 
> This is a nice contribution by WD8DSB.  Now I have to go off with the
> mini-flag and chase some local noise sources that have been plaguing me this
> winter on the low bands.