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write your own review of the M2 6m HO Loop.
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PY2ADR
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 3, 2011 14:26
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Very Good Omni
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Vy happy w/ the antenna. Itīs 12m up in the tower.
Many good qsoīs when prop openīs (hi).
Thinking about stack a 2nd one.
PY2ADR / ZY2C
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WX9DX
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Rating: 2/5
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May 23, 2009 10:17
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Just Got it!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought the antennas at Dayton Hamvention. The 6-meter loop is really flimsy and I have figured out that it's not for my mobile, as I like driving down the road with my vehicle and antennas. The antenna seems like it should be used stationary and needs something to stabilize it! So I'm either going to sell it right away before I put it up or just put it up in the garage with other projects that did not work out.
The two meter ones ( $52ea. Then State Tax ) I bought were very expensive as everything from M2 is. When I put them on the almost $90 stacking bar " which is very thin" made me know right away that this is again for stationary use. So I un-stacked them and will use only one on the truck. So that means I spent money for an extra antenna and stacking kit I can't use. I really wanted to use this mobile stacked. Guess I can't!
I'd would not have bought the stacking kit if I had seen it!
The guys to talk to are ok and helpful. Believe me when I say "you have to have your ducks in a row" before you talk to them, they are all business!!!! :(
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W6OMF
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 16, 2008 20:08
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excellent antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I'm reviewing the HO Loop that has been out for a couple years now... I see some are writing of the older type that are no longer produced. see:http://www.m2inc.com/products/6m/6mloop.html for a picture of current antenna. One of mine is mounted at the top of a 55' tower and one mounted on the Pickup... Both operated excellent. Tuned with analyzer in its operating location, hook up the coax and away we went. The pickup has been on for two years and two trips to Iowa... NO problems... The tower has been up in 70 mph winds, no problem. Tuned right and not sitting in a cluster with other stuff you'll love it. I've used Par, KB6KQ, and Homebrewed but none give me the mechnical strength and band width as the M2 does...73 Larry
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N2CLB
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 8, 2008 06:28
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for rover
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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i use this for the sep/jan arrl vhf contest wehn i go as /r and it works well for that and for a starter antenna for 6M base for SSB this would work well.
73,
Camden
N2CLB
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W6PMR
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Rating: 3/5
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Oct 6, 2007 11:34
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Just OK
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I picked up one of these at the M2 factory swap
and "Foodfest" in Fresno last year.
I found it a bit of a mechanical "cluge" and very finicky to tune. Another suprise was that when it got foggy or it rained the SWR went all over the map!
I replaced it with the PAR omni loop and all those problems went away. If you have a choice go for the Par.
Too bad as these guys at the M2 factory were
great!
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KR4K
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 23, 2007 15:43
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Better in Two's
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Have two loops phased together using the M2 phasing kit. Top loop is at 45 ft. and lower loop is at 33 ft. Both are mounted about 3 ft. off the North side of my Universal Tower. Use support arm above and below loop. Using TS-2000, 100 W, and about 75 ft. LMR-400.
Am really surprised - they work amazingly well. In a year, worked 108 grid squares, 31 states, and 4 countries. Bandwidth is excellent - no need to use tuner. Set them at factory recommended dimensions.
Both loops stood up extremely well during our recent ice storm with a 1/4 in. coating. Noticed little or no droop.
The only problem I have is hearing too many from all directions. Have had many several days when I get the 4's in Fl at the same time as the 6's in CA.
If interested, will send photos of installation via email.
Bottom line - if I can hear 'em, I can work 'em. Go with TWO M2 6m HO loops.
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KG6MWH
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 20, 2003 01:34
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A tad touchy, but it works
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought this antenna as an apartment antenna. I'm in a condo in San Francisco, and I have to hide my antennas in a large window. The antenna is, as another reviewer said, a bit flimsy. I wouldn't want to use it mobile.
I was unable to tune the antenna with the sliding feed and shorting bar. However, the manual does say that tuning should be done when the antenna is well away from walls and large objects. I'm in a large concrete and steel building, so I think the antenna deserves the benefit of the doubt.
I hooked up an MFJ model MFJ-906 6-meter tuner. With the antenna's shorting plug removed, I can easily tune the antenna to 1:1. I don't know enough theory to understand why I can get 1:1 with the shorting plug removed but no better than 1.2:1 with the shorting plug set according to M2's suggestion. If anyone can help me understand this, I'd be grateful. The antenna is even more flimsy with the shorting plug removed.
I'm using the antenna with a Yaesu FT-897, which is very persnickety about SWR. The FT-897 hated this antenna ("HSWR" readout and instant power cutback) before I connected the MFJ-906 tuner. After tuning up the antenna with the MFJ-906, the Yaesu transceiver is very happy with the M2 antenna. The MFJ-906 watt meter shows full forward power, and the FT-897's SWR meter doesn't register, which I assume is the FT-897's way of saying 1:1, since there is no numerical SWR scale on the FT-897, only a thermometer.
I was lucky in that I was hooking up and tuning this antenna during a VHF contest, and I got some quick feedback on how well I was getting out. I made lots of contacts the first day on 50.125 in three grids, up to 150 to 175 miles. That's as well as anybody was doing on 50.125 that day, as far as I could tell. I got good reports.
With the horizontal polarization of this antenna, the noise on 6 meters is dramatically less than what I got on a vertical (Yaesu ATAS-120 active tuning vertical). A beacon in my grid was barely audible on the ATAS-120 vertical, but it's loud and clear on the M2.
From my (admittedly limited so far) experience, I don't think I'd recommend using this antenna without a tuner. It's touchy. But if you can get it under control it does seem to perform.
Another personal quirk: to fit in my limited window space, I've oriented the M2 vertically rather than horizontally. So far I can't tell the difference. Again my theory is deficient, but if I'm not mistaken then this antenna design, given that the antenna is fed from the bottom center, is still happily horizontally polarized though it's pointed upward. And again I'd be grateful if anyone can either set me straight on the theory or explain why this might be so. It's clearly true while receiving. I've not done enough transmission testing to be sure. But I'm definitely being heard and getting good reports from neighboring grids.
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