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Reviews For: HF High Power Mag Loop by Pracomm

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : HF High Power Mag Loop by Pracomm
Reviews: 1MSRP: 199
Description:
The SML-500-1 "Outdoor" mag loop is but one in a family of
several designs from Roberto (KX4CY) at Pracomm. This
specific model is "hardened" for outdoor use, and covers
the 17, 20, 30 and 40 Meter ham bands. Included with easy
to follow assembly and tuning procedures. Works great both
indoors and outside, same as other models from Roberto with
various frequency band selections.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.pracomm.store
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0015
K5MP Rating: 2018-11-30
Very affordable, works good indoors or outside Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
On the chance I would be forced to succumb to the whims of my H.O.A. to remove my “unsightly” end-fed long wire antenna, I acquired the SML-500-1 Outdoor mag loop antenna from Roberto at www.pracomm.store, and became immediately amazed at its performance even with it located out of sight from public view, situated in my screened-in back porch. I operate exclusively on CW using 100 Watts of output power with most activity concentrated on 20, 30, and 40 Meters. Through each of those bands I have received signal reports within one to two S-units below what I receive using the long wire antenna, and I recognize a directional beam width of about 30 degrees (a definite advantage over the wire antenna). From my location in S. Florida I direct the loop generally North and I can effectively communicate with stations basically to the upper Midwest around to New England. For contacts into Europe I simply manually direct the loop to my North East where I frequently carry on with old friends in that direction, mostly on 20 Meters. Similarly, to work out West requires a simple rotation in that direction.

Once satisfied this antenna was providing very reliable and effective communications, in order to free up space in the back porch I located it behind the house, nestled between some trees, mounted on a short PVC post planted in the ground. In order to perform the occasional band tuning procedure, I carry my KX3 QRP rig to the antenna where I can do the capacitor tuning while monitoring for the telltale noise “RUSH” which indicates the resonant frequency has been located. I employ an additional tuning tweak by placing the transceiver in transmit mode and while monitoring the SWR meter I “rock” the capacitor knob back and forth until minimum SWR has been located. I then re-cable the coax attached to the rig indoors where I touch up the AUTO TUNER, and from then onward I am happily on the air.

Now that I have gotten acquainted with and have used this antenna exclusively, I have discovered two very significant positive attributes, as follows:
1)Compared to the end-fed long wire antenna, this mag loop demonstrates a noise floor at least 3 S-Units below the wire as measured on my Panadapter Scope. And while monitoring received signal strength, the two antennas compare quite closely as viewed on the scope.
2)One very nagging issue I’ve tried to overcome deals with extreme RFI/TVI issues involving my ATT U-Verse system when transmitting on 40 Meters. In fact, when using either of my two end-fed long-wires, or a high-quality Vertical antenna, any time I transmit on 40 Meters (using 100 Watts, CW), the U-verse system totally fails, requiring a system reset. Official response from ARRL RFI techs is that ATT uses filters in the 7-8Mhz range and they will do nothing to help my cause. Perhaps others of you have a similar issue with ATT U-verse. If so, then you might be interested to know that when I employ this mag loop on 40 Meters, I totally escape the ATT RFI/TVI issues. I have no idea why, but the proof is that I can freely operate 40 Meters now when using this mag loop antenna.

I must mention in closing that once you see offerings of Roberto’s antenna models, you will be hard pressed to find anywhere on the market a HF mag loop antenna capable of 100 Watts CW (200 or more SSB) for such an affordable price. I have been fully amazed and gratified with my acquisition.