| N0BOF |
Rating:  |
2013-10-27 | |
| Simply Amazing! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I'm usually not a contest participant but I chose the CQ World Wide DX SSB contest to check out the Alexloop. This was the first time I had it out of the nicely made case. The setup took about 5 minutes and I was hooked up to my KX3. Tuning was as simple as turning a knob and listening. With no more than 5 watts of power, I made contacts with dozens of stateside stations (including Alaska & Hi)and the following DX....Aland Islands, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Germany, Estonia, Scotland, Canada, Azores, Latvia.
This was all done sitting in a recliner, with the Alexloop next to me on a tripod, in my daughters first floor apt surrounded by numerous commercial buildings. All I can say is yes, this thing works as advertised! I think I found my new SOTA antenna. |
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| WA6KYR |
Rating: |
2013-10-12 | |
| Convenient and portable |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I have used the Alex Loop for a few months and I find it so convenient that it is the one I take when I travel or do a SOTA.
The amazing thing is how well it works. I have made qsos all over the United States and Europe and South America from Southern California with 10 watts. The ease of setup and portabilty is the key. Very nicely crafted.
Richard |
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| KC9SXB |
Rating: |
2013-10-10 | |
| Bought the Alex Loop and the Alpha Loop for comparison |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
The Alex Loop and Alpha Loop gave me identical results in receive and transmit. For $300, the Alex Loop I bought from eBay (to save on international shipping to the USA, as it is not made in the US) came with the bag and PVC pipe to spread out the coax, and a handle to hold it with. For $300 the Alpha Loop came with a Self Supportive Magnetic Loop Antenna made from Aluminum sections that are easily assembled with a few screws. Also included in the price was a padded field bag with shoulder strap, a nice feature not included with the Alex Loop. Plus the Alpha Loop came with a 6 1/2 foot Aluminum tripod, all of which fit nicely in the bag that has a front padded front pocket large enough for ether my Elecraft KX3 or 817-ND.
As you read more about MLAs, you will likely find out that high voltages are present, so much that it has been stated that people with pace makers should not be close to them while in use. With thoughts of what high voltages does to the body, I'm apprehensive about holding the Alex Loop now that I've learned those are present. The Alpha Loop on the other hand can be placed on a tripod, but I also learned that is too can be hand held or mounted on a pack, because at the very base where you mount it there is a supporting stainless steel 24 x 3/8 bolt. One other design feature (perhaps even flaw?) of the Alex Loop, which is compensated for in the Alpha Loop, is the coaxial feedline seems cross right over the portion of the loop where high voltages are present, where the Alpha Loop compensates for this by physically off-setting the feedline away from both the inner and outer loops with a separate black box at the top with a silver plated SO239. |
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| DC3AFA |
Rating: |
2013-09-26 | |
| Highly recommended! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
O.k. it´s expensive (about 470 $ in Germany).
O.k. you can built your own magnetic loop antenna for little money. Maybe I could, too but I wanted something robust and portable.
After talking to Alex on Ham Radio 2011 in Friedrichshafen I bit the bullet and bought the Alex Loop. Never regret it! Always use it with a photographical tripod. ODX VK5CE/p on Flinders Island with my FT817. This week I had a 53 qso with PY2LED with my X1M pro.
Would like to have an option for 80m but you can´t have it all.
Thanks a lot, Alex!
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| SP6QKP |
Rating: |
2013-09-23 | |
| performance and solid construction |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
This antenna does not require a super advertising because of its design and performance are great.
I like QRP work with random locations. AlexLoop have a small bag for traveling and assembly is very quickly and easy. From many years I checked many different solutions for field day activity but today I can say: I have my destiny.
Last week I was in the meeting with other friends and they said to me that so small magnetic(!) loop is so weak to make any contact. We start to assembly our "shacks". I was on air in time when They was in half way to unpack. Finally I had much more QSO's they They. I had a K1 with battery inside and I used no more then 3W!
I checked this antenna also as indoor antenna. Also on 40m band, where efficiency is not the best, and I'm positive surprised. |
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| VK3XPT |
Rating: |
2013-08-29 | |
| Incredible Performance and Build Quality |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I am a frequent QRP operator, and I have a number of QRP antenna solutions. I will try not to repeat all the great reviews on this site, but I will share this experience with you all.
I had been procrastinating about this antenna for a couple of years, but I finally decided to purchase one. I assembled it in my backyard and tuned it for 20m, which as my first attempt only took about 3 minutes. I had not been on the air longer than 5 minutes and I was blown away by the result! A long-path "55" contact with IZ7NLJ (Italy). That is roughly 15152 mi or 24385 km from my location here in VK3 (Melbourne, Australia)!!!
I must say the AlexLoop Walkham is amazing. I operate QRP portable often, and when compared to random end-fed wires, "squid-pole" antennas and my Miracle Ducker TL, the AlexLoop seems to out-perform the lot. I have had great success with all of these antennas in the past, even with the Miracle Whip antenna which for a compromise antenna I think is great, but the AlexLoop performance leaves it for dead! The Loop is light weight, built very well and requires no counterpoise. It is a very impressive antenna, and Alex is great to deal with!
If you have been "on the fence" regarding the AlexLoop like I was, my advice is to stop procrastinating and get one. It is worth the money!
Thank you Alex for a great product and great customer service.
73,
Perrin
VK3XPT |
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| KI4SVM |
Rating: |
2013-08-28 | |
| Amazing Portable Antenna! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
The AlexLoop is my go-to antenna for SOTA activations. It is the perfect antenna for when I am unsure of the operating conditions on a summit or if I know there will be limited room. If I can stand and turn around, there is enough space for the AlexLoop!
It assembles very quick and is easy to tune. Yes, the bandwidth is narrow but retuning is no big ordeal. But, I am mostly calling CQ and not searching around and changing frequencies much. I really like the frequency agility of this antenna. Being able to tune from 40-10 allows me to play the bands, looking for contacts.
Did I mention how much I like the quick setup? From pack on the ground to tuned and ready to log contacts in less than 4 minutes! And that's not even trying to rush (but I am well rehearsed with the routine after more than 50 activations with this antenna). Wire antennas seem to take me around 15-20 minutes to get set up on a good day. On a bad day, you probably know how that goes!?!
And the amazing thing is, it works great. People dismiss it as just a small compromise antenna, but they haven't tried one yet. Sure, you may be an S-unit down from a big wire antenna, but it's so easy and fun to use. I know several naysayers that are now converts to the AlexLoop. And I can guarantee you it is a conversation starter. |
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| VK3JY |
Rating: |
2013-08-14 | |
| Excellent! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Whilst not cheap (when you include shipping to VK) this Magnetic Loop antenna gives excellent results. I was wary about the claims here on eham but 'bit the bullet' and ordered one from Alex. It arrived in about a week, and Alex gave first class service.
It is very easy to assemble, and my first outing was from indoors as the weather was too cold and wet for anything outdoors.
I tuned up using Alex's instructions listening for maximum noise on 20 meters and then fine tuned using an antenna analyser - which enabled me to get 1:1.1 SWR on the frequency of interest.
My proof that this antenna works was my first contact (from indoors) to EA2KC, a great circle distance distance of some 17,000 kms - yet he was beaming long path .... He gave me 3x4 and he was 5x8 to me. I was using my Elecraft KX3 at 10 watts ....
The antenna is not magic - you have to tune it correctly and wait to pounce on DX as you won't beat a pile up. But that makes it all the more fun! |
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| K6ACJ |
Rating: |
2013-07-14 | |
| AlexLoop Walkham |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
A friend loaned his Walkham loop to me to try out for a few days. From the start I was very impressed with the construction and assembly especially since the carrying bag is so light and small. I'll jump ahead to the end, packing the loop back into the small bag for travel is at first questionable but its amazing that the 36 inch loop easily fits into the bag along with the 3 sections that make up the center support. There is enough spare space to pack a few LIFEPO4 batteries or other accessories. Attached to the inside bag covers are lots of velcro straps to organize the 3 pole pieces and secure them into the bag.
My operating experience was similar to others here, using a KX-3 on 7050 and 14050 was easy, the tuning control was smoother than anticipated and even the the KX-3 auto tuner was Off, the SWR was easy to adjust for near 1:1. BW on 7050 was +/- 10 khz which is fine for me when operating CW and PSK31.
As a long time HF hill topper and portable operator I can say that this is a very impressive antenna from start to end.
To extend the antenna 2 loop diameters above the ground I used an aluminum pole of the type to remove light bulbs from high ceilings available from Home Depot and Osh. Buddipole extender arms and tripod are also very useful and since the antenna is so light weight almost any reasonable support should work. Bill K6ACJ
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| WA8JNM |
Rating: |
2013-05-12 | |
| What fun! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| This may be my first eHam review of any product. The ALexloop Walkham arrived in 2 weeks, straight from Alex. The assembly is easy. My first question was how to mount it, and actually spent $150 this weekend on an ideal camera tripod with the precisely correct diameter. I set it on my second story deck, and attached my KX3 (also new to me), running 10 watts. I put an antenna analyzer in line with a switch, for easy antenna adjustment, which is very sensitive, as you would expect. Alex says to tune for high noise level, but the analyzer makes it much easier. Adjusting for maximum noise was particularly difficult on 40 and 30 meters. My limited experience is that 40 and 30 meters work just ok, but the antenna really shines on 15 meters. ( I have yet to try the other HF bands.) This setup easily worked Romania and France in quick succession on 15 meters CW from Ohio just moments ago. The antenna is much easier to set up and tune than the Superantenna Buddipole knockoff that I have earlier used. It appears to me that if you are willing to spring for a good tripod and a portable analyzer, this may be one of the best, most convenient portable antennas available. More later, after I play with it more extensively. Actually, if you are HOA limited, this might be a good permanent solution, especially if you have a balcony or deck. As you know, no counterpoise is necessary. I would leave the tripod on the deck, and just remove the antenna from it, laying it flat on the deck (maybe covering it for weather protection), after each session. That would take ten seconds or less. In fact, I do live in a condo, but the HOA finally let me put a doublet in the woods. Before I gained that permission I tried several compromise solutions, and this is clearly the best so far. |
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