Loop Antennas

last updated 3 May 2022

Loop antennas come in various sizes and shapes, with very different characteristics. As we did with Loop Antenna Theory, we will them into the following types:

  • small receiving loops, less than about 0.1 wavelengths, where the current is approximately constant around the loop. These have a broadside null and maximum radiation off the edges.
  • small transmitting loops, where efficiency is more important.
  • full wave loops, (generally between 2/3 and 3/2 wavelengths) which have maximum radiation broadside to the loop. This is probably the most common loop for ham radio use.
  • large loops, 2 wavelengths or more, which have maximum radiation off the sides of the loop, and may have a broadside null. These may simply be a full wave loop on one band used on other higher bands, which can make a very effective multiband antenna.

We will also look at some of the intermediate cases, which can be quite useful, and some antennas that look like loops but technically aren’t:

  • intermediate loops, around 1/4 wavelength or so
  • half wavelength loops, an early directional antenna
  • Loop antenna beams and arrays (quads, delta loops, Sterba Curtains, Bruce arrays, double rectangles, etc.)
  • bisquare antenna, 2 wavelengths around but open at the top.

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