PreciseRF Loop vs Dipole Dipole Wins Marketing vs Reality vs Fake Gain
PreciseRF HG-1 claims a 2.5 dBd gain over a dipole on 20m. This loop antenna with an efficiency of say 44% (@14Mhz) does not match or meet any claims of their science.
In real life I found that on 20m the mag loop at times was comparable to a dipole but usually 1-2 S units less on receive. The noise floor was lower on the loop. On transmit I was told that in a/b switching that the dipole was better by also 1-2 S units or worse.
On 40m where the efficiency is a horrible less than 10%, the receive was lower by 2-3 S units but with a improved noise floor and signals on CW were more readable. On transmit again this was just as bad and at times unable to make a contact with the loop. The dipole pulled through every single time.
I tried it against an end fed and the loop was just as bad.
So if I can deploy a dipole or an end fed antenna then that’s better than the loop. Where, I cannot deploy an actual antenna the loop is what gets used based on the small footprint.
So on the scientific claims from PreciseRf and their marketing brochures, I find that the statements are utter nonsense.
Claim
- 2.8 dBd over a dipole on 20m
- 1.5 dBd over an average ground
- 5 dBi over a series of short radials that are 76” long or on top of a conductive ground plane surface (whaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttt who uses radials and a conductive ground plate for a loop not mentioned in the manual)
- Over a dipole the gain is 5.12 dBi
- Over a ¼ antenna with 120 radials is 2dBi
I agree with Owen Duffy https://owenduffy.net/blog/?p=10543 that the scientific claims are complete nonsense and totally incorrect.
How does a 3 ft diameter loop provide gain over a full half wave reference dipole? It doesn’t
They also make some claim over the SOTA version again being better than a dipole or vertical on a mountain top. My testing does not support that claim either.
If you are reading the marketing spin and feel the loop will allow you to make more contacts then you will be disappointed.
Stick to 100w and a dipole and not 10w into a loop with a reduction in efficiency.
If you are HOA, then use a screwdriver of Hustler antenna on your car in the driveway and run the coax to the rig inside the house. Not this loop.
However, if you need a loop for a lower noise floor on receive or have a 2 ft square spot that will allow an antenna then this loop will do the trick and allow you to make contacts maybe not all at 5 by 9 but you will get out more so n 20m than on 40m.
The challenge at QRP is to use the most efficient antenna available which means a dipole
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