loop antenna for semi truck?

[Slowmover]

So, parking a Vortec 350 Chevy in the back of a 3500 GMC van to crank that kind of transmitter power is sorta high-effort & low-gain?

Oh, well . . . .

.

 

[Marconi]

This DDRR idea is said to be a magnetic loop antenna and that can present RF problems and big watts is not the solution. They are reported to act like the Video shows if there is a lot of power.

I guess this is why the guys on the Internet that show their magnetic loops running low power, get the Rx benefits and suffer the Tx losses. When I see these guys making contacts that would typically put a big smile on my face, I think all is not lost on these little magnetic loops we see in these videos (not the video above) and we don't need the fire, sparks, smoke, and big power.

 

[Cody Dixson]

my thing isnt shooting fire and sparks....

I run a galaxy dx98vhp and I just want to make solid dx contacts shooting skip or on ssb. the radio calls for a 1/4 wave length antenna for optimal efficiency. I just cant see strapping a 102 steel whip on here

 

[Marconi]

hey guys just wanted to start a page where we could share loop antenna builds and ideas for making them mobile @kopcicle mentioned it it me and I've been trying to find something close that receives and transmits

my thing isnt shooting fire and sparks....

I run a galaxy dx98vhp and I just want to make solid dx contacts shooting skip or on ssb. the radio calls for a 1/4 wave length antenna for optimal efficiency. I just cant see strapping a 102 steel whip on here

Welcome to the forum Cody.

Sorry for my part in hijacking your thread and your question.

Some of us got carried away talking about and idea for a loop type antenna on a truck mobile setup.

I'd check @kopcicle.

 

[Slowmover]

after kopcicle gave me this to think about I looked up some to get an idea of what it was and I found the delta loop


I have a flattop 98 freightliner
if I made some brackets that would hangout over the mirrors and brought it back to a point at the rear of the sleeper I watched a video where a guy talks about horizontal and vertical loops and the difference is the placement of the feed point... now I'm like you nomad I dont have any experience but I even thought about a 102 steel whip mounted horizontally across the front of the metal visor and the visor acting as a reflector


but.... just like you mentioned nomadradio I figured there might be some receiving issues or super high swr.

A DDRR is an unusual creature.

The FLD flattop I ran 20+ years ago I did with phased pair of 5’ toploads

Up to 14’ if conditions allow is how I’d do it today. Skip-shooter brand.

If it’s your truck then to center-mount an antenna on the roof is the other approach.

Trailer-type and clearance are the issues.

Those two would be my limits for CB.

HAM is another critter.

But install, etc, is the same set of concerns.

Therefore, the bible of Mobile Install:

www.K0BG.com

.

 

[Slowmover]

 

[Cody Dixson]

this is the truck I'm gonna use to hopefully make one of the best hands down mobile rigs out there most of the time I'm hauling overhead campers and they might come over the sleep alittle like 2 inches but usually they stay on the edge



from what I've gathered the loop is great for increasing my receiving capabilities while maintaining a low profile to stay under 13'6

now I've been looking at other things such as coaxial loss and I think this might be a big reason currently why I'm not getting out as much the radio has a 200 wat mosfet amplifier attached so at low drive I'd exspect to see at least 130 watts wide open the antenna I have currently is a single Willson 5000 trucker which I know now isnt an amazing antenna but I've got the swrs down to a 1.2 to 1.4 and with the amp on they go up to a 2 or 3


what do you guys think new coax cable? maybe a antenna tuner? new antennas something more practical I cant stand the monkey made k10 predator.....honestly I dont think all that does anything.

 

[Cody Dixson]

the current truck doesn't show my set up in the picture my father is running two Francis fiberglass antennas with a general lee holding 2 40w finals

 

[WECSOG]

To use that trick on 11 meters you would need a dish over 18 feet in diameter.

The 2-meter example uses a slot about a half-wavelength long.

73

Doesn't have to be a dish. It can be a sheet metal fin, 18 feet long and 1 inch or less high, running the length of a truck. Or it could be the same strip of sheet metal, bent into a 6 foot circle. Or the same strip bent into a [ shape the same width as the truck cab and mounted a few inches above the cab.

 

[WECSOG]

So, parking a Vortec 350 Chevy in the back of a 3500 GMC van to crank that kind of transmitter power is sorta high-effort & low-gain?

Oh, well . . . .

.

If I could afford it, I would buy a Tesla pickup- based camper and a trailer-mounted Detroit 671 generator to tow behind it.

 

[W4KVW]

View attachment 37164

That looks like something that was built by Mosley or some big antenna company back then.Seems as if it was used with a mobile tuner but it's been a very long time for my old memory to recall.Seems as if the ads showed it on an old station wagon back then.

SIX-SHOOTER

 

[Slowmover]

If I could afford it, I would buy a Tesla pickup- based camper and a trailer-mounted Detroit 671 generator to tow behind it.

You’ve got cart ahead of horse.


Circa 1983 36PT Bluebird Wanderlodge. Built to rollover standard.

See the SCORPION Antenna website for how one owner mounted a fully automatic screwdriver antenna.

Already has a 6V92T Detroit and 300-gallons capacity diesel. A jammin’ Jimmi’

Up under the hood is a 12-kW Lister genset.

You tow anything you tow a circa 2002 Ford Thunderbird convertible.!!

.

 

[Slowmover]

That looks like something that was built by Mosley or some big antenna company back then.Seems as if it was used with a mobile tuner but it's been a very long time for my old memory to recall.Seems as if the ads showed it on an old station wagon back then.

SIX-SHOOTER

Was on CopperTalk forum.

 

[WECSOG]

You’ve got cart ahead of horse.
View attachment 37181

Circa 1983 36PT Bluebird Wanderlodge. Built to rollover standard.

See the SCORPION Antenna website for how one owner mounted a fully automatic screwdriver antenna.

Already has a 6V92T Detroit and 300-gallons capacity diesel. A jammin’ Jimmi’

Up under the hood is a 12-kW Lister genset.

You tow anything you tow a circa 2002 Ford Thunderbird convertible.!!

.

Nice! That's much more my speed. Actually if someone gave me a Tesla I wouldn't be able to sell it quickly enough.
I do have a Bluebird, but it's nowhere near as nice as that one. It's a TC2000 with a 6BT and AT545. I was looking at older MCI buses that are basically stainless steel copies of the old GMC buses, when this one came up at a price/condition I couldn't pass up.

What I would really like to have is an old Crown with the pancake 671 and manual transmission.

 

[HomerBB]

I once bought a retired Greyhound bus. But it was very retired. I turned it into a completely self sufficient motorhome and my family of four traveled for months living in it.
It was a 1958 GMC PD 4104. Looked like this one.



I operated my RCI 2950 mobile when rolling. Parked I put an A99 up on a 15' pole.