Directional Discontinuity Ring Radiator and Other Magnetic Loops (Part One)

I have been thinking for some time that I would like to operate on the 160 meter band. I have a loop antenna of, about 268 feet perimeter. It resonates between the 80M and 40M bands. As such, it is hard to tune in the 160M band and most of the power is used to warm up the tuner.

Recently, a friend of mine, Larry Anderton, WA7YLI, remembered an odd antenna called a Directional Discontinuity Ring Radiator. Never having heard of the antenna by that name, I researched the topic and found some useful references (see below).

Another friend, Jeff, McGrath, KG7HSN, has been searching for alternatives to large, highly visible, antennas in his yard. This antenna might be a solution.

A few days ago, I had a QSO with Rich, K8NDS, of Prescott, AZ on 40M. He was running about 500 watts into a magnetic loop antenna. He was S9+10dB here in Salt Lake City. His QRZ page shows aerial drone photos of his antenna farm. He has had incredible results with this kind of antenna and has written a paper on it. He has a Yahoo Group on this topic.

Both the DDRR antenna and the Helically Loaded Fractional Wave Antenna have been proven effective in various tests. While one could charge off and build either one, I am wondering if, somehow, the two designs could be combined? What would be the benefits? What would be lost in the mixing?

These are questions that I will explore in this and subsequent posts.

Stay tuned...








REFERENCES:

1. "Circular Antennas," Popular Science, December 1962
2. "Stealth Antennas for the Radio Amateur," Richard Fusinski, K8NDS
3. KV4PN Magnetic Loops
4. Yahoo Group - Helically Loaded Fractional Wave Antenna
5. N5DUX PDF Files
6. The_DDRR-Directional_Discontinuity_Ring_Radiator (pdf)
7. Classic Rain Gutter Loop Antenna
8. Horizontal Loop Antenna for Shortwave Listening and Amateur Radio Use (pdf)
9. Copper Loops For 222 and 440 Mhz
10. DDRR Antenna For The Car
11. DDRR (Direct driven ring radiator) Modeling
12. 2M DDRR Mobile Antenna
13. Try Copper for 2 Meters - The Cu Loop (pdf)
14. The Loop Skywire

PATENTS:

1. Low profile antenna having horizontal tunable top loading member US 3427624 A
2. Low profile antenna US 3247515 A
3. Open ring antenna US 3151328 A

PHOTOS

1. DDRR Antenna Photos (Google Search)