Mag-Loop Antenna Tuning Indicator Project - Collected a few plastic caps, dug out the #30 wire-wrap wire, and tested LEDs for brightness using DVM diode-check function. Found some really bright RED LEDs to try in next version (super bright using IC-705 20% TX power level). Plan to make a few versions using different number of loop turns. Maybe red cap for higher power (less turns) and white for lower power (more turns)? Still thinking about how to best attach to loop. #HamRadio #DIY #MagLoop

Turns out that adding ferrite to a loop antenna “dampens the loop RF flow”, i.e., degrades the antenna efficiency. Doh! But, taking out the ferrite and just coupling a small three turn loop to the mag-loop’s main loop does not degrade the antenna much (if at all). This version built with a few turns around a water bottle cap and close coupled to the loop works pretty well down on 40m. Will continue testing and optimizing, then write up as blog post thereafter.
#HamRadio #DIYSuccess #MagLoop

@quantensalat Works fine with 10W on CW (40m and up). Here on FT-8 can work stations as long as RX level is -10 or higher. Upper bands work better than lower ones. Do not use SSB here — but CW is pretty much work anyone you can hear (reasonably above the noise) with the IC-705 cranking at 13.8V & 10 Watts. Am sure the other end of the link is dong the heavy lifting!  
#HamRadio #MagLoop