The ZS6BKW isn’t resonant in that portion of the 10 meter band. It will require a wide-range antenna tuner there. Note that the ZS6BKW appears to have the better S/N ratio. That’s because both the noise and the signal are being attenuated due to the impedance mismatch. It makes the mag loop appear as noisy, but the mag loop is tuned for resonance, providing more gain, comparitively speaking. This causes the mag loop to pull in more signal and more noise. I’ve intentionally used my manual antenna matching unit to “detune” one of my antennas to make a RX only antenna. It works. S-meter to the left can improve the S/N ratio. Don’t get me wrong. Mag loops are remarkably effective for a compromise type of antenna. I’ve used one from a hotel balcony. I was able to make contacts but the performance wouldn’t beat a tuned dipole; especially a doublet, which the ZS6BKW is akin to. 73, de N4HNH
The ZS6BKW is worth buying a wide-range tuner for. Mine is a boss on 12, 17, and 40, and it gives my 250 ft. doublet a run for the money on 20. And, even though it requires a tuner for 80, it sometimes beats my 250 ft. doublet on 80.
The ZS6BKW isn’t resonant in that portion of the 10 meter band. It will require a wide-range antenna tuner there.
Note that the ZS6BKW appears to have the better S/N ratio. That’s because both the noise and the signal are being attenuated due to the impedance mismatch. It makes the mag loop appear as noisy, but the mag loop is tuned for resonance, providing more gain, comparitively speaking. This causes the mag loop to pull in more signal and more noise.
I’ve intentionally used my manual antenna matching unit to “detune” one of my antennas to make a RX only antenna. It works. S-meter to the left can improve the S/N ratio.
Don’t get me wrong. Mag loops are remarkably effective for a compromise type of antenna. I’ve used one from a hotel balcony. I was able to make contacts but the performance wouldn’t beat a tuned dipole; especially a doublet, which the ZS6BKW is akin to.
73, de N4HNH
Hmm. Glad I didn’t build a zs6
The ZS6BKW is worth buying a wide-range tuner for. Mine is a boss on 12, 17, and 40, and it gives my 250 ft. doublet a run for the money on 20. And, even though it requires a tuner for 80, it sometimes beats my 250 ft. doublet on 80.