100+ MPH wind review of the Alpha Base Magnetic Loop MagLoop antenna

I first saw the Alpha Loop antenna at a club meeting and was impressed by its’ small size and easy setup. I live on the 16^th floor of a condo, and deal with the same HOA Restrictions as a lot of people do. So, I ordered the 100 watt Alpha Base Loop with the Remote Control tuner. Over the last year and a half, I have worked over 229 QSOs including 21 countries, which includes countries in Europe and South America. This has been during some of the worst band conditions I have ever seen. While it is not a beam it will definitely get you on the air. It will also hold up well through a harsh winter or bad windstorms.

Recently, the Alpha Base Loop survived a derecho, which is a land-based hurricane. After about 10 minutes of winds over 100 mph which destroyed some windows in the building as well as some deck furniture that got blown away it’s only missing a non-critical support rod and some clips. After straightening up the coax I was back on the air even without the missing parts.

I run 100 watts on SSB but reduce power to 50 watts and to 25 watts for Data or FM. If you are looking for an antenna and have limited space, this will do the job. I have mine mounted to the balcony. I used a 7ft galvanized steel pole and strapped it to the corner of the balcony. No one has complained about it, and the antenna has made it possible to enjoy Ham Radio again!

You may want an antenna analyzer, which makes it much easier to tune, or use the SWR meter in your rig. Either way, the remote control keeps you from having to go outside to tune the antenna.

Overall, this has been a great antenna!

Chip Alberty, N0CWQ