GREEN VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
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Direction Finder Loop

TIP: Click on the photo to enlarge it.  Close the enlargement by clicking on the 'X' in the upper right corner of the enlarged photo.....
The DF Loop (direction finder loop) is an offspring of the ordinary loop antenna designed to be portable for use in locating RFI sources. This unit was constructed for and donated to the GVARC to aid in assisting members in detecting and proving the location of offending RF interference. Construction of DF loops is well documented on the web so it was not taken on as Club project. It is hoped the Club will establish a committee trained in interference mitigation and that this DF loop will assist them.
Picture

Completed 2 foot diameter direction finding loop with SDR dongle and tablet. An SDR (Software Defined Radio) even as a dongle type receiver can match or surpass the typical ham transceiver performance. These receivers present a spectrum display making it easier to track noise sources that vary in frequency.



Picture

Schematic drawing of a simple DF loop antenna.



Picture
Beginning construction of the loop made with a 1x2” piece of wood. Likely not needed, but contact of the loop with the wood was eliminated with plastic tube sleeves and epoxy glue.




Picture
View of the air variable 150pf capacitor mounted on a small piece of Plexiglas and the balun made with 12 bifilar wound turns on a small ferrite core (random guess design).


The dongle shown is a RTL2832U from RTL-SDR.com. That website will lead you to sales points, software sources and instructions. Many other units are available as well as a typical portable radio equipped with an S meter. Ideally a portable spectrum analyzer could be used.


Picture
Picture
Screen shot of the RTL-SDR on 20 meters with a low power local signal displayed. 



  • Home
    • Repeater Info
    • OUR Web SDR
  • Projects
    • 13.8 Volt Load
    • Antenna Ideas
    • Antenna Construction Ideas
    • Dummy Load
    • Past Projects >
      • Organization
      • RFI Mitigation >
        • Direction Finders
      • 2 Meter Gallery
      • Vertical Flagpole
      • Magnetic Loop
      • Wire Antennas
      • SDR Dongles
      • On the Ground Loop Antenna
  • Activities
    • Calendar
    • NETS >
      • Sunday - Two Meter Net
      • Tuesday - Oatmeal Net
      • Thursday- N7GV Simplex Net
      • Wednesday - Snow Bird Net
      • Inactive Nets >
        • Monday - DMR Net
    • Contests >
      • Winter Field Day
      • 7qp
      • Field Day
      • Arizona QSO Party
    • Social Time Out >
      • Wednesday - Breakfast
      • Thursday Evening Dinner
    • Picnics
    • Special Events
    • Titan Missile Museum
    • Driveouts
    • Road Cleanup
    • Parks on the Air
    • HamFest 2025
  • About
    • 2025 Board Members
    • 2025 Committees
    • Meeting Minutes
    • For New Members
    • Get Help
    • Ham Radio Sites
    • Classes & VE Testing
    • CW Interest
    • Ready, Set, Go Info >
      • Ready, Set, Go
      • Your Go Kit
      • My Alerts
    • Donations of Radio Equipment
    • History
    • Gallery
    • GVARC Certificates
    • EchoLink
    • BaoFeng HTs
    • Contact Us
    • We belong to ARCA
    • Miscellaneous >
      • Emergency Plan
      • Links
      • Technical Blog
  • Members
    • Ham Gear for GVARC Members
    • Current Roster
    • GVARC Logo Items
    • Inventory
    • Members We Honor
    • Name Badge Request
    • DMR Info
    • Win System
    • Member Profiles