Self-Paced Course — PORTABLE MAGNETIC LOOP ANTENNA

TM-ANT-054 — Open Handout TM-ANT-054 Estimated time: 2–3 hours (reading + practice + field lab) Handout: TM-ANT-054 (portable_magnetic_loop/tm.html) — keep it open throughout

What You Will Be Able to Do

TLO-1: Given the required materials and tools — construct the PORTABLE MAGNETIC LOOP ANTENNA per TM-ANT-054, tune it to resonance, and verify performance meets the SWR and resonance criteria stated in Chapter 7.

TLO-2: Given NanoVNA or SWR bridge measurements — interpret resonance and SWR data, apply the required calculations from Appendix A, and determine pass/fail against the stated acceptance criterion.

Scope

This manual covers the design, construction, and safe operation of the Portable Magnetic Loop Antenna for amateur radio HF use on 160M–10M (2–6 ft diameter, band-dependent). Magnetic loops are compact, low-noise antennas with narrow bandwidth, requir

What You Need

Handout

  • TM-ANT-054 (PORTABLE MAGNETIC LOOP ANTENNA) — open alongside this course

Equipment (needed for Unit 4 and Unit 5 labs)

  • Materials specified in Chapter 3
  • NanoVNA or SWR bridge
  • Calculator

Course Units

Unit Topic TM Chapters Est. Time
Unit 1 Theory of Operation Ch. 2 20 min
Unit 2 Materials and Construction Ch. 3 20 min
Unit 3 Assembly Procedures Ch. 4 25 min
Unit 4 Calibration and Tuning Ch. 5, Ch. 6, App. A 45 min (lab)
Unit 5 Verification and Field Testing Ch. 7 30 min (lab)
Final Assessment 15-question written test All 20 min

How to Use This Course

  1. Work units in order.
  2. For each unit: read the assigned TM chapter first, then read the unit, then answer the self-check questions.
  3. Self-check answers are at the bottom of each unit — try before looking.
  4. The checkpoint at the end of each unit is a go/no-go.
  5. Complete the Unit 4 and Unit 5 labs with a real antenna before taking the final assessment.
  6. Passing score: 13/15 (87%). All calculation questions must be correct regardless of total score.