Ciro Mazzoni BABY Automatic Magnetic Loop Antennas

Bring exciting new capabilities to limited space portable operations with unparalleled reliability and dramatically higher power handling. These are simply the best small transmitting loops available in the world!

Ciro Mazzoni BABY Automatic Magnetic Loop Antennas are made of tough, attractive, aircraft-grade aluminum. For hams suffering with HOA or deed restrictions, an efficient and comparatively small antenna can make a HUGE difference! In spite of their relatively compact size, these antennas are resonant over a wide range of bands; from 40 through 10 meters and continuously, without any frequency gaps. They're great for MARS and CAP use!

The Loop tubing is welded so no screw connections are present; thereby adding strength while completely eliminating intermittent connections and contact resistance. Their tuning capacitor is not a simple variable capacitor but a large, interleaved, air-variable capacitor made of hefty aluminum plates. Each set of capacitor plates is welded directly to opposite portions of the top of the loop. This method creates an extremely robust and stable capacitor!

A weather-resistant actuator motor changes the loop diameter, causing it to expand or contract and thus adjusts the integral capacitor for minimum SWR. Resonance is adjusted by a control unit in the shack. Although resonant bandwidth is very small (as with all compact loops) tuning is very smooth and easily accomplished when you change bands or change frequency within the band.

The MZZ-BABY-A includes an updated ATU 2.0 loop controller that features a black background display with Amber characters. The loop controller allows RS-232 direct-frequency control by certain radios. In rigs with CAT or CI-V output, antenna tuning will automatically track your VFO and band changes. The frequency information is directly transferred from the radio (Elecraft, ICOM, Kenwood, and Yaesu) to the controller, and then the antenna tunes automatically to the current frequency. To interface a transceiver, an optional Interface Cable is required to connect the Loop Antenna ATU 2.0.

For radios lacking an interface, manual tuning is easy. Using the ATU 2.0 controllers small numeric USB keypad, enter the desired frequency, wait a moment, and your loop is ready. The antenna has tuned itself automatically and is ready to use. There is no difficult tuning process, no note taking and no complicated search for lowest SWR. The ATU 2.0 display shows frequency and SWR immediately and LEDs signal the status of the controller.

Please note that the antenna controller will safely pass up to maximum of 200 watts. For higher power applications place the controller between your transceiver and the linear amplifier. The loop antenna will still tune properly. The controller uses a very low-power DDS oscillator to tune the loop so it will tune right through your amplifier. Tuning does not require transmitting!

Magnetic loop antennas typically have a small negative gain when compared to a dipole. However, their signal to noise ratio far exceeds that of a dipole. It's their enhanced S/N ratio that makes these magnetic loops superior receiving antennas.

Do you require a very-high quality and robust antenna that needs little space and height to install? Do you want to operate with respectable power over a wide frequency range with easy, automatic tuning? If so, then Ciro Mazzoni BABY Automatic Magnetic Loop Antennas are a great choice!

Note: The DX Engineering "Documentation" tab ha links to associated files for additional product information. The provided documents will help you to better understand this product.

Ciro Mazzoni BABY Loop Technical Details:

• Frequency Range: 6.6 - 29.8 MHz

• SWR: 1.3:1 typical* Impedance: 50 ohms nominal (gamma matched)

• Maximum Input (PEP and CW): 450 W up to 21 MHz; 1 kW from 22 to 29.8 MHz

• Front/back ratio 6dB* Front/Side ratio: 25 dB

• Antenna Tube Diameter: 1.968 in. (50mm)* Wind loading: 0.25 square meters (2.70 sq. ft.)

• Wind Survival: 100 mph

• Control cable pair: 20 AWG (or 18-2) up to 65 ft.; 16 AWG (or 14-2) up to 100 ft.; 12 AWG (12-2) over 100 ft.

• Weight: 26.4 lbs. (12 Kg)* Capacitor Depth: 8.5 in. (0.215m)

• Loop Width: Approx. 40 in. (1.0m)

• Loop Height: 50.5 in. (1.3m) from top of capacitor to loop hinge base

• Overall Height: Approx. total 60 in. (1.5m) from top of capacitor to bottom of included mast bracket

• Mast Bracket Height: 11.5 in. (0.3m)

• Maximum Mast Diameter: 2.362 in. (60mm)

• Minimum Mast Diameter: 1.967 in. (50mm)

• Assembly hardware: Stainless steel