I'd use both wires in the pair as a single conductor, but it'd be fun to see how the loop fared with two turns instead of just one.
I'll give the 'both pairs as a single conductor' a shot this weekend, in addition to a different connection from the coax to the antenna wire. The coax is new but my homebrew connector is about 15 years old. Heck, I should be able to use a clip to connect the conductor and ground to the coax to see what happens.
Not sure about the double run loop. Considering the second run of wire would be running parallel to the first run, wouldn't there be a coupling problem? It would be twice as long electrically but it will share the same stand-offs attached to the wood trip.
The mini whip power supply is in the shack (the dining room table ..) next to the radio and laptop. I have tried ferrites but it didn't seem to help, or at a minimum, had no material effect on the signals visible in the SDR waterfall.
The mast is 10 feet of galvanized steel fence post with a 10 foot section of PVC clamped to it (wooden dowel inside for strength). The active antenna sits at the top of the PVC.
What amazes me is that this little antenna in Las Vegas, NV is capable of receiving NDBs in Montana, Canada, and Oregon in addition to XSG, HLG, HLO, HLF, and HLW Coastal Radio markers when the conditions are favorable. Not bad if you ask me, but as a novice, perhaps something everyone can do.
The active antenna is great, awesome for me in fact, but I would like a working alternative to compare results. I was hoping the loop would be effective; sadly, it is not.