Comparing Vertex-Fed Delta Loop vs V Dipole for Short Skip (Inter-EU)

Updated February 26, 2026.

Comparing a Bottom-Corner-Fed Delta Loop (Point Down) vs a 120° V Dipole for Short-Skip (Inter-EU) on 20–6 m

Short-range ionospheric contacts on 20, 17, 15, 12, 10, and 6 meters (roughly “inter-EU” distances) are often made with simple half-wave dipoles—straight or in a V—installed at whatever height is practical. A full-wave delta loop is a legitimate alternative, but some common explanations about “why it works” tend to get overstated or drift off the underlying pattern physics.

Below is a technically correct comparison that stays consistent with electromagnetics: elevation angles are set primarily by height in wavelengths, azimuth patterns remain “dipole-family” unless you add elements, and “quiet RX” is mostly about balance and common-mode control—not antenna mythology.

What “short skip” really means in elevation angle

For roughly 200–1200 km contacts, the required elevation angle depends on which ionospheric region is doing the work:

• Sporadic-E (Es): virtual height often around 90–120 km
• F-region (F1/F2): virtual height often around 200–350 km

One-hop distance	Es (h ≈ 100 km)	F-region (h ≈ 250 km)
300 km	~34°	~59°
500 km	~22°	~45°
800 km	~14°	~32°
1000 km	~11°	~27°
1500 km	~8°	~18°

The correction is simple: there is no single “short-skip angle.” A ~1000 km path can be ~10–15° on Es, and ~25–35° on F-region, depending on conditions. Your antenna doesn’t need to hit one magic number—it needs to cover a useful range.

The dominant lever you control is height in wavelengths

For wire antennas over ground, the elevation pattern is dominated by height in wavelengths (λ), not by whether the wire is triangular or straight. For mostly horizontal polarization, a practical rule of thumb is:

• ~0.2–0.3λ: strongest energy tends to be high angle (often good for very short hops / high-angle modes)
• ~0.45–0.7λ: stronger energy appears at mid angles (often better for ~500–1500 km depending on layer and hop)

Anchoring that to real heights:

• 20 m: 0.5λ ≈ ~10 m
• 10 m: 0.5λ ≈ ~5 m
• 6 m: 0.5λ ≈ ~3 m

This is why so many “pattern claims” are actually height effects in disguise.

Antenna A: Bottom-corner-fed delta loop (point down)

Geometry in plain words

• Full-wave loop (perimeter ≈ 1λ), triangle close to equilateral
• Triangle pointing downward
• Fed at the bottom vertex
• Often installed with the loop in a vertical plane (mechanically convenient with a low feedpoint)

Polarization: mixed by construction (and mixed again by the ionosphere)

A full-wave loop in a vertical plane is not “pure vertical” or “pure horizontal.” Different segments contribute different field components, so you typically launch a mix. With a bottom-corner feed and a vertical-plane installation, you usually get:

• A meaningful vertical component (often more noticeable at lower elevation angles)
• A meaningful horizontal component (often more noticeable at higher elevation angles)

Also keep perspective: on ionospheric paths, polarization is frequently rotated and mixed (Faraday rotation, multipath), so end-to-end “purity” rarely survives the trip anyway.

Azimuth pattern: not omni

A single delta loop like this is not truly omnidirectional. A loop in a vertical plane tends to be bidirectional broadside to the plane of the loop (figure-8 family behavior). At low heights over real ground, nulls can partially fill in, so it can feel more forgiving around the compass—but “omni” is still too strong a claim.

Elevation pattern: height still wins

The loop can sometimes put a bit more energy into lower angles than a purely horizontal wire at the same maximum height, because part of the structure is vertical and the current distribution differs. But it does not magically create an ideal mid-angle lobe at 0.2λ. At ~0.2–0.3λ, most wire antennas still concentrate strongly at higher angles.

Feed impedance: often not 50 Ω without matching

A corner-fed full-wave loop often lands around ~90–130 Ω on resonance (geometry, conductor size, and height all matter). That means “easy monoband tuning” can be true, but a direct 50 Ω coax match is not guaranteed. Many installs use a 2:1 transformer (or another match), and a proper current choke at the feed remains important.

Receive noise: the honest explanation

A loop is not automatically “quiet” by geometry alone. What usually makes a loop installation quieter in practice is:

• Better balance (less unintended common-mode excitation)
• Strong suppression of feedline common-mode current (good choke + good routing)
• Sometimes reduced coupling to certain local E-field noise sources, depending on placement

A V dipole with excellent choking and smart feedline routing can be just as quiet. A loop can be quieter in your station—but it’s not guaranteed.

Antenna B: 120° V dipole at modest height

Why the 120° V is popular

• Less horizontal span than a straight dipole
• Often brings feed impedance closer to 50 Ω for easy coax feed
• Mechanically simple and fast to deploy

Azimuth pattern: still dipole-family

A 120° V dipole remains a broadside radiator (dipole family). The V shape can slightly soften nulls compared to a perfectly straight dipole, but it still isn’t omnidirectional.

Elevation pattern: again, height dominates

At ~0.2–0.3λ, higher angles tend to be strong, which can be excellent for very short hop situations and certain high-angle modes. Around ~0.5λ and up, mid-angle energy strengthens and is often more useful for ~500–1500 km paths depending on ionospheric region and hop geometry.

So it’s not accurate to claim that a low V “overshoots the mid-range zone” in general. It can overshoot some modes and distances, and be exactly right for others.

Receive noise: “open ends are noisier” is not the real driver

The “open ends are noisier” explanation is not reliable. In real stations the dominant factors are:

• Local noise sources near the antenna
• How well the antenna system is balanced
• How much common-mode current rides the outside of the feedline

A V dipole with a proper choke can be very quiet.

Practical comparison

Feature	Bottom-corner-fed delta loop (point down)	120° V dipole
Primary azimuth behavior	Generally bidirectional broadside to loop plane; nulls may be less severe over real ground	Generally broadside; V can slightly soften nulls
Omnidirectional?	No (may feel “more forgiving,” but not true omni)	No
Launched polarization	Mixed (often meaningful vertical component plus horizontal)	Mostly horizontal (unless legs are very steep)
Elevation behavior	Height dominates; can sometimes favor a bit more low-angle content vs a purely horizontal wire at similar max height	Height dominates; 0.2–0.3λ tends high-angle; ~0.5λ tends more mid-angle
Peak gain differences	Usually not dramatic; differences are often small and height/ground dominate	Same story; height/ground dominate
Feed impedance	Often ~90–130 Ω on resonance → matching often needed for 50 Ω	Often near 50 Ω with suitable angle/height
Receive noise	Can be quieter if balanced + good choking + favorable placement	Can be just as quiet with good choking + smart routing
Footprint	Often less horizontal spread, but needs vertical clearance and 2–3 support points	Can be single-support, but wider horizontal reach
Using it on higher bands	Becomes multi-wavelength → more lobes/directionality	Same principle; electrical length changes patterns dramatically

What you can conclude without breaking physics

If your goal is inter-EU style short-skip on 20–6 m, the honest takeaway is:

• The bottom-corner-fed delta loop can be a strong choice when you want a closed loop that’s easy to keep electrically clean (balanced behavior with proper choking), plus some vertical polarization component that can help when lower angles matter, with a mechanically convenient low feedpoint.
• The 120° V dipole remains excellent when you want maximum simplicity, easy 50 Ω feed, and performance that mainly depends on getting it high enough in wavelengths.

Build notes that matter more than the shape

• Use a proper current choke at the feedpoint (both antennas).
• Route the feedline away at a right angle for a short distance where possible.
• Keep distance from noise sources (solar inverters, Ethernet over mains, switch-mode supplies, noisy wiring bundles).
• Trim in the installed position (height and nearby objects shift resonance and impedance).

Interested in more technical content? Subscribe to our updates for deep-dive RF articles and lab notes: RF.Guru email updates and technical articles.

Questions or experiences to share? Feel free to contact RF.Guru for antenna and RF support.