the alex loops are great receiving antennas...as for how well they radiate 
is still a question of debate.
I would be interested in the results of your experience with those loops...I 
know they tend to work far better on higher frequencies...but with cw you 
may have better results than those using phone.
I found a direct comparison between an alex loop about 20 feet off the 
ground and a g5RV about the same was that the loop was maybe an S unit or 2 
lower in receive on an average phone signal on say 20 meters, with quite a 
bit less noise.
However, in order to actually talk to those stations we had to use the g5rv 
since the loop simply didn't work.
Switching back and forth while on a qso resulted in the other station not 
hearing us on the loop and getting a decent enough 58 signal on the g5rv.
Switching to a hussler hamstick mounted on the roof of an RV yielded about a 
56 signal report with the same station at the same time etc.
And yes we actually rotated the loop to try and achieve a signal report lol.
Honestly, I have yet to make a QSO with someone using a magnetic loop on any 
band...mostly because I don't have a beam up high on a tower...so the loops 
work well from what I hear, as long as one side of the QSO has a fairly 
significant antenna up.
Again, these are just my experiences and obviously these various loops must 
work since they are becoming more and more popular.
Who knows, perhaps when we did a direct comparison we had other issues with 
the loop that compremised it's performance.
73
Colin, V A6BKX
-----Original Message----- 
From: Jim Gammon
Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2014 9:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: TS590 a great rig!

Hi Eric, yes, have lived in Martinez for a couple of years.
Forty meters should be possible on CW even with your loop
antenna.  Have only heard of people using those for digital
communications, but still, CW probably qualifies in the same
area.  Good luck and enjoy your 590 it's a wonderful rig.  It
might be important which way your apartment balcony faces whether
we can talk or not.  The building might shield the signals.  73,
Jim WA6EKS

----- Original Message -----
From: Eric Clegg <[log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Date sent: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 16:03:24 -0800
Subject: Re: TS590 a great rig!

Hi Jim,
If we have a CW schedule it would probably have to be on 40
meters.

None of my magnetic loop antennas wil work on 75 meters.

I have a fleet of otherwise fine receivers two Drake R8B units
and a lowe
225 in the bedroom.

At least the Drakes don't have forests of menus.

And of course all of the menus on the 590 are accessible.

I may eventually get the free software for the 590 but for now
I'm going to
start slowly.

Thanks for your helpful comments.

Are you living in Martinez now or still somewhere in the Bay
area?

73,

Eric
KU3I