In article , Roy Lewallen
wrote:

As far as I can determine, "magnetic loop" (often shortened to
"magloop") is a term strictly used by amateurs. It came into popular use
something like 15 or 20 years ago. The name enhances the widely held
mistaken belief among amateurs that it responds only to magnetic fields.
I've seen the term "magnetic probe" or "magnetic antenna" in the EMC
community to describe such antennas because of their near field
characteristics.


Hello, Roy. The use of "magnetic probe" for a small loop(s) intended to
sniff out induction (near) fields from a radiating structure seems
appropriate. But using "magnetic antenna" for a small loop that is to be
used as a far-field receiving antenna just doesn't make sense, IMHO.
Ditto for a transmitting antenna. In the case of the receiving antenna,
my hunch is that all this came about because the plane of the loop when
aligned with the H-field vector of an incident plane wave produces maximum
current in the loop. Sincerely,

John Wood (Code 5550) e-mail:
Naval Research Laboratory
4555 Overlook Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20375-5337