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General Category => General Radio Discussion => Topic started by: ChrisSmolinski on July 10, 2020, 1913 UTC

Title: Antenna wire, get your cheap antenna wire
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on July 10, 2020, 1913 UTC
Just picked up three 500 ft spools of #14 insulated hookup wire, about a decade ago I switched to this from official "antenna wire" which is more expensive and more of a PITA to work with, as it likes to kink up:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/500-FT-THHN-THWN-WIRE-14-AWG-STRANDED-600-VOLT-MADE-IN-USA-RED-GRN-BLK-BLUE/254585103312

It arrived today, and looks good, brand new spools and everything.

He also has #16 for a little less per roll:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/500-FT-TFFN-TEWN-WIRE-16-AWG-STRANDED-600-VOLT-MADE-IN-USA-RD-GRN-STRIPED/254645997473?hash=item3b4a158fa1:g:3nQAAOSw4TVdqIxl:sc:UPSGround!21158!US!-1&autorefresh=true

Title: Re: Antenna wire, get your cheap antenna wire
Post by: ThaDood on July 11, 2020, 1817 UTC
Back in 1992 I bought from an INDY electrical store a 500ft spool of solid copper #10 AWG insulated wire that lasted me for +20-some years. Made all sorts of antennas with that, and not just for me, but others as well. Heck... It's what my Windom consist of. I see wider bandwidths with it too. Today, when I see contractors rip that out of buildings and houses, I help myself to it, before they do it 1st.
Title: Re: Antenna wire, get your cheap antenna wire
Post by: pinto vortando on July 11, 2020, 2203 UTC
Have used THHN building wire for antennas for years (mostly because of its availability)
in spite of speculation that the annealed copper will stretch and possibly fail.
Have never had that problem... the antennas survived years of ice and wind storms.   
If you use insulated stranded THHN wire outdoors, be sure to seal the exposed ends from water.
You would be amazed at how well water will wick the length of an antenna and corrode it from within
so for that reason, solid THHN is the better way to go.
Be aware that the NEC requires hard drawn copper or copper clad steel for antenna wires.
In any case, NEVER run a wire antenna over or under a power line. 
Title: Re: Antenna wire, get your cheap antenna wire
Post by: Fansome on July 28, 2020, 0636 UTC
I got a spool of this. Very quick response, and he even emailed me beforehand to find out what color I wanted, which is very important to those of us who are fashion conscious.

Reminds me of the old joke, which I know I've repeated here before, but please indulge me:

Wife, when electrician staggers home very late: "Wire you insulate???"
Electrician:                                                           "Watts it to you, I'm Ohm ain't I?"
Title: Re: Antenna wire, get your cheap antenna wire
Post by: John Poet on July 31, 2020, 2330 UTC
I picked up some of this too, the #16.  It was here the 2nd day after I ordered it.  amazing speed.

Title: Re: Antenna wire, get your cheap antenna wire
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on August 01, 2020, 1151 UTC
One of my spools has already been put to good use, I built a 250 ft V Beam antenna aimed to Europe. More details to follow when I get the chance to type up a post.
Title: Re: Antenna wire, get your cheap antenna wire
Post by: RobRich on August 01, 2020, 1323 UTC
I have been using copper-clad aluminum speaker wire for several years now. Mostly for ground radials and some temporary receiving antennas. I am not sure how it would fair for a more permanent install in the air, though. Anyone else using CCA wire for antenna projects?
Title: Re: Antenna wire, get your cheap antenna wire
Post by: Charlie_Dont_Surf on September 26, 2020, 1924 UTC
"This listing was ended by the seller because there was an error in the listing."

Here's his virtual store so look around for what you want: https://www.ebay.com/sch/iwc2carl/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from= (https://www.ebay.com/sch/iwc2carl/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=)

I bought a 50-foot roll of 2-conductor, 14-AWG, stranded wire at (insert name of US big box DIY hardware chain whose name begins with "L") and I have come to like this stuff for ground radials because it's heavy, lays flat for the most part, and doesn't get tangled up like smaller-diameter, solid conductor wire does. It was very easy to split apart so a roll of 50-foot, 2-conductor because becomes a roll of 100-foot, 1-conductor in a matter of minutes.