My experience with galvanized steel wire in Beverages and
as radials is that they RUST OUT in a few years.
ALUMINUM Electric Fence Wire is also now available
and should last longer. Take precautions to make a
non-corrosive connection to the aluminum wire.
I like #16 or #18 wire for outdoor use as radials or Beverages.
Smaller wires break too easily. Larger wires get heavy although
I confess I've replaced most of my Beverages with #14 insulated
solid (soft) copper wire. It merely s t r e t c h e s when tree
limbs fall on it :-) I use light cord at the ends to act as
'mechanical fuses'.
Tom N4KG
On Wed, 13 Nov 2002 "Barry " <w2up@mindspring.com> writes:
> My Beverages are made of 17 ga galvalnized steel wire (made for
> electric fences). It's strong and cheap - last spool I bought was
> $15 for 1/2 mile! Since a Bev is a high volatge/low current antenna,
> the extra few ohms of resistance shouldn matter.
> 73,
> Barry W2UP
>
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