Topband: Radials help

[Charles Moizeau]

Buzz,

Instead of 500-foot rolls of insulated wire, I found it more cost effective to buy a 1,000-foot roll of 14-2 with ground wire from Home Depot.  I stretched about 200 feet at a time along my property.  From an electrical supply house I bought an inexpensive tool that zips easily through the outer jacket.  I then pulled the kraft paper from the bare copper ground wire.

Use the bare copper wire and the white insulated wire to cross your driveway.  The white insulation will get dirty soon and blend in with the soil, and the bare copper will quickly tarnish and be less conspicuous.

73,

Charles, W2SH





> From: buzz at logi.us
> Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2011 20:49:57 +0000
> To: topband at contesting.com
> Subject: Topband: Radials help
> 
> Installing 80 and 160 verticals and was going to use 14 gauge uninsulated solid copper wire for radials.  Little dirt here, mostly limestone and caliche. Is there any reason to use insulated wire?  No one seems to sell bare wire anymore (Lowes, Home Depot), but it would hide better than colored insulated wire.  I have lots of deer, squirrels, porcupines, possums, skunks, but no hogs.  Half the radials will cross the caliche driveway.  We have only had 3" of rain all year, so the ground is essentially cement. Radials will just be laying on top held in by steel staples.  Grass may cover in years to come! Was going to start with 16 1/4 wave 160 meter radials.
> 
> Any ideas, suggestions on where to buy radial wire or how to install greatly appreciated off reflector.  
> 
> Thanks Buzz N5UR Bandera Texas, Cowboy Capital of the World
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