Topband: TELCO DROP WIRE VS TELCO "C RURAL WIRE"

[wa3mej at comcast.net]

Paul et al, 

  what you want is called " C Rural Wire" unlike drop wire it has a solid PVC insulation and is so strong it can be used to tow a small truck. It has 2 #14 copper clad steel wire about 1/2 inch appart. The Telco has a special tool to split the wires appart but you dont really need it.  Today when cleaning out my old shed I found a roll of at least 500 ft plus several 100-200 foot pieces.  I intend to use this wire as the basis for my two wire beverage (elevated at 7 or 8 ft) to be installed this summer. 



The drop wire which you are talking about has both rubber and cloth insulation and although it looks nearly identical the C rural wire is far superior and appears to have less losses because the rubber abrades away and the cloth wicks up water after a while.  In todays world it is getting harder and harder to get the telco's to give even scraps away so I intend to use what I have. Besides much of the cable around here are burried these days. 



Jim WA3MEJ 



---------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Message: 1 
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2012 07:09:40 -0400 
From: N1BUG <paul at n1bug.com> 
Subject: Re: Topband: Fw: Deterring Critters was:Re: How Good is Good 
        Enough? 
To: ZR <zr at jeremy.mv.com> 
Cc: Mike & Coreen Smith <ve9aa at nbnet.nb.ca>, topband at contesting.com 
Message-ID: <4F5F2AF4.7060707 at n1bug.com> 
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed 

> But you want it insulated. Id suggest #18 Copperweld with a PVC lacket. A 
> PITA to unravel and hold in place but should be up to the task. 

The stuff the telephone company uses for drops here is 2 x #18 
copperweld with very thick insulation (not sure what material). It 
is made like zip cord and is easily separated into two single 
insulated conductors. It can sometimes be had for free if you look 
around. 25 years ago I used the stuff to make my first BOG. It was 
cut in several places by neighborhood kids, but when cleaning up my 
property and laying radials 2 years ago I pulled up the sections of 
it. There had been no critter damage over the years. 

Paul