Topband: Telephone C wire

[lrpmbt at comcast.net]

Should add one more comment to help clarify.

I worked for ATT for 40 years and did repair for 25 of that. "C" wire is 
extremely durable until the heavy plastic sheath is damaged, generally 
rodent or lighting and exposed to the elements. Again in an antenna usage it 
may not be the problem of the constant 52 volts at about 40 ma of telephone 
voltage causing electrolysis. I didn't think of the electrolysis when 
mentioned the use of "C". I just remember replacing miles of "C" wired due 
to the conductors crumbling. Using as an antenna probably will last forever.


Telephone C wire is a copper clad steel wire, as long as the hard plastic sheath remains intact it will be fine, however if the sheath is damaged to expose the wire it rusts rapidly and breaks. I spent many years repairing such wire. Water will migrate inside the sheath and the wire will become very brittle.

Message: 2
Date: Sat, 09 Mar 2013 15:09:31 -0400
From: Herb Schoenbohm <herbs at vitelcom.net>
To: TopBand List <topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Topband: Telephone C-wire for radials and Beverages
Message-ID: <513B88EB.1090309 at vitelcom.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I wonder if regular telephone company C-wire would not make great 
radials either buried or on ground. I do not know the impedance but it 
would also be a stronger replacement for WD-1A for directional Beverages 
as well, although I am not sure what the 40% conductivity comment all 
means, I would think it would be more suitable to resist corrosion and 
the dissimilar metal issues than any aluminum product.

Just curious,


Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ