Topband: Radial wire size ?

[Bill Wichers]

You could use the 18 gauge insulated stranded CCS (Copper Clad Steel) wire that Davis RF and The Wireman sell. The PE jacket is a matte black color and not very visible from any distance away. It's pretty strong too, and not very expensive. I use it a lot for wire antennas.

I'm amazed your 22 gauge wire is holding up for elevated radials! Especially 135 feet long! I would expect such small wire to break pretty quick used in your application so I'm really surprised it's working for you.

Regarding the resistance, I doubt it would make much of a difference. I'd go with larger wire more for strength than anything else. I use 18 gauge solid copper for my own on-ground radials (but I have some 40(ish) of them). 

    -Bill

> I use 3 raised radials ~ 135 feet long of #22 ga. solid wire.
>  used for dog perimeter control and is un-tinned copper
> 
>  covered with green plastic. The wire is about 11 feet high to keep it out of
> the way in the common property woods area of multi building condos and
> will be taken down when the weather starts to warm.
> 
> The resistance of 135 feet of copper wire is:
> #22 ga.   2.18  Ohms
> #20 ga.  1.37   Ohms
> #16 ga.   0.5    Ohms
[snip]