Topband: Radial Wire

[Gary K9GS]

Thanks for all the great information.  I appreciate your experience.

My current installation is in the woods, not in a clear field.  I, 
unfortunately, won't have the luxury of burying the wire.  I'll have to 
lay it on the surface with staples holding it down.

Not much foot traffic to contend with but there are a lot of deer, 
squirrels and various wildlife to contend with.

This is to replace an existing radial field.  The majority of the wire 
used was the old 5 or 8 conductor ribbon style rotor cable that was 
separated into individual strands.  I've found many broken strands and 
the poor insulation hasn't weathered well.  Of course I'll leave the old 
radial field in place and just lay the new ones on top.

As others have mentioned the 16 ga stranded dog fence stuff looks pretty 
rugged.



On 10/22/2014 9:35 PM, Tom W8JI wrote:
>> Thank you very much for this source.  I was just looking this week for
>> wire prices.  I want to buy quite a lot for next summer's antenna
>> project.
>>
>> The nice thing is he's close enough I'll probably pick it up and save
>> shipping.
>>
>> BTW...any thoughts on solid vs stranded?  I do like to use insulated
>> wire as I think it lasts longer.  I was thinking 16 or 18 ga.
>
> When I did AM broadcast work, we would pull solid wire out of all sorts
> of stations built in the 1920's and 30's in all types of soil. Unless it
> was actually cut, it would be good.
>
> In my own Ham stuff, I primarily use #16 bare copper bus (which is soft
> drawn) wire. It lasts longer than I ever keep a house unless physically
> cut. If I pull some up after several years in the ground, it just barely
> shows light surface corrosion.
>
> I install mine with a plow on a tractor. I can pull a six inch deep
> radial, or any depth I want, at a few MPH. I have never broken a #16
> wire pulling it into the ground. I have never seen one fail from lightning.
>
> I personally would stay away from stranded copper, and would especially
> stay away from aluminum, steel, or steel cored wire (watch what you
> buy). Any solid copper #16 or larger, especially soft drawn, will last a
> lot longer than most of use ever will. I would not be afraid of anything
> solid copper and #16 or larger size.
>
> If you never plan on long term direct soil exposure, never plan on
> soldering it later for an alteration or repair without doing a lot of
> cleaning work, and never plan on silver soldering, stranded copper is
> also OK. I use stranded insulated #14 on my 40M 4 square stuff because
> it is surface wire. The aluminum wire I installed several years ago on
> that system is falling apart, but the insulated stranded copper is still
> good.
>

-- 
73,

Gary K9GS

Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org
Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com
CW Ops #1032   http://www.cwops.org

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