[TowerTalk] Stranded vs solid wire

[K7LXC]

In a message dated 97-12-23 16:12:37 EST, n6ig@netcom.com writes:

> Andrew, the maker of Heliax and Superflex transmission lines, has a 
>  series of "technical documents" that claim to demonstrate the 
>  superiority of solid center conductor transmission line versus 
>  stranded.  This also "demonstrates" the superiority of solid shields 
>  versus braided shields.  Their dissertations are based on the "facts" 
>  that stranded and/or braided cables have many, many more wire-to-wire 
>  junctions in which intermodulation could be created IF such a junction 
>  were to corrode.  If you used a solid shield or center conductor, such 
>  junctions would be eliminated.  They have all sorts of laboratory data to 
>  emphasize that.

Hi, Jim --

     Interesting. Could you pass along the info to obtain these app notes? 

     I would tend to give a fair amount of credence to the Andrew data. First,
they have the lab equipment to REALLY test this stuff. Second, they operate at
frequencies where these effects (and probably others) can become significant.
These frequencies are from 9 gHz. up to 13 gH.! 

     I think that this data comes from engineering and not marketing.

73,  Steve  K7LXC

--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com
Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search