[TowerTalk] Radial wire and antenna spacing

[Stone, Gary R.]

Hi,

I would like to add a question to this discussion.  I have about 1,000 feet
of some old telephone wire I bought in a yard sale.  It has 6 pairs of 22
gauge wire.  For radials, I had planned to NOT bother to untwist the
individual pairs and just lay them in the ground (a couple inches).  Is that
creating any problems?  Should I untwist the pairs (of course that would
give me twice the length overall) or is it fine to use a twisted pair as a
radial wire?

The roughly 6,000 feet of twisted pairs would be more than enough for my
antenna plans but I could untwist them if there is a good reason?

Thanks,

Gary, N5PHT

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Red
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 10:11 PM
To: TowerTalk
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Radial wire and antenna spacing

A couple responses mentioned that the steel may last only a few years.  
I mentioned that I have read of using electric fence wire only to 
suggest it as an inexpensive alternative to copper.

I suspect, and will wait to hear from the experts, that the ph of the 
soil affects the live of any wire.  In particular, I expect acidic soil 
will attack steel and alkaline soil will attack aluminum.

My soil ph is about 6.8-6.9 and I've not detected any appreciable 
deterioration of either copper or aluminum on top of that soil after 8 
years.  Steel rusts if left in that soil.  I've not tried any fence 
wire, galvanized or otherwise, in contact with the soil and won't guess 
how long it might last.

Steel wire is stronger than aluminum wire of the same size.

I'd like to hear the experiences of those who have tried various 
materials, and if, possible, a report of the soil conditions on which or 
in which the wire was placed.

7e de WOØW
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