[TowerTalk] Ladder Line. What Kind?

[Larry & Karen]

Well, I see folks suggesting that you make your own and there's certainly nothing wrong with this, especially if you have a cheap source of wire and the time to properly do the construction. As for stranded or solid, definitely stranded, especially when it will be used under the conditions you describe. If it will be subject to high winds, the solid has much more of a tendency to break if the feedpoint if swinging in the breeze, and if you nick the wire stripping it you have all the more chance for problems. The stranded will stand up to much more abuse. Whichever way you go, if everything is working properly you want to remember to keep the feed line at least four times the spacing between wires away from any metal objects as this is roughly the size of the field surrounding it. There are lots of good sources for the 450 ohm line, if that's what you are considering. Myself, I always like dealing with Amateur Electronic Supply as they are be far the fastest on shipping. Prices are about the same whereever you go and certainly worth it if you don't have or want to take the time to make your own. Good luck with whatever you decide, I've used the 450 ohm stranded feeder, commercially made, for a number of years with very good results and in my location it is subject to lots of high winds and ice. By the way, with ice the weight is your big concern as once the feedline is coated it changes all the parameters of the wire anyway and will make a huge difference in your tuner settings.

73,
Larry  K0IS