Richard Crowley wrote:
"Frank" wrote:

What is the best type of "wire" for making a homemade
car antenna to pick up FM radio. Is it copper? Aluminium?


Traditional is steel (i.e. coat-hanger wire :-)

In reality, it makes no difference except mechanically.

What thickness or size.


It is a mechanical issue. What makes it self-supporting?
Electrically it is of no significance.

Lenght?


Well, the middle of the FM broadcast band is ~98MHz
and 1/4 wavelength is ~28.5 inches.
http://www.csgnetwork.com/antennagen...eqlencalc.html

The average car antenna is 31" in length.

Ed