RadioBanter - View Single Post - electric-fence wire?

Owen Duffy · September 17th 11, 09:35 PM posted to rec.radio.amateur.antenna

(Padraigh ProAmerica) wrote in news:5332-4E74EC45-1080
@storefull-3172.bay.webtv.net:

Just acquired a couple reels of electric-fence wire from someone who got
smart and got rid of her horses. Question: is this wire (seems to be
aluminum) useful for antenna applications?

Lots of things are sold as "electric fence wire" in this part of the world.

One of them is a 2.7mm diameter aluminium wire with a HT steel core. The
aluminium is sufficiently thick that it is a ver good antenna wire, it is
strong and has effective RF resistance not much higher than copper.

On the other hand, we can buy HT steel wire with a flash of Zal (Zinc-
Aluminium) plating coated then with polyeurathane. Makes an appalling
conductor for low HF.

You will need to take the effort to better describe your own wire to get a
worthwhile opinion.

Owen