On Thu, 17 Aug 2006 21:33:17 -0400, Mike Coslo
wrote:

how does really thick wire
compare to a cage of the same relative diameter?

Hi Mike,

Close, but no cigar. Actually, the degree of closeness depends on how
well the cage represents the solid. That degree is a function of the
number of wires that form the skeletal shape. Four is pretty lousy,
120 would be outstanding. Then there is something in the middle:

http://home.comcast.net/~kb7qhc/ante.../Cage/cage.htm
offers an example that may be suitable. This is a 4 meter tall
antenna that tunes all frequencies from 20M through 10M.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC