On 6 Oct 2006 23:39:28 -0700, "Brian Kelly" wrote:

Somewhere along the line I picked up the notion that copper
oxide is a pretty lousy conductor and the problem can be resolved by
using insulated wire for wire antennas . . comments??

Hi Brian,

Consider, insulation is pretty lousy conductor too. Current is going
to conduct where it will, and ignore both insulation and oxide. Put a
high resistance path in parallel with a very low resistance path (of
identically the same length), which one will current choose? The
problem of oxide is when it encounters a poor joint and creates a
semiconductor.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC