I received this request from a VE ham.

"What gauge of insulated wire do I need to build a long wire for 20, 40, 80
meters.
In your personal experience, how long must the wires be to operate on said
freqs. I am using an old ts-820 only. I need to build it quick to listen in
on the upcoming Field day this June 23-24, 2007."

Thought I would ask here for opinions

Thanks
Lamont

The Shadow wrote:
I received this request from a VE ham.

"What gauge of insulated wire do I need to build a long wire for 20, 40,
80 meters.
In your personal experience, how long must the wires be to operate on
said freqs. I am using an old ts-820 only. I need to build it quick to
listen in on the upcoming Field day this June 23-24, 2007."

Thought I would ask here for opinions

Thanks
Lamont
Hi Lamont,
the definition of a true long wire is a minimum of 1 wavelength at the
lowest operating frequency. that would be about 256 feet for 80 Meters.
Though a shorter length will work many hams use a random wire that is
cut for a 1/2 wave on 80m about 136 feet or so and use it for 80 thru 10
Meters. however that antenna is not a true longwire until you get up to
40 Meters and above. Long wire are usually end fed with Open wire
feeders and a balanced matching system. they can be very good antennas
if mounted horizontal as high as possible above ground.
Hope this is of help
73 Dave Kc1di
P.S. A search of the internet will give you much info on Longwire
antennas some good some not so good.

"kc1di" wrote in message
...
The Shadow wrote:
I received this request from a VE ham.

"What gauge of insulated wire do I need to build a long wire for 20, 40,
80 meters.
In your personal experience, how long must the wires be to operate on
said freqs. I am using an old ts-820 only. I need to build it quick to
listen in on the upcoming Field day this June 23-24, 2007."

Thought I would ask here for opinions

Thanks
Lamont
Hi Lamont,
the definition of a true long wire is a minimum of 1 wavelength at the
lowest operating frequency. that would be about 256 feet for 80 Meters.
Though a shorter length will work many hams use a random wire that is cut
for a 1/2 wave on 80m about 136 feet or so and use it for 80 thru 10
Meters. however that antenna is not a true longwire until you get up to
40 Meters and above. Long wire are usually end fed with Open wire
feeders and a balanced matching system. they can be very good antennas if
mounted horizontal as high as possible above ground.
Hope this is of help
73 Dave Kc1di
P.S. A search of the internet will give you much info on Longwire
antennas some good some not so good.

Thanks very much I shall pass it along
Any advice as to wire guage? I have used lamp cord in the past.

Lamont

In article ,
"The Shadow" wrote:


Thanks very much I shall pass it along
Any advice as to wire guage? I have used lamp cord in the past.

Lamont


for simple, quick and dirty End Feed Wire antenna's, head down to
your local Electrical Supply House and get a 500" Spool of #14
or #16 Stranded Wire for $5.00US, and have yourself a good time
stringing it up in the trees.

You wrote:
The Shadow wrote:


Thanks very much I shall pass it along
Any advice as to wire guage? I have used lamp cord in the past.

Lamont


for simple, quick and dirty End Feed Wire antenna's, head down to
your local Electrical Supply House and get a 500" Spool of #14
or #16 Stranded Wire for $5.00US, and have yourself a good time
stringing it up in the trees.

In a pinch, that'll work. However... the longer the wire, the more mass &
weight. The softer and/or smaller the wire and the longer the
length/weight, the more stretch. For the best long-term installation,
either hard-drawn copper or copper-covered steel is a much better choice. I
learned that lesson with my first 40m half-wavelength dipole. I used #14
soft-drawn copper... it gradually tuned itself lower in frequency, and then
broke! Many people like to buy wire antenna stuff from The Wireman
(http://www.wireman.com/). I found the product line and pricing to be
better at Davis RF (http://www.davisrf.com/).

73,
Bryan WA7PRC
PS: CU during FD as W7MRG (2A WWA)

Bryan wrote:
You wrote:
The Shadow wrote:


Thanks very much I shall pass it along
Any advice as to wire guage? I have used lamp cord in the past.

Lamont


for simple, quick and dirty End Feed Wire antenna's, head down to
your local Electrical Supply House and get a 500" Spool of #14
or #16 Stranded Wire for $5.00US, and have yourself a good time
stringing it up in the trees.

In a pinch, that'll work. However... the longer the wire, the more mass &
weight. The softer and/or smaller the wire and the longer the
length/weight, the more stretch. For the best long-term installation,
either hard-drawn copper or copper-covered steel is a much better choice.
I
learned that lesson with my first 40m half-wavelength dipole. I used #14
soft-drawn copper... it gradually tuned itself lower in frequency, and
then
broke! Many people like to buy wire antenna stuff from The Wireman
(http://www.wireman.com/). I found the product line and pricing to be
better at Davis RF (http://www.davisrf.com/).

73,
Bryan WA7PRC
PS: CU during FD as W7MRG (2A WWA)

Oops... the URL for The Wireman would be http://thewireman.com/

Thanks very much to all that replied. I have passed it along to our Canadian
friend
Lamont

"Bryan" wrote in message
...
You wrote:
The Shadow wrote:


Thanks very much I shall pass it along
Any advice as to wire guage? I have used lamp cord in the past.

Lamont


for simple, quick and dirty End Feed Wire antenna's, head down to
your local Electrical Supply House and get a 500" Spool of #14
or #16 Stranded Wire for $5.00US, and have yourself a good time
stringing it up in the trees.

In a pinch, that'll work. However... the longer the wire, the more mass &
weight. The softer and/or smaller the wire and the longer the
length/weight, the more stretch. For the best long-term installation,
either hard-drawn copper or copper-covered steel is a much better choice.
I
learned that lesson with my first 40m half-wavelength dipole. I used #14
soft-drawn copper... it gradually tuned itself lower in frequency, and
then
broke! Many people like to buy wire antenna stuff from The Wireman
(http://www.wireman.com/). I found the product line and pricing to be
better at Davis RF (http://www.davisrf.com/).

73,
Bryan WA7PRC
PS: CU during FD as W7MRG (2A WWA)

The Shadow wrote:

...
"What gauge of insulated wire do I need to build a long wire for 20, 40,
80 meters.

In the past, I was able to purchase large coils of aluminum wire; I
think it was used for either clothes line (and had a plastic covering on
it), or the aluminum fencing wire.

I don't remember the gauge, or if they even gave the gauge, but it
seemed to be #8 or #10.

It was cheap and light, worked well with the proper soldering
techniques. Or, properly protected clamp connectors.

Since, I have looked for this wire and not been able to find it in lowes
or home depot, orchard supply, etc.

Anyone know a source?

JS

John Smith I wrote:
The Shadow wrote:

...
"What gauge of insulated wire do I need to build a long wire for 20,
40, 80 meters.

In the past, I was able to purchase large coils of aluminum wire; I
think it was used for either clothes line (and had a plastic covering on
it), or the aluminum fencing wire.

I don't remember the gauge, or if they even gave the gauge, but it
seemed to be #8 or #10.

It was cheap and light, worked well with the proper soldering
techniques. Or, properly protected clamp connectors.

Since, I have looked for this wire and not been able to find it in lowes
or home depot, orchard supply, etc.

Anyone know a source?

JS

Many years ago I bought aluminum Electric Fence Wire at Sears. Since
they were acquired by K-Mart, I'd suggest looking at a Farm Supply or
Coop for it. It was a bit brittle, and I was burying it for my ground
planes.

Jerry, W9NPI

I have bought aluminum electric fence wire (available at Lowes, Home
Depot, etc.) to play with. It wasn't but about $3 for 500-1000 feet.
Small, light and a little kinky if you aren't careful.

Buck

On Tue, 05 Jun 2007 21:23:00 -0700, John Smith I
wrote:

The Shadow wrote:

...
"What gauge of insulated wire do I need to build a long wire for 20, 40,
80 meters.

In the past, I was able to purchase large coils of aluminum wire; I
think it was used for either clothes line (and had a plastic covering on
it), or the aluminum fencing wire.

I don't remember the gauge, or if they even gave the gauge, but it
seemed to be #8 or #10.

It was cheap and light, worked well with the proper soldering
techniques. Or, properly protected clamp connectors.

Since, I have looked for this wire and not been able to find it in lowes
or home depot, orchard supply, etc.

Anyone know a source?

JS

--
73 for now
Buck, N4PGW

www.lumpuckeroo.com

"Small - broadband - efficient: pick any two."