How critical is it that I remove the insulation? I noticed that my
alarm clock has an antenna that is just an insulated wire.

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Radio waves get through wire insulation, even if it is very thick, just as
if it isn't there.

It is necessary only to remove the insulation at the end of the wire where
it has to make electrical contact with the radio circuits.

Radio waves get through wire insulation, even if it is very thick, just as
if it isn't there.

It is necessary only to remove the insulation at the end of the wire where
it has to make electrical contact with the radio circuits.

Reminds me of my first crystal radio!

I stripped the insulation from about 100' of phone wire, and western-unioned
all the splices (kids don't often have 100' of wire in less than 20
pieces).. Later, I learned that didn't actually help..
However, it did make the wire lighter, which wasn't a bad thing.. Soft
copper does have it's limits..

I remember the thrill of picking up CHICAGO!

The project came to an untimely end, due to the antenna being up as high as
I could reach, which coincidentally was neck-high for the mailman.. Copper
wire isn't that easy to see..

I had an old Hoffman TV in Calif back in 1959. The antenna I had was a 20-inch
length of hookup wire.

Pulled in lots of channels. When there was a ghost, I just moved the wire
until it went away.

Jack K9CUN