David wrote:

14 g is pretty thick for a wire antenna. I use ca. 20 g.

Well, whatever works for you.

However, the 14 ga has much more mechanical strength than 20 ga and is
therefore more likely to survive whatever Mother Nature throws at
it--ice, snow, wind. Please appreciate the fact that the OP is in New
York state and may have more severe weather than you do in California
(this weekend's California storms excepted).

How lucky do you feel with that 20 gauge?