Well, more or less. But more importantly, conductivity isn't a factor for
99% of the work we do. All the conductors work well enough, and other
factors, such as availibility, durability and ease of handling are the most
important. I'm sure stainless steel wire could make a fine SWL antenna or
ground wire, even though it doesn't conduct electricity as well as copper.

http://hypertextbook.com/physics/ele...ty/resistance/

Frank Dresser

Damn...you would have to mention steel. I put up a 50' random with made of
steel rather than copper as my other copper random wire stretches.

Would you advise replacing the steel with copper wire? This is a newbie
question.

thanks

elfa


It shoudld be fine. The "whip" antenna in portables is made of
steel, and most rooftop antennas are made of aluminum.

Tony


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"elfa" wrote in message
...


Damn...you would have to mention steel. I put up a 50' random with made
of
steel rather than copper as my other copper random wire stretches.

Would you advise replacing the steel with copper wire? This is a newbie
question.

thanks

elfa


Steel wire is fine. Conductivity is more than adequate. Doing something to
slow down the development of rust at the connections might be worthwhile.

Frank Dresser

"Dale Parfitt" wrote in message
...

For HF, I totally agree. My passion is 1296 MHz Moonbounce- and silver
plated
cavities are a must for high efficiency.

Dale W4OP



Sure. Skin effect is a big deal at 100 times a typical SW frequency. It's
also important inside IF and some RF transformers. Have you ever seen ads
for those expensive audio cables in which they make a big deal the skin
effect? To paraphrase some comedian -- "Being an audiophool is God's way of
saying you have too much money".

Frank Dresser

Tony Meloche wrote:

Frank's thought was pretty much the same as mine. The most conductive
of all metals is silver, but you don't see many people arguing to use a
4'-8' length of silver rod because it "works even better than copper"
:D

During WWII the 'Manhattan' (atomic bomb) project needed some very large
electromagnets for a device that refined Uranium-235. There was a
shortage of copper so they appropriated *all* the silver in Fort Knox to
make the wire for the magnets. They returned every ounce of it.

See:

http://www.cosmos-club.org/journals/2002/larson.html


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Frank Dresser wrote:

"elfa" wrote in message
...


Damn...you would have to mention steel. I put up a 50' random with made
of
steel rather than copper as my other copper random wire stretches.

Would you advise replacing the steel with copper wire? This is a newbie
question.

thanks

elfa


Steel wire is fine. Conductivity is more than adequate. Doing something to
slow down the development of rust at the connections might be worthwhile.

It's difficult to make a lasting connection to steel wire other than
welding or brazing to it. Mechanical connections will eventually develop
too much resistance (oxidation/rust) unless they are completely sealed
in a material such as epoxy or polyester resin. The best way to use
steel wire as an antenna is to use a continuous length, all the way to
the radio without any wire connections outside.


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ground is ground the whole world round......

Hi,

How about using the ground in a 3 prong electrical socket???? Better than
nothing??? Dangerous??? I'm in a high rise

--
Take Care
Abb N

"AbbN" wrote in message
...
Hi,

How about using the ground in a 3 prong electrical socket???? Better than
nothing??? Dangerous??? I'm in a high rise


In those circumstances, it's a crapshoot. Often connecting to a building
ground like that will add more noise than signal. If you do want to give it
a go, connect to the screw that holds the plate on, don't just stuff a wire
in the hole, as it can find it's way to the hot side.

If you do want to give it a go, connect to the screw that holds the plate
on, don't just stuff a wire in the hole, as it can find it's way to the hot
side.

Good idea re the screw, if the outlet box is metal and if metal conduit is used
to house the wiring. Whatever is done, if it works, when giving it a try, then
get a cheap plug from Ace. Remove the ground pin and use it as a connector on
the jumper wire from the radio.

73,
Bill, K5BY

Brenda Ann wrote:

"AbbN" wrote in message
...
Hi,

How about using the ground in a 3 prong electrical socket???? Better than
nothing??? Dangerous??? I'm in a high rise


In those circumstances, it's a crapshoot. Often connecting to a building
ground like that will add more noise than signal. If you do want to give it
a go, connect to the screw that holds the plate on, don't just stuff a wire
in the hole, as it can find it's way to the hot side.

If the building has a steel frame, you might do better to connect to the
structure than the electrical ground system.


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