[Elecraft] Antenna wire gauge efficiency

[Gregg R. Lengling]

The biggest factor (if you are running less than 100 watts) is the strength 
of the wire.  Whilst 26/28 gauge and other lightweight wires will radiate 
properly at these levels, it's the tensile strength that is the main point. 
I use 28 gauge teflon wire for portable operations but at my home station I 
use 12 gauge.  According to the NEC, wire antennas must be a minimum 12 
gauge, so if you want to be perfectly legal run 12 gauge.

Gregg R. Lengling, W9DHI, Retired
K2/100 SN 3075
http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Vin Cortina" <vcortina at hvc.rr.com>
To: "Paul Kelly" <byrddawg at sbcglobal.net>; <Elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 9:54 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Antenna wire gauge efficiency


> Paul, I am certain you will get more responses, and since I do not have 
> the formulas in my head, I suggest you wait for the more knowledgeable 
> folks to weigh in.  However, if you plan on going up into the hundreds of 
> watts, I would be thinking in the 14 gauge area.  Personally, my antennas 
> are 12 gauge, but that was because ...
> A) I used it as much for its added strength as for its electrical 
> characteristics ( I live in heavy woods)
> B) It was the wire I had lots of on hand. (Application of the Cortina 
> Economic Applications of Existing Resources)
>
> One more thing I might add is that in case you had not planned on doing 
> this, use a system of pulleys (I use marine pulleys) so that as the trees 
> (I assume you are erecting the antenna between trees) sway, the antennas 
> will give.  If you need more info on this, contact me off list.  I will be 
> happy to send you a graphic of how I do this.
>
> Best of luck.
>
>
> Vin Cortina KR2F
>
> K1-4 s/n:1977
> KX1  s/n:1476
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Paul Kelly" <byrddawg at sbcglobal.net>
> To: <Elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2006 10:25 AM
> Subject: [Elecraft] Antenna wire gauge efficiency
>
>
>> Hello all. I know this is somewhat off topic, but there is a lot of 
>> knowledge here, so I will ask. I am in the process of erecting two wire 
>> antennas and wondered, for stealth reasons, how small I can go in  wire 
>> gauge for these antennas and still have an effeicient  radiator. I know 
>> in general bigger is better and copper glad is  prefereable. I will be 
>> running anywhere from QRP to 400 watts. It seems  like I have seen tables 
>> in the past that are good general reference  guides for this question. 
>> Any thoughts and yes my K2 is a great rig?  Paul NN5G
>>
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