[Elecraft] wire for random wire antenna using kx3

[Jim Brown]

On 12/17/2018 6:45 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> However, if you are using the speaker wire as a transmission line, it 
> has relatively high loss characteristics

Compared to what?  So-called speaker wire (which is really lousy for 
speakers because it should be twisted pair to minimize RFI) has Zo in 
the range of 75-100 ohms. Unless it's wet, virtually all the loss in 
transmission lines below about 100 MHz is due to wire resistance, not 
dielectric loss. There is, of course, additional loss due to any 
mismatch that may be present, but that still comes down to loss in the 
resistance of the line. While I haven't measured any zip cord, I've 
measured a lot of closely spaced parallel wire transmission line made 
from THHN, enameled copper, and Teflon insulated #12 silver-coated 
copper. In order of loss at dB/100 ft at 10 MHz from low to high, the 
Teflon #12 is lowest at 0.94dB, then RG400 at 1.22 dB (about the same as 
RG58), then #12 THHN at 1.34 dB. #12 or #10 enameled copper had the 
greatest loss, 2.4 dB/100 ft.

73, Jim K9YC