[Elecraft] wire for random wire antenna using kx3

[W2xj]

Remember this IS a hobby and to each their own. As an engineer, I do model and design what I use. I hate the “by guess and by golly” approach. Everything I do is carefully planned in advance and is a part of my enjoyment of the hobby but YMMV. 

Sent from my iPad

> On Dec 17, 2018, at 1:22 PM, DC <vetterestorer at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Good one!
> 
> 
> Many hams now-days  miss the most important point of all, I have never made a contact by computer modeling, and worrying about wire type and size.  Back in the day, you put something up and experimented from there -- making contacts along the way.  Now, folks look at the internet and then second guess everything they read to the point of information overload and analyses paralyses.
> 
> Too Bad,
> 
> Richard
> 
> K6VV
> 
> 
>> On 12/17/2018 7:09 AM, Charlie T wrote:
>> Yes, but speaker wire is only good for audio up to about 25 kHz.  It has a
>> frequency limiting component in the wire alloy that must be removed in order
>> to use this type wire at RF.
>> 
>> This removal procedure is fairly easy to accomplish.  First, soak the wire
>> in a bucket of laundry detergent and water over night, then remove the wire
>> and rinse it thoroughly.
>> After assuring the wire is dry, place in an oven set to about 150 degrees
>> for about 3 - 4 hours.
>> In lieu of the oven, you can also place the wire in an afternoon of summer
>> sun.
>> After that, place the wire on the ground and hold a 2 meter hand-held over
>> the wire, approximately a foot away and key up the radio for 20 seconds at a
>> couple watts output.
>> If you see no reaction, sparking, especially tingling in your ears,  or
>> physical movement of the wire, it is now safe to use as an antenna.
>> 
>> Note this advice is given freely and may be disseminated with no intended
>> royalty charges or copyright infringements.
>> 
>> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On
>> Behalf Of Don Wilhelm
>> Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 9:46 AM
>> To: Richard watson <richard.watson15425 at gmail.com>; elecraft
>> <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] wire for random wire antenna using kx3
>> 
>> Rick,
>> 
>> Certainly it will work, and makes for a quick temporary antenna,
>> particularly indoors.
>> However, if you are using the speaker wire as a transmission line, it has
>> relatively high loss characteristics, and I would recommend that you think
>> about replacing the transmission line part with real parallel transmission
>> line for a more permanent installation.
>> 
>> For the radiator section, the speaker wire can remain.
>> 
>> 73,
>> Do