Stell Wire for Antenna

[TA4AU]

Hi all. Can i use Stell or steel alloy (copper+steel) wire for HF antenna. problem for conductor ? I want make steel because its strong. I find steel wire no problem but i think  steel alloy wire difficult to find.
73

[KA0HCP]

Yes Mehmet, you can use either. 

Personally I prefer 'copper clad steel' or alloy since it has the strength of steel and the conducting properties of copper, while the copper also protects the steel from oxidizing.    Another common name for this wire is 'copperweld'. 

You can get this from most wire suppliers and large amateur suppliers.  The older open wire telephone lines use the same type of wire, though of fairly heavy gauge.  It is stiff and a bit hard to work but will stay up forever.  My first antenna was made from this telephone wire which I scavenged when they replaced the old wire on our farm. 

Good luck, Bill

[k4kyv]

A lot of the old open wire phone lines used galvanised steel wire, which was usually well rusted when the  took it down. I got about 7500' of #10 copperweld that was used for telegraph lines that ran along the train tracks.  Sulphur dioxide from the old coal burning steam locomotives would eat up steel wire in no time, but the copper cladding developed a green patina and lasted for years.

Later on, someone gave me several thousand more feet of #8 copperweld. I had already used up most of my #10 on various antenna projects and a ground radial system for the 160m inverted L  I had up before building the tower.

[K1JJ]

Hi Rasid!

How did you make out with your multi-band long wire antenna project? Is this wire for it?

Hope to work you on 40M soon. It was fun working you last year with WB3HUZ.

For anyone not familiar with Rasid in Turkey, here's a video he posted of us working him on 40M. Starting at about 0:25 seconds is the QSO with him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvrMV6q5Lhs

Later -

Tom, K1JJ

[W2PFY]

Maybe this will help. don't know if you can order from here but it will give you some ideas on pricing etc.

http://www.thewireman.com/

[TA4AU]

Hi all Tnx for Reply. My long wire anntenna has about 47 meter long. And i setup it roof to roof about 90 Meter 300 Feet. I want Strong wire. Very good choice copper+steel  alloy mixture but very difficult find it Turkey. I find only steel wire and copper no problem find it. Can i use %100 Steel 1.5 or 2 mm. (16 or 12 AWG) Steel wire. I look on thewireman.com very good wires but i need info Post Ship Turkey ? i dont find any contact form.

Tom I dont forget this QSO. For me very important because my firsth qso in USA on 40 M. I love your Stack yagi system on 40 M. 2 X 2 X 2. Tom I want make this antenna http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=25721.0

[W2PFY]

i need info Post Ship Turkey ? i don't find any contact form.

On the bottom of the page, click on ORDER DESK,That is on the home page and a form will come up then.

[TA4AU]

Tnx this form not working with google chrome. Now i write firefox.

[TA4AU]

Can i use %100 Steel 1.5 or 2 mm. (16 or 12 AWG) Steel wire. Its any problem conductivity ?

[AB2EZ]

Hi Rashid

How about using the steel wire as a "messenger" wire. with the copper wire spiraled around it (maybe 1 turn per meter)?

Best regards
Stu

[k4kyv]

I picked up a big roll of TV cable last year at Dayton.  The vendor told me it was RG-6, but it looks like RG-6 on stereods. The coax is almost as big as RG-8, but typical RG-6 construction with the tinfoil shield under a sparse braid.  It has a messenger wire, which I may rip off if I don't use it suspended between supports.

I can't tell for sure if the messenger wire is bare steel or if it is zinc plated. It is covered with plastic, but I am wondering if exposed parts will rust.

[TA4AU]

Today i find galvanized steel wire and its take Solder. I think its good. Because my some friends make this wire antenna and working %100



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[KA0HCP]

The birds won't break that wire sitting on it!