Well, I see folks suggesting that you make your own and there's certainly
nothing wrong with this, especially if you have a cheap source of wire and the
time to properly do the construction. As for stranded or solid, definitely
stranded, especially when it will be used under the conditions you describe. If
it will be subject to high winds, the solid has much more of a tendency to
break if the feedpoint if swinging in the breeze, and if you nick the wire
stripping it you have all the more chance for problems. The stranded will stand
up to much more abuse. Whichever way you go, if everything is working properly
you want to remember to keep the feed line at least four times the spacing
between wires away from any metal objects as this is roughly the size of the
field surrounding it. There are lots of good sources for the 450 ohm line, if
that's what you are considering. Myself, I always like dealing with Amateur
Electronic Supply as they are be far the fastest on shipping. Price
s are about the same whereever you go and certainly worth it if you don't have
or want to take the time to make your own. Good luck with whatever you decide,
I've used the 450 ohm stranded feeder, commercially made, for a number of years
with very good results and in my location it is subject to lots of high winds
and ice. By the way, with ice the weight is your big concern as once the
feedline is coated it changes all the parameters of the wire anyway and will
make a huge difference in your tuner settings.
73,
Larry K0IS
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