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Topband: Deployable radials for 80/160M - Summary

To: topband <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Topband: Deployable radials for 80/160M - Summary
From: rich kennedy via Topband <topband@contesting.com>
Reply-to: rich kennedy <astro_maryland@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 04:29:30 -0700
List-post: <topband@contesting.com">mailto:topband@contesting.com>
Thanks to all who have responded, both to this reflector and to me directly to 
my question ("... is #22 wire suitable for ~90' deployable radials ...")

1.  Most recommend that unless there is some type of animal, person, or vehicle 
traffic that would potentially cross back-and-forth across the radial field 
that a #22 wire, especially insulated, should be OK.  A few reported using a 
lighter gauge wire (#24 on down) with success.  Wire size isn't a critical 
electrical variable in an installation such as mine (approx 40 wires).

2.  If one is concerned about #1, then #20 or #18 should be your minimum.  

3.  Most, but not all, seemed to have purchased their radial wire from salvage, 
surplus, ham fests, thrift stores, etc.  There seems to be multiple online 
sources (I google searched "surplus #22 wire") for all variations of wires (and 
wire from CAT 5 cable) suitable for radials.

Regarding the question ("...spooling out radial wires, then re-spooling them in 
the spring ..."):

1.  Wire 'flexibility' seems to be the concern - how easy is it to un-spool the 
radials, then to re-spool them without generating a tangled mess.  If possible, 
wire insulation or jacket material should be examined and tested prior to the 
purchase.  Know what you are buying.

2.  Many users of deployable radials have purchased garden hose reel systems or 
an extension cord reel (a rotary wheel type device in a sturdy frame with a 
handle) - either the large (~2' x ~2') hose/cord variety or the smaller 
handheld reel/cord types.  

3.  Several users like to tie the individual radials in a sequence, one to the 
next, and twisting together the ends, for both deployment and re-spooling so 
that there is one long continuous piece of wire.  One or two users built 
'packages' of 2, 4, or even 6 wires all in parallel, especially where the 
radial lengths are nearly identical.  If one has radial wires of multiple 
length, then he/she may want to consider color-coding the wire groups of 
different lengths (or using a spray paint the ends) to 'label' them  for next 
seasons lowband operation.

Apologies to those whose valid suggestions may have been left out of this 
summary.




73, Rich, K3VAT
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