Thanks, Ralph, and more thanks to several others. I got several answers,
most of which I have answered already, directly.
A humorous product of this query and the answers was a realization,
stimulated by some comments about wire size, that I had enough 4 strand
copper to lay a pretty good field, according to the tables in chapter 3 of
the Antenna book.
Several years ago the local phone company laid a temporary line to my house,
above ground, until they could trench in a permanent replacement. The line
was four strands in a circular plastic sheath, over 1600 ft. long, and was
abandoned by the Phone people. I saved it by walking the 1600+ ft, looping
it as I went. It has been in plain sight, on a shelf on the back porch,
since.
If I go by the book, I can lay 36 radials, with a total length of 5.4
wavelengths at the low end of 80M. Each radial would have four strands of
insulated Copper.
Thanks to all. Bill-W4BSG
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ralph Matheny" <mathenyr@marietta.edu>
To: "Bill Aycock" <baycock@hughes.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 10:26 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Radial material choice and effect
> Well, wisdon says that only copper lasts. However, when I was a kid
> (1960) I put up a 33 foot vertical and a few radials, made of Aluminum
> wire. About 5 years ago, after my dad died, we were closing out the
> house and I was asked to move some shrubs to my mother's new QTH. I found
> some of those radial wires, gave a yank...and they were all in good shape
> right back to the site of the old antenna!!
>
> I think it depends on your soil conditions and the alloy of the wires you
> use. I don't have any really good info on the topic that is based on
> science, but if I were making a vertical and had a bunch of aluminum wire,
> I'd give it a shot. make your connections ABOVE ground, where you can
> keep an eye on what is going on. The difference between the conductivity
> of Aluminum and copper won't kill you. I'd go with several extra radials
> if you use the alum, that way a failure won't hurt as much.
>
> Ralph Matheny
> K8RYU
> 207 Gibbons Place
> Marietta Ohio 45750
> mathenyr@marietta.edu
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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