I use 3 raised radials ~ 135 feet long of #22 ga. solid wire. used for dog perimeter control and is un-tinned copper
covered with green plastic. The wire is about 11 feet high to keep it out of the way in the common property woods area of multi building condos and will be taken down when the weather starts to warm. The resistance of 135 feet of copper wire is: #22 ga. 2.18 Ohms #20 ga. 1.37 Ohms #16 ga. 0.5 Ohms Per the calculator at : http://www.cirris.com/testing/resistance/wire.html Measuring the current in each of the three 22 ga. radials with an old surplus RF ammeter while running 5 watts on 1.824 Mhz (in the middle of the afternoon :-) they measure in turn: 240, 120, and 170 ma. Would going to 16 ga. increase the radiated antenna current X times ? BTW, The wire held up very well in the many NH ice and snow storms this year but the green plastic coating reflects morning light and at dusk like a neon sign. Very scary in this condo enviornment with restrictive covenants and regulations. Next year I will try dull brown #16 ga. like the inverted U, which is far less visible. 72, Jim / W1FMR _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
