Hi All, was wondering what kind and guage wire would make a good throw down antenna wire for sets from the 1930's. Does some wire perform better than others? I've tried several different types and lengths but they all seem to perform about the same. Thanks Again, George T.

:Hi All, was wondering what kind and guage wire would make a good throw down antenna wire for sets from the 1930's. Does some wire perform better than others? I've tried several different types and lengths but they all seem to perform about the same. Thanks Again, George T.
:

I have used everything from 30 gauge "magnet wire" to 10 gauge stranded. Not speaking from science, but rather experience, length and orientation seem to have more to do with reception than gauge or solid verses stranded.

I am sure others will jump in on the science, or their experience.

Your mileage... er reception... may vary.

Richard

Hi

Agree with Rich, as long and high as possible. I wouldn't use #30 as it will break easily.

Norm

::Hi All, was wondering what kind and guage wire would make a good throw down antenna wire for sets from the 1930's. Does some wire perform better than others? I've tried several different types and lengths but they all seem to perform about the same. Thanks Again, George T.
::
:
:I have used everything from 30 gauge "magnet wire" to 10 gauge stranded. Not speaking from science, but rather experience, length and orientation seem to have more to do with reception than gauge or solid verses stranded.
:
:I am sure others will jump in on the science, or their experience.
:
:Your mileage... er reception... may vary.
:
:Richard
:

#30 may work in a room along a baseboard or chair rail, though.

Generally AC and especially RF travels better along stranded wire, but, as many have noticed, it makes little difference what long wire antennas are made of. Generally I find that orienting a long wire or V-doublet antenna in a straight line works best, as making bends or folding the wire back on itself alters and even reverses the phase in part of the wire, causing cancellation. However, others have had fair luck with running wire around the four corners of their room, or zig-zagging it across a wall or ceiling. I have found this to pick up more interference than anything useful for the reasons I mentioned above, but if you make enough zig-zags, you may simply pick up signals by capacitive effect, or due to enough wire running in the direction needed for the particular signal being received. I would guess that antenna wire run any which way would certainly be less directional than a straight long wire antenna, but not as efficient.

T.

I buy a spool of 16 ga stranded wire in 50 or 100 foot lengths at the auto parts store. Cheap. Great for home or camping.

:#30 may work in a room along a baseboard or chair rail, though.
:
:Generally AC and especially RF travels better along stranded wire, but, as many have noticed, it makes little difference what long wire antennas are made of. Generally I find that orienting a long wire or V-doublet antenna in a straight line works best, as making bends or folding the wire back on itself alters and even reverses the phase in part of the wire, causing cancellation. However, others have had fair luck with running wire around the four corners of their room, or zig-zagging it across a wall or ceiling. I have found this to pick up more interference than anything useful for the reasons I mentioned above, but if you make enough zig-zags, you may simply pick up signals by capacitive effect, or due to enough wire running in the direction needed for the particular signal being received. I would guess that antenna wire run any which way would certainly be less directional than a straight long wire antenna, but not as efficient.
:
:T.
:

: I buy a spool of 16 ga stranded wire in 50 or 100 foot lengths at the auto parts store. Cheap. Great for home or camping.
:
:
::#30 may work in a room along a baseboard or chair rail, though.
::
::Generally AC and especially RF travels better along stranded wire, but, as many have noticed, it makes little difference what long wire antennas are made of. Generally I find that orienting a long wire or V-doublet antenna in a straight line works best, as making bends or folding the wire back on itself alters and even reverses the phase in part of the wire, causing cancellation. However, others have had fair luck with running wire around the four corners of their room, or zig-zagging it across a wall or ceiling. I have found this to pick up more interference than anything useful for the reasons I mentioned above, but if you make enough zig-zags, you may simply pick up signals by capacitive effect, or due to enough wire running in the direction needed for the particular signal being received. I would guess that antenna wire run any which way would certainly be less directional than a straight long wire antenna, but not as efficient.
::
::T.
::
:
People have been arguing about antennae for as long as there have been antennae. Whatever works. When it comes to a receiving antenna, there ain't no rule book. A look around in the resources part of this forum will give some ideas from the past that will work pretty well today. Safety first.
Lewis