Hi Colin!

Yep, you are right.  Now, I am just going to do it : )

73,
Richard KK6MRH 

-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Colin McDonald
Sent: Friday, July 04, 2014 11:40 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Bare Versus Insulated & Solid versus Stranded Copper Wire to
Use for Radials

you are over thinking your radial situation.
I totally get you want to maximize efficiency with what you have to work
with...but seriously, when it comes to radials you simply have to use
something that won't rot over time, something that is conductive, and
something affordable.
Metal conducters are the best to use hi hi...stranded, solid, insulated,
uninsulated, it really doesn't matter.  You are creating an artificial
ground plain for the antenna to work against and at the end of the day, it
really doesn't care what sort of metal is down there, as long as it is
conductive...coat hangers will work as good as anything else if you have
enough of them.
Having the radials is the important bit, what they are made out of is not. 
When you are told that the radial system is very important with a vertical,
it's having that radial system in place, not what materials you make it with
that is the key.

73
Colin, V A6BKX
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Richard B McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, July 04, 2014 11:03 AM
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Bare Versus Insulated & Solid versus Stranded Copper Wire to Use
for Radials

> Hi!
>
>
>
> See the below Amazon link for this 16 gauge copper wire I am thinking 
> about for use in making radials for a vertical antenna.  16 gauge is 
> thicker than the 18 gauge recommended by MFJ for radials, so I like 
> that.  However, 1) this wire is "stranded" versus "solid" and 2) 
> "insulated" versus "bare".
> I
> am not sure if "stranded" is the same as "braided", or if it matters 
> if radial wire is solid/stranded/braided.  Also, I understand that it 
> does not matter if the wire is bare or insulated.  Is this true?
>
>
>
>
http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Cable-16-100-16-16-Gauge-100-Feet/dp/B000HAB82
> M/ref=pd_sim_hi_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=12AN8JXN3WW2KME3BT1X
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Richard KK6MRH