one thing you need to know: PVC is not UV resistant. You need to paint it with a nonmetallic primer pain. Otherwise, your loop will degrade in a matter of months in exposure to sun. It might not break in that time, but as time goes on and any stresses get placed on the pipe, it will crack and eventually fail.

DE n7zzt Eric

On Nov 7, 2015, at 10:42 AM, Ed Malmgren wrote:

> Richard, I make insolaters for dipoles out of P V C all the time by drilling 
> holes in them and they workout okay I think, I have checked the resistance 
> with a v o m and they show no resistance so take it for what it's worth from 
> here and and I would run the wire inside the pipe.  G L  and 73.
> 
> 
> 
> ED K7UC
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Richard B. McDonald
> Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2015 9:11 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Using PVC as a Frame for My 10M Full Wave Loop Antenna
> 
> Hi!
> 
> 
> 
> So, I am planning to make my RX only 10M (28.4 MHZ) full wave loop antenna
> into an octagon shape.  My wire is insulated 14 gauge stranded copper wire.
> I intend to use ~1.0" diameter PVC pipe for a frame.  About PVC pipe, does
> it matter if I 1) put the wire inside the pipe or 2) tape it to the outside
> of the pipe?  I prefer putting the wire inside the pipe.  However, are there
> any RF interference issues with PVC?  Also, I wonder how PVC will hold-up to
> the elements - particularly UV light (sunlight)?
> 
> 
> 
> 73,
> 
> Richard KK6MRH