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Cheap but usable wire?

Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 5:39 pm
by Trevor
I'm new and am waiting to receive my SDRPlay. Not sure what I'll be using it for.
Can someone recommend some generally appropriate wire to buy to make an antenna?
Ideally a link to Amazon or something equivalent?
Thanks, Trevor.

Re: Cheap but usable wire?

Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2019 9:39 pm
by mikeladd
I assume by wire antenna you want to listen to HF.

This is what I use.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1000-Feet-20-A ... 1438.l2649

Re: Cheap but usable wire?

Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2019 8:06 am
by Trevor
Thanks.

Re: Cheap but usable wire?

Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2019 10:04 am
by SDRnerd
Trevor, I use old US-army telephone wire. It is made from mainly stainless steel strands and a few copper strands. This offers a very good strength and good conductivity. It is dual wire and dates from 1953! and is sold on reels of a quarter mile. I paid €20 for a reel a few years back. The wire lasts a lifetime.

Good luck!

Re: Cheap but usable wire?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2019 12:31 pm
by ON5HB
Hi Trevor,

You can use cheap steel-wire with a zinc coating of about 2mm thick.
A roll of 100m will cost about 20 euro/pound and insulators can be found for horse-electrical-fences.
Most simple and effective antenna is a single wire of about 50m long en some counter like a fence.

Just Google for "simple long wire antenna" plenty ideas but often a simple piece of long wire working well.

Even SDRplay has a good video on how to make a simple antenna:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUwAOvgMkfs