Power line messenger wire for HF TX/RX Antenna

[kb7gjy]

I have a buddy that has a spool (500'?) of messenger wire (Cable) for powerlines to houses. I'm sure its aluminum. 1/4 to 1/2 inch diameter

Now I know there might have been a few adult beverages involved but the idea of using it for a HF antenna QRO operations

Discounting issues with weight of the cable on the run, being such a large cable wouldn't that affect the length needed for a freq. range?

Supporting the cable at height shouldn't be an issue, as he has access to some heavy duty insulators that should take the weight (He works for a power company, and they are just gonna trash a bunch from a big job where they just replaced a bunch of them).

Thoughts? Besides we should seriously consider alcohol intake and possible joining AA. lol

 

[kb5udf]

As far as I can tell, whether or not the wire is insulated will probably have more impact (although not a ton) on velocity factor and hence the length you need. As always cut your wire antenna long and trim down to tune; you can always cut wire off, but putting back is not so easy.

So the short answer to your questions is not really.

 

[AK9R]

I believe that the diameter of the elements in an antenna will have some impact on the bandwidth of the antenna.

 

[jwt873]

Is the wire solid or stranded? If it's stranded you might be able to 'unwrap' one strand and stretch/straighten it out. A thinner conductor would most likely be easier to manage when stringing it out.

 

[rja1]

It sounds like 200 Amp Tri-Plex. Is it new? If so, you're sitting on a fair amount of $$. Put it on CL & sell it. You may get enough to buy enough wire to make 20 or more 160 Meter dipoles. And yes, wire that is 1/2" in diameter will increase bandwidth.

K1ERP

 

[mmckenna]

If it's true messenger wire, it's a single 'conductor' designed to support other wires and maybe act as a ground. If that's what you have, it may be aluminum, but they are usually galvanized steel. Galvanization can be problematic with RF.

If it's a multiconductor cable, then the TriPlex sounds right. I agree, sell it for scrap or sell it to an electrician and get what you want. Aluminum will stretch over time if not well supported.

 

[KE8ULL]

500 messenger (.500 dia) cable is usually used in high tension distribution power line applications, ie Aerial Spacer Cable (Hendrex) or Tree Wire. Where the messenger is designed to support the load of the underhung power conductors arranged in a diamond configuration or at the top of the power pole to allow trees limb to strike the messenger first before hitting the conductors spread out on arms below. In both cases the messenger acts as the return wire or neutral. The 500 messenger cable we purchase consist of 7 strands of #6 gauge Alumoweld conductors.

 

[K6GBW]

1/2" wire for an antenna? My God man! Are you gonna run 600,000 Jiggawatts!

 

[KB4MSZ]

Be careful, you might get knocked into last week.