Wire 18awg Wire for Shortwave Reception Question

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I should have asked before I went to Walmart today but I was impulsive. The wire I was using was too thin and even though it was working I still wanted some better wire. So I found 40ft of 18awg for 6 bucks at Walmart but it's purpose is for marine and automotive wiring. Its the stranded stuff that'll cut through skin if mishandled but easily bent. I didn't want primary wire because it's too stiff and will break. I hope I it's going to last. I am only using 10ft of it as I don't have the room for the full 40ft length. I can't hang it in my apartment because of computer power supply and router power supply noise.

Here is what I bought
EverStart 18-GAUGE Red Auto Wire - Walmart.com - Walmart.com

I picked 18awg wire because I researched for a common wire thickness for shortwave reception so I decided to go with it.

 

[WA0CBW]

For the most part the wire only has to be strong enough to not break for whatever distance you stretch it. It can be jacketed or not. The jacket can make a length difference if you are measuring it for specific frequencies.
Bill

 

[WB9YBM]

I should have asked before I went to Walmart today but I was impulsive. The wire I was using was too thin and even though it was working I still wanted some better wire. So I found 40ft of 18awg for 6 bucks at Walmart but it's purpose is for marine and automotive wiring. Its the stranded stuff that'll cut through skin if mishandled but easily bent. I didn't want primary wire because it's too stiff and will break. I hope I it's going to last. I am only using 10ft of it as I don't have the room for the full 40ft length. I can't hang it in my apartment because of computer power supply and router power supply noise.

Here is what I bought
EverStart 18-GAUGE Red Auto Wire - Walmart.com - Walmart.com

I picked 18awg wire because I researched for a common wire thickness for shortwave reception so I decided to go with it.

I checked the link you included and it didn't specify if it's stranded or solid (unless I missed it). One thing I once heard is that at RF, there's the "Litz effect": the higher the frequency, the closer to the surface of the wire the signal will travel making stranded wire preferred over solid (assuming I understood that correctly). Just a thought...

 

[a417]

I should have asked before I went to Walmart today but I was impulsive. <snip> So I found 40ft of 18awg for 6 bucks at Walmart

At six bucks, I think you would have been wasting your time asking before purchasing. If it works, it works!

 

[a417]

if it's stranded or solid (unless I missed it).

Stranded. One of the mouse-over pics shows it nicely splayed out.

 

[n5ims]

While for reception it isn't that important, for a tuned antenna you want wire that won't stretch over time since that will tend to detune your antenna. Copperweld, a copper coated steel, is often recommended for antennas since it has copper for signal transfer and steel for strength. Often you can find it at ham related stores in prepackaged lengths at reasonable prices, but it's also available by the foot if desired, but the cost is generally more. It's available in either solid or stranded versions and in several wire sizes. Generally the stranded is preferred, but the choice is yours.

Antenna Wire Archives - The Wireman

 

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All good answers. It's stranded. I am only using 10ft of it have 30ft left. Since length doesn't matter much. I feel better about the purchase now. Thanks!

 

[ka3jjz]

Actually the length of an antenna can matter a great deal on HF. In general, the longer the antenna, the more bands it will hear in an efficient manner. You have to be a bit careful with putting too much antenna on a portable, as under some circumstances it will cause the radio to be overloaded. This sometimes manifests itself as hearing stations on frequencies where they don't belong.

Sure, 10 foot will hear something, but not much in an optimal manner.

Are you short on space outside? If so, a loop might be a much more efficient answer. What radio(s) are you using?

Mike

 

[iMONITOR]

A lot of stranded wire is aluminum with a copper clad.

 

[mmckenna]

I'm using about 40 feet of either 18 or 16 gauge stranded speaker wire for my shortwave/AM antenna. It's been up since COVID started and it's been fine. I fully expect the jacket to fail because of being exposed to sunlight, but I really don't care. At the time it's what I had laying around and it's worked just fine for receiving use.

In other words, use it until it falls apart, you still have 30 more feet of it. And while it's probably not high quality wire, it's just fine for what you are doing and $6 isn't a bad price.

 

[air-scan]

Actually the length of an antenna can matter a great deal on HF. In general, the longer the antenna, the more bands it will hear in an efficient manner. You have to be a bit careful with putting too much antenna on a portable, as under some circumstances it will cause the radio to be overloaded. This sometimes manifests itself as hearing stations on frequencies where they don't belong.

Sure, 10 foot will hear something, but not much in an optimal manner.

Are you short on space outside? If so, a loop might be a much more efficient answer. What radio(s) are you using?

Mike

Apartment life. I reached my max spending limit on the radio hobby budget so no loop. Also this building has been built 1933. Brick and stucco. Some signal attenuation on HF due to the replacement metal roof on the top of it on the two story 2/3rds of the building. Doing what I can to keep the landlord off my back. I remember she telling me a wire flopped out the window was okay but no bigger antennas. The building is neighboring businesses. Wouldn't want to add to the overload with any more length. Especially once the solar cycle ramps up.

The radio is the eton Elite Executive. It's HF sensitivity is pretty good. I have had times when 9980 and 12160 would overload it. I might do a bowed 20ft of wire out the window but I don't want lawn crew to chop it up with weed eater and mower. They have no idea why a wire is hanging there and don't really care.

 

[WB9YBM]

Apartment life.

For small footprints like that, I just wanted to toss out a suggestion: white stranded wire tacked around the entire outside wall where the ceiling meets the wall. It's hard to see and you'll get a bit more length to capture signals with. (I've even done that on the second level of the house here for SWL with good results.)

Another tip I heard from an apartment dweller is he bought some very thin wire (thin enough so it looks invisible when standing far enough away from it), shot it out of his apartment window (with a bow & arrow) into a tree across the building's parking lot, and used that for his SWLing. He claimed it worked quite well.

 

[air-scan]

For small footprints like that, I just wanted to toss out a suggestion: white stranded wire tacked around the entire outside wall where the ceiling meets the wall. It's hard to see and you'll get a bit more length to capture signals with. (I've even done that on the second level of the house here for SWL with good results.)

Another tip I heard from an apartment dweller is he bought some very thin wire (thin enough so it looks invisible when standing far enough away from it), shot it out of his apartment window (with a bow & arrow) into a tree across the building's parking lot, and used that for his SWLing. He claimed it worked quite well.

I would be inclined to do that but one hurdle is a security camera that faces the direction where my apartment window is is live 24/7. The office manager checks them everyday. 10ft antenna wire flopped out of the window has been the only option I have. Loop antenna inside is a no-go. Metal roofing is a hinderance even to that. The walls are stucco with brick. Need different methods. Not much I can do because HF is such a long wavelength. I pretty much have to wait for Solar cycle 25 to ramp up harder which will take 2-3 years at it's current pace (extended Hale Cycle).

The positive way in my mind at looking at it is seeing how well the bands actually are. A very crude benchmark. If my 10ft wire can hear it the bands are good for my locality.

 

[RichardKramer]

When I lived in an apartment, I hooked a wire with an alligator clip on the end to the screw on the electrical outlet cover, or to the metal bed frame of the bed ( had to scrape some paint off for a good contact); and even on the metal stopper on the rotary phone by the 0 gave some decent hf reception.

Rich

 

[WB9YBM]

When I lived in an apartment, I hooked a wire with an alligator clip on the end to the screw on the electrical outlet cover, or to the metal bed frame of the bed ( had to scrape some paint off for a good contact); and even on the metal stopper on the rotary phone by the 0 gave some decent hf reception.

If an apartment has the old-fashioned hot water heating system, those metal pipes also make a good antenna...I've also heard of an apartment maintenance person use the buildings' rain gutter after making sure it was electrically (not just mechanically) connected (except for the downspouts--he was using the rain gutter for transmit as well and wanted to make sure no one got electrocuted when they touched the downspouts).