Gentleman,

Could anyone suggest a UK source ideally for 3mm copper antenna wire, 100+m ?

Thanks

Try wires.co.uk they do 3mm enamelled copper wire

and might be able to supply a longer length

If you don't mind me asking why does it have to be 3mm

I bought 100m of 1.5mm multistrad wire from qvs for £20
it makes great antenna wire

Best Wishes Martin

Another vote for QVS, they do 2.5mm if you can get away with that.

10.7 Kg coil of 7 strand (3.6mm) hard drawn copper, wire approx 138 metres length
(this is a calculated length given 1 metre =77 grms)
I bought this last year but never got around to using it.

Any good to you ?
Keith -.-

Is this the one: http://www.qvsdirect.com/ ?

Never heard of them, checking them out.

Thanks

Thanks, but it would be an over kill, hi ! 2.5 is probably the best, 3 mm - max.

Could not find anything suitable there...Could you help with the link ? Thanks

Here's one..

http://www.qvsdirect.com/2-5mm-24a-sing ... -100m-blue

Other colours too

Cheers

Dave
M6XMA

Domestic housing wire being soft copper stretches causing the antenna to sag which then shifts the resonance, you would be better going for hard drawn wire.
household wire is grand for applications such as wrapping round roach-poles & such but wouldn't be my choice for an antenna under tension.

Stretching is the problem I have, I have my 80m doublet flat top configuration and it is under constant strain that varies as the mast that it is connected to at one end moves back and forth. I am having to put up with losses by using PVC coated galvanised steel winch wire. I am looking for alternatives that I can use, maybe the woven copper wire will be my best choice.

Could you use some mig welding wire John as that's steel but copper plated to stop it rusting?

Cheers, Dave.

[Kymmy] The copper coating on MIG wire is extremely thin and only designed to stop it corroding on the spool and only for about a years shelf life. As such avoid mig wire.

[/Kymmy]

I've been using 1.6mm stainless steel/aluminium alloy mig wire for quad elements and that stuff lasted years, it's also very strong as long as it's not severely kinked, one bend around a fitting is OK but you wouldn't want to straighten it again and try to reuse that end.
It would be good for a fixed dipole as it can also be stretched real tight.

....but after years of experimenting there's only one wire I'd use now for antennas, it's dirt cheap and you could tow a car with it.....military D10 field telegraph cable, I can't recommend it highly enough.

Good old Cable Telephone Twisted D-10...
Loop Resistance 200 ohms per loop mile.
7 strands, 3 of steel for strength and 4 of copper.

Keith
-.-

Being ex-military you've worked with it so you know how strong it is.