I've recently come into possession of several hundred feet of what appears to be 24 awg 2 conductor twisted pair shielded cable. I'm curious about it's viability as antenna wire for HF applications, specifically on 40m.
That is, without pulling it apart and discarding the shielding. It's braided shield, rather than foil, if that makes a difference.
If I avoid grounding the shielding, will it still shield?
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Posted Dec 30, 2018, 2:26 AM UTC
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Makes sense, thanks. Now, should I only connect the shield up to the feedline, or connect it and the two conductors together? Or would it even matter?
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It is definitely aluminum. Good information about thermocoupling.
Alright, I think I have a decent enough plan. Now if the weather will cooperate.
Just curious why you think a thermocouple effect would matter? Radios receive AC signals and would have a DC blocking cap on the RF path usually. Thermocouple effect is virtually DC as ambient temperature doesn't tend to change fast.
I think they mean galvanic action from the dissimilar metals, which is pretty common outdoors.
I’m using coax as my dipole wire and I just use the shield. I have noticed no difference in performance using the conductor. You’ll be fine either way.
wouldn't the shield be used as the radiating element? unless you are talking about antenna feedline and not antenna wire?
Yeah, I wasn't sure how well it would radiate. But, I mean... it's wire, right?
Really, I'd just throw it up and see, but it's raining buckets outside (and dark), so I figured a little armchair antenna building might tell me if it's even worthwhile.
Yep. It’ll work fine.
Try with and without the wires connected to the shield. Probably no difference.
ya. it'll work. and it sounds like you got it for a good price. do you have any trees you can throw some pulleys in up high?
Unfortunately, no. It'll have to sit along the peak of my roof (which runs East-West), which isn't ideal.