Another Magnet Wire Antenna

I am visiting family for a couple days. I never travel without a radio. I always have my mobile station as long as I drive wherever, but I don't like to sit in the truck and operate (which I have been known to do on occasion!). So I brought a few antenna options with me. In the past I have used my Crappie Pole antenna, a Hustler 5BTV, a jumper dipole, and my screwdriver antenna (still mounted to the truck). The 5BTV is a favorite. It is a very rugged antenna, pretty easy to set up, and runs 5 bands (more if I add resonator wires for 6, 12, 17m). However, I let a buddy borrow the 5BTV.

I figured it would be easiest to do a random wire. After all that is the main purpose of a random wire - ease of use. They are not the most efficient antennas, but they are easier to string up than a dipole.

So what I did was I ran a #12 wire to the faucet outside the room here as a ground line. I attached it with a hose clamp. Then I went outside and tossed fishing line with a weight on the end up through the tree next to the house. This was a chore - it took 5 tries to get it right. One time I had to climb up on the roof because the weight broke the fishing line when it rolled down the shingles.

After I got the first line threaded I spooled out the magnet wire across the yard. I would say I have about 80' of it. I estimated how high it was up in the first tree and adding that extra in to the distance to the second tree. Then I cut off the wire and dragged it back to the first tree and attached it to the end of the fishing line with the weight.

After that it was a piece of cake. I wound up the fishing line on the spool again and pulled the wire up through the tree.

Once I had the wire pulled out as much as it would go I walked it over to the second tree, took it off the fishing line, and re-attached my weight. Getting the weight thrown over the second tree was a bit easier - it took two tries. I didn't have enough line out the first throw so the weight didn't make it down to the ground. The second time did it.

I attached the wire back on to the fishing line and wrapped up the line on the spool, hoisting up the wire in the process.

Based on my last attempt at raising a magnet wire random wire antenna I was very careful about how much tension I put on the wire. I measured the breaking strength with a digital fish scale (I use it for weighing my backpack weight - reads in lbs/oz) and it broke at 1lb or less. I did it three times and the most I saw the scale read was 16oz.

The wire droops down a LOT. However, it is about 25-30ft up in both trees and is still about 15ft off the ground in the middle of the droop. I suppose I could pull it up a bit more, but I don't want it to break... at least not until I am done with it!

Here are a few pictures I just took. It is getting dark so the outside pics didn't come out great, but they give you an idea:

Station:



I am just using the FT-857D. I didn't bring a power supply, just a 12ah battery and a charger. I can keep the battery charged with the charger floating it even when the 857 is on because the current drain is so low. I brought the TS-2000 for my comparing to the FT-450 last night at my friend's place.

Here is the wire going out the window. I used some insulated computer ribbon wire (two conductors - scrap from my Norcal Doublet antennas) to run out the window, then I attached the magnet wire. Where the white wire stops is where the magnet wire starts - it just disappears!



The wire goes across the yard to the pine tree you see in the distance. It looks further away than it actually is. The support line is only about 5 feet or less from the top - I got a real good throw on it! (note the TV in the reflection is on my favorite channel - The Weather Channel!)



OK, back to 40m...