Picking antenna wire: copper, stranded or copper-clad steel

The wire in your dipole matters less than where you hang it, but choosing the right type and gauge still decides whether the antenna survives its first storm. A new antenna-wire guide from OnAllBands walks through the options, and the advice applies to everyone from a first-time dipole builder to a POTA regular.

Solid copper is the traditional pick for permanent dipoles, inverted-Vs and fixed long wires. It stretches less than stranded wire and holds its shape, but it is awkward to handle if the antenna goes up and comes down often. The guide notes that soft-drawn (annealed) copper bends easily but can sag and stretch permanently under tension, while hard-drawn copper is stiffer and better suited to long spans. Stranded copper is the choice for portable and temporary antennas because it coils and deploys repeatedly without complaint, though it also stretches more and benefits from a ring terminal where it meets hardware.

Copper-clad steel pairs a strong steel core with a copper skin that carries the RF, making it light and tough for end-feds and long spans. The tradeoffs are somewhat higher resistance than solid copper and less tolerance for repeated bending. It is also stiff and springy and can unspool quickly, so the guide recommends gloves and safety glasses and careful handling to avoid weakening kinks. Stainless steel resists corrosion but conducts poorly, so it is better left to guys and supports.

On gauge, the guide suggests 14 to 18 AWG as a good balance for many HF antennas. At around 100 watts, 18 to 20 AWG works well; higher-power and long-term outdoor installations benefit from 12 to 16 AWG. Portable operators can drop to 18 to 26 AWG, and QRP stations at 20 watts or less can use 24 to 26 AWG, which is also easier on lightweight fiberglass poles. Heavier wire is not automatically better: the difference in wire loss may be a fraction of a decibel, while raising a dipole higher can gain several.

Insulated wire resists corrosion, snags less on branches and can be chosen to blend in or stand out. It also shortens the antenna's electrical length by roughly 3 to 5 percent, so an insulated dipole ends up a bit shorter than the textbook formula for bare wire. The practical fix is to cut the wire long and trim it to resonance while measuring.

For radials on a ground-mounted vertical or inverted-L, 14 to 18 AWG insulated stranded copper suits permanent installs, standing up to foot traffic and mowers while lasting longer in moist soil; 20 to 22 AWG wire or light speaker wire is enough for portable use. Whatever you choose, leave some sag rather than pulling the wire violin-string tight, and consider pulleys with counterweights, springs or bungee cords between trees that sway, since insulators, rope and branches often fail before the wire does.