OTA: Finding Antenna-Build Parts in Canada

[dorthensensens]

We've tried a few places actually. We are thinking to try eBay. So are you saying that we can use the twisted threaded 6 rather than solid? What is the biggest we can go as we can easily get 12.

Thanks.

[dorthensensens]

I understand why this thread was moved but this subforum doesn't seem to be very forth coming with answers. Has no one on the mtl area made a dbgh antenna?

[RobertK]

Under Canadian Electrical code, the biggest wire that can be soild is
10 AWG. Any wire bigger than this will be too difficult too pull into
pipes with 90" bends and offsets.
That is why you can't find any, because no one makes it.

[RamKat]

Under Canadian Electrical code, the biggest wire that can be soild is
10 AWG. Any wire bigger than this will be too difficult too pull into
pipes with 90" bends and offsets.
That is why you can't find any, because no one makes it.

That explains!

[cheap_guy]

I'm not sure how easy this might be to bend, but you can try aluminum rods from reno depot. Its a little pricey, but should be about the right gauge and Al conducts better than Cu to boot.

[plabonte]

I want to build a GH antenna and I think I need 6 or 8 gauge solid copper wire? Where can I get that in Ottawa? At home depot the only solid wire is 12 gauge and up... if I go to 6 or 8 it is stranded copper...

Can I use the stranded stuff for a GH antenna?

Thanks.

[peano]

I bought 6 gauge solid copper from ebay. After visiting about 10 electrical supply houses and all of them looking at me like I was from Rigel 12 when asked, I went the ebay route. I got 200 ft. I'll have plenty extra and will happily sell sections to members here.

[300ohm]

I guess that #10 is ok for an antenna for an attic install?

Yep. Heck, 14 gauge taped/affixed to styrofoam is fine for attic use.

I bought 6 gauge solid copper from ebay. After visiting about 10 electrical supply houses and all of them looking at me like I was from Rigel 12 when asked, I went the ebay route. I got 200 ft.

How much did you pay ? The last 6ga solid copper I bought from my electrical supply house went for 32 cents a ft, US. Of course, copper is up again.

[mr weather]

6 gauge solid copper? Wow, that must be about as flexible as 1/2" copper water pipe.

[peano]

Originally Posted by mr weather

6 gauge solid copper? Wow, that must be about as flexible as 1/2" copper water pipe.

I haven't rec'd the 6 gauge yet but I have 4 gauge solid and it bends quite easily.

[ScaryBob]

I am trying to source parts for a SGBH build as described in this post.

Here is my result:

2 - 10 foot pieces of 1/2" sch 40 600psi pvc pipe. @ $4.99 - $10
2 - 1/2" sch 40 pvc elbows. @ $0.49 - $1
1 - 1/2" sch 40 pvc cross. Not Available - N/A
17 - 1/2" sch 40 pvc tees. (Buy 2 contractor 10 packs) @ $0.80 = $15
30 - Nylon wire ties. (Buy a 50 pack) = $3
36 - 1/2" x #6 plated wood screws. (Buy a 50 or 100 pack) = $4
2 - 5 foot pieces 6 gauge solid copper wire. - N/A
One 5 foot piece of 10-2 solid wire and stripping it. @ $5.65/m = $11
1 - 30" by 40" 10 gauge piece of fencing 15' roll = $20
2 - 1 1/4" ID u-bolts to clamp antenna to mast. @ $11.49 = $23
4 - #10 x 1" stainless or brass pan head screws. @ $0.25 = $1
2 - #10 x 1 1/2" brass bolts. @ $0.75 = $1.50
4 - #10 brass nuts. @ 0.25 = $2.50
10 - #10 brass or copper washers. @ 0.25 = $2.50
1 - Tube Plumbers Goop. Small Can = $5
4 - Sch 40 pvc caps. 10 @ $0.49 = $5
1 - 300ohm to 75 ohm balun @ $6.49 + S&H = $15

Total = $120

Needless to say, I was shocked.

So... how and where are people sourcing parts, in Canada, for a reasonable price? Don't say Lowes because there isn't one within a reasonable distance. First I tried to price and source the stuff online. That was a loss because most stores (such as Lowes, Home Depot and TSC) don't list small plumbing, hardware and electrical supplies online. (Home Depot does list some I couldn't find what I needed.) I visited 3 stores today and they either didn't carry the stuff, were out of stock on some items or didn't have enough stock.

[rlongfield]

So I wandered over to Home Depot this past weekend to price out some wire for my antenna build and I quickly walked out, first of all they don't carry any solid core copper wire that isn't in romex or bundled for house wiring and the one wire that was suitable was running somewhere around $5 a metre (which seemed awfully expensive).

So where do you buy your wire? I am in Kingston so if any fellow Kingstonian's can tell me where you get your wire I would be very grateful.

[majortom]

That is scary, at Home Depot, here in the US (Buffalo) I recently cut off about 40 ft of # 8 AWG Solid Cu Ground Wire from a spool at the store. It has Green THNN type insulation on it so ya have to strip it, then straighten with the drill before bending for antenna elements. It was like thirty sumthin cents a foot if ya bought the whole spool. They were pretty clueless though, NO Help available in the entire electrical department so I had to measure and cut it myself on that wire/cable counter tool that they have setup. Of course I didn't have a pen on me to write down the UPC code, price per ft, etc. so took them like forever to check me out up front. But I got it for the same price / ft as if I had bought the whole spool.

[ScaryBob]

Home Depot has jacked up their prices for custom cut wire here. It works out to twice the cost of buying a whole spool. I guess that is to cover the cost of labour but it seems like gouging to me. #10-2 works out to almost $2/ft. I picked up a spool end (basically scrap) about 6' long that had been reduced twice. It still cost almost $3 even though it was 75% off the posted price. I know copper has gone up in price but that is ludicrous. They had 250' spools for a reasonable price but I don't need an AM antenna.

[Emerald]

Does anyone know if there is a place in Calgary that sells #6 solid wire so I can build a GH to see if that will help? I tried big box stores, ECW, Westburne, web sites of electrical stores & I even bugged electricians who only had stranded. Noramco will only sell the whole 256' spool of solid #6. I heard that Metal supermarkets has copper bar but that its hard to work with? With getting fringe levels inside of the city I believe that the thicker/required elements will help my performance? I am inside an apartment on the 2nd floor for antenna placement.
Any suggestions on materials would be helpful.
Thanks,
E