Q Eric, WB9PTN, asks, “Would 24-gauge wire be too thin to use for building an HF dipole antenna?”
A No, electrically it works fine. Its impedance characteristics at various heights and frequencies may make such a dipole a little narrowbanded. This means that you may find yourself using your antenna tuner more often than usual.
If stealth is your objective, don’t forget to use monofilament fishing line as your “rope” and shirt buttons as your insulators! And if you’re installing an antenna outdoors, note that the National Electrical Code specifies at least no. 14 wire for spans less than 150 feet.
From QST October 1999
