Antenna wire color or paint? - AntennaRestrictions Forum at eHam.net

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eHam.net Forum : AntennaRestrictions : Antenna wire color or paint?

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Antenna wire color or paint?	Reply
by WS4E on October 5, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Just curious, I was thinking of putting up a stealth(sigh) wire antenna between some trees, but I noticed that you would be able to see the straight path I wanted to run them between two trees pretty well from the street. I figured that black wire coupled with black ladder line would probably be very obviously shown up as a straight line high up between two large trees. Has anyone ever found a supplier of good wire like an 16 or 18 gauge copper coated steel that has jacket colors in gray? I was also wondering if anyone has ever tried to paint their antenna wires, couplers, ladder line a light gray color to make them more invisible.

RE: Antenna wire color or paint?	Reply
by WC0R on October 10, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Here is a site that sells bulk wire in a variety of colors. I have the same problem and plan to use some gray solid copper #12 to run up a spruce tree and then bend over along the crown of a crabapple so I can get 43 feet. You can't really see it from the street because it is buried in the spruce tree. http://www.bulkwire.com/product.asp?ProdID=7601

RE: Antenna wire color or paint?	Reply
by WB4BYQ on October 12, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I have painted my butternut hf6v black, my rohn 25g tower black, use sti antenna rope 5/16 see the link http://www.synthetictextilesinc.com/supportham.html the sti rope is black, use black sti on dipoles, 5/16 rope on the guying, black insulators, against the trees in the yard, pine and oak, the antenna's disappear into the black on the trees. my wife n4mea and my neighbor two doors down, Hal kj4td were just amazed how the antenna's became invisable in the trees. i have not painted the mosley ta33jr black, but i will when i get it down for maintance.

RE: Antenna wire color or paint?	Reply
by N5LRZ on October 15, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
BEFORE you attempt anything that will violate your legal and binding purchase agreement/contract you might want to consult with your personal legal rep. You want to do everything within the contractual law and your purcase contract agreement dotting every I and crossing every T in a 100% completely legal fashion down to the nth degree. Do NOT do anything that will violate your legal and binding purhase agreement in such a fasion as to bring down a possible law suite against you with possible contractual financial penalties levied against you. When the neighbor bitches as to how he cannot watch his TV (and you know that at least one SOB will) and spots your antenna your wallet could quite possibly go on a severe diet when the HOA comes in and forces you to not only take it down but also gives you a big bill for violation of purchase agreement. You want to think everything out that can possibly drain your wallet before you take any action that your finances will wish you had not taken at all. Contact YOUR legal rep, have them read your purchase agreement and advise you as to the 100% completely legal and above board method to use.

RE: Antenna wire color or paint?	Reply
by KF7CG on October 15, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
N5LRZ If you read most HOA bylaws and agreements, you will find that the HOA must first give the offender warning that they are transgressing the HOA limits. After what may be a very short, but generally long enough to remove a wire antenna, they then may do other than warn. Therefore, If you expect an outright refusal to allow a wire, it may be better to string something stealth with a really low profile and wait. Not within the spirit of the agreement, but it is only illegal when you are told it is. If no one can see it, smell it, or get tangled up in it, it surely can't hurt property values. Deed restrictions and HOA rules are great for keeping up property values. They can keep the neighbor from putting up an antenna or a clothsline, but they can't stop a sex offender from buying next door and moving in. KF7CG

RE: Antenna wire color or paint?	Reply
by W5DC on October 15, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I have my hoa's permission for my antenna with the implied condition that I keep it as unobtrusive as possible. I have one support pole that's mostly painted a sky blue except for the end next to the townhouse where it is painted to match the townhouse. Insulators are painted to match the townhouse also. The wire is bare # 26 copper clad steel from wireman. So far, it has survived without breakage but if a wire does break, I'll replace it with bare # 18 copper clad steel, also from wireman. The bare copper corrodes to match the townhouse color. I have some pictures posted on my web site at: http://www.qrz.com/db/W5DC/1255632067 Since these pictures were taken, I've added 30, 17, and 12 meters and am in the process of adding 80 and 160 meters. 73, Dunc, W5DC

RE: Antenna wire color or paint?	Reply
by KI4SDY on November 8, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I paint all of my outdoor antennas, wire or verticals with $.99 flat black paint. It makes them invisible and prevents corrosion. I don't think gray will make them any less noticeable. Reflection of light is what makes objects visible to the human eye. Gray will reflect more light than black. What you are seeing when you look at a black wire against a bright sky is a void of light that is not visible from a distance.

RE: Antenna wire color or paint?	Reply
by WX7G on November 8, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I have not found steel core copper clad in #16 or #18. The Wireman sells #26 stranded copper clad steel wire. I use this for stealth antennas and balloon verticals. Being black it is not the most stealthy. For real stealthy #34 is a miniumum size. It does not last long in the elements. A bit of frost and it stands right out. #30 Kynar wire wrap wire works well and is available in blue, the stealthy color. For durability The Wireman #26 is the way to go. For stealth the #30 Kynar wire wrap will do.

RE: Antenna wire color or paint?	Reply
by WX7G on November 8, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Open line can be made using the #26 or #30 wire. Cut two pieces of foam tape 1.5" X 1/4" to use as a spacer. Stick the wires 1/4" the edges of one piece of tape and place the other tape on top.

RE: Antenna wire color or paint?	Reply
by KF5DDW on November 8, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I'm painting my Titan DX flat green, I think my neighbors will have a hard time picking it out against the trees. Also I have it on a tilt base mount and take it down when not in use. This makes it a temporary antenna and does not violate the HOA ask for permission policy, at least that's my thinking. If not I will be polite and ask permission.... Thank you very much.

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