AM antenna in my RV

[hamguy]

Originally Posted by Bruce and Jenna

Now yer talkin'!

How thin a gauge wire can I use?

Can I wrap it around the rail a few times to reduce the overall length, or should I maximize the 10 meters I'm using?

Man, you radio guys know everything! If I'm stranded on a desert island, I'll use one of my three wishes to get one of you. (Second wish for parts. Third for beer.)

Better get the beer first. I don't work for free! Then the parts.

[wa8yxm]

You can use most any wire from nearly invisible magnet wire to very heavy stuff. It needs to carry only a very tiny amount of current.. Several hams use invisible magnet wire (like 40ga) for transmitting (Way more current flows in a transmitting antenna)

For a receive only antenna yes you could wrap it around the rail. or a fiberglass pole.. IT WILL affect performance. (Usually negatively) but you can wrap it.

Just be careful.. Make sure it does not come into contact with power lines (bad things happen if an antenna wire hits a power line) and make sure that if it crosses a road or other traveled place (Even if it is only foot traffic) it's up high enough.. I like 16 feet crossing a road as a MINIMUM. 10 feet on a foot path.