I have maybe 45 radials, some of them WD-1A. I bought over a mile of CAT cable and used it for antennas and radials, silver-soldering the wires together & attaching them to the plate or coax with ring terminals. They worked fine for radials, show no wear after around 8 years.
I used WD-1A for a couple bi-directional Beverages and found the salt marsh with tall phragmites dry & blowing in the wind set up so much static that it was noisier than my then INV-L. At that time I went to HI-Z antennas and never looked back. I used the WD-1A for new radials, cutting it into 130' sections & silver-soldering this as well. The WD-1A is only 5 or so years old as radials but I see zero issues in an acidic salt marsh thus far. However... As to splitting the WD-1A, don't try it, it's a waste of time. You have to carefully get the wire split so as to not expose the stainless inside and then once you finally do get the two halves apart and pull them apart, you have a pair of snake-like helixes. The abrupt bend as they separate makes the helix and it will not lay flat. If you were to bury it, it'd probably be OK. I use WD-1A for antenna wire now, bought about 2 miles of it for the future & will likely use it in its natural paired state for radials when I relocate. My 2 pence. 73, Gary KA1J > I like to buy copper wire when I find a good deal surplus or otherwise > and horde it up whenever I need it. > > In following this thread and seeing some folks seeking low cost radial > wire options got me thinking about WD1A. Anyone have any experience > with it as radial wire?? There are two wires that should pull apart > easily and give you a "2 for 1" deal. > > Anywho, just curious if anyone has any experience using it for > radials? > > 73 Joel W5ZN > _________________ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband