what is the best guage wire to use for shortwave antenna

This can also be done without the slightest knowledge of the radio's input impedance, offering more reassurance to the beginner. This has little to do with dating agencies - our good match is the best transfer of energy from the aerial to the radio that is all we are trying to achieve. If you follow the suggested designs in the instruction manual, then the burden of thought rests with the set maker and the aerial will be a good match. This is the impedance - the resistance offered to the radio signal at the frequency you are listening to. The antenna stages of your radio will exhibit some kind of electrical characteristic. Your first point of reference is The Manual that came with the set. They are on the shelf, layered in dust just like the writer. Rain forests have been felled to print the endless hallowed textbooks on the subject so we don't feel we should add to the debate. Also, to protect your radio, it is advisable to use a surge trap to prevent lightning induced electromagnetic power from zapping your radio.We are on a shaky ground here. It will tune the antenna to the listening frequency and amplify the signal into the radio plus a few other tricks. Another nice addition is a tunable antenna matching preamp such as the MFJ-959C. One trick to longwires is to fold the wire so that it runs parallel (2-3' separation) to itself in order to double or multiply its length. For my shortwave receiver I use an 80' end fed sloper with a Balun and an end fed longwire as long as I had room to hang it with an Unun.

Never had one break unlike an 18 AWG end fed sloper that I bought pre-made that did not survive a heavy storm. No particular reason but strong enough to withstand heavy winds whipping the trees around it was terminated to and easy to roll up for field day portability. I once used copper clad solid wire but the copper clad got penetrated/eroded and the steel wire rusted and broke.

I've always used #12 THWN/THHN solid or stranded copper wire for both SW end fed long wire antennas and my tuned Ham Band dipole transceiver antennas that I built.

What is the best guage wire to use for shortwave antenna