This version of copper wire is more conductive than hard-drawn, thanks to the heating process the wire goes through after being drawn. The heat performs a reset of sorts to the copper’s crystalline structure, returning it to its original form. The result is a path that allows electrons to flow more easily.
Hard-Drawn (HD) Copper has a much higher tensile strength than annealed copper. It also has higher resistivity due to its “hardness.” This is because as the wire is pulled through the dies, the crystalline structure within the copper itself breaks down. As a result, it’s harder for electrons to flow through this copper because they’re too busy being jostled around by the irregular crystals. Hard-drawn copper is harder to work with because it isn’t flexible, making it hard to use in some applications.
My name is Fred, and welcome to FRS Engineering Worldwide!
I have been fascinated and involved with Radio and Communications since 1972. It started with a Multiband battery operated radio my father let me use (and he never got back) It had AM/PB-low/PB-Hi/Air/SW. One night while listening to the AM band I heard a Canadian Music station and I was more fascinated by the distance the station was from me than the music playing and this is what started my adventure. Then I turned the band switch on the radio to SW; but what was SW i thought. Then it began, I heard HCJB “The voice of the Andes” from Quito Ecuador, then the BBC- from Ascension Island, VOA “The Voice of America”. I went to the school library to learn more about Shortwave Listening (SWL) because there was no internet back in 1972. But I wanted to understand all I could on the technical aspect and this led to antenna experimentation. The Random Wire (long-Wire) antenna just needed to be a wire as long and high as possible. I told my neighbor about my fascination with Shortwave and he gave me a spool of wire. Living in a 5-story apartment house and access to the roof i had the two elements needed. I strung the wire approximately 100 feet and 75 feet above the ground. I can still remember the excitement of connecting the new long-wire antenna with an alligator clip to my multiband radio. The radio came alive with stations from all over the world and many in English. This adventure began my education in electronics and Radio communications. I joined the High School Amateur Radio Club And Shortwave Radio Club. This led to my Degree in Electrical engineering and held numerous positions for Government and Private Aerospace companies. I have also created my own Cable company specializing in RF Broadcasting and testing
I want you to share in the enjoyment of the Shortwave Listening Hobby. Never has there been a more interesting time to listen to Shortwave Radio! Ukraine, Russia, China, Iran, Africa, South America and so many more, broadcasting their views, news, and culture to the world and YOU.