Re: Multi part question / Ideas (humm)

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Original poster: "Ed Phillips by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <evp-at-pacbell-dot-net>

> > If you already have it, then it is cheap :-)  Aluminum is pretty poor
> > at RF conductivity too
> 
>         I'd expect it to be fine.  eg its used in microwave plumbing.
>         (albeit sometimes with silver plate...)
> 
> > since it's outer surface forms a thick oxide layer.
> 
>         Indeed.  However this merely moves the conductivity 'in'.
>         The layer of Al UNDER the AlOx is nicely conductive, the
>         current flows there.  AlOx is a good (in terms of loss)
>         dielectric.  With care in making joints, I'd expect
>         it to work fine...

	Almost every airborne radar systems has a lot of aluminum waveguide in
it, and it works just fine.  This explanation is correct.
 
> > always would recommend copper, but if its free...

	So would I, as its easier to make a good connection.

Ed