>Any truth to the rumor that old hams used to use
>wood sticks dipped in parafin (sp?) as spacers
>on their open-wire twin-lead feedlines?

I imagine this is true.  After all, the RF in a feedline
is supposed to stay in the wire and is not supposed to
radiate.   And an open-wire feedline is mostly air.

>I guess there're no thruth to the rumor that lumber
>used in construction if kiln-dried to some single-digit
>moisture value either ...

It probably is, coming out of the kiln.  But unless you
can seal it from moisture, the effect doesn't last.

>I need an explnation, too, as to how I can pick up SW
>as well as AM broadcast band signals equally inside
>and outside inside of my house too.

AM is 1 MHz.   SW is 10 MHz.  GPS is 1575 MHz.   Microwaves
behave a lot differently than "short" waves.

>Brick veener exterior (MORE absorptive/reflective to
>uW's than wood), standrard wood framing, roofing of
>4'x8' plywood sheets topped  with 'composition'
>shingles -
>
>- and GPS receivers are *fully* able to function.
>

GPS works in my house, and it worked in a building made
of concrete and steel.  The reason:  BIG WINDOWS.   If
there's any doubt, take a look at *which* satellites
are in view and how that correlates to the direction
your windows face.

Barry

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