There are designs all over the internet for coat hanger antennas that claim to work better than many expensive indoor antennas. So I have a few expensive indoor ones and like many, I am dissatisfied. there are many plans that use these same dimensions.
http://uhfhdtvantenna.blogspot.com/
I'm building that without the backboard and aluminum foil (I can always add it on later ans many of the other plans don't have it).

So I decided to use 12ga solid coper wire instead of a coat hanger (I have stranded 14ga wire for the connecting pieces that go down the center). The issue is that the wire is insulated (not shielded, just electrically insulated). Will the insulation block the signal at all. Should I strip it all off? Am I right that the copper wire would probably work a little better than coat hanger?

Also, I have a transformer that is labeled as 75ohm. Is that going to be suitable for hdtv? If not, I might have another one laying around (I'll have to hunt for it though).

Any help would be appreciated.