  We measure the length of stretched wire pairs by using them as the delay line
pulse shaping element in an avalanche oscillator. The circuitry and method are
extremely simple, and insensitive to oscillator supply voltage, to the
particular transistor (2N3904) used and to wire tension. Rudimentary tests with
simulated broken wires show that these can be detected easily. It remains to be
seen whether the technique will work at scale with realistic wire planes, but
it should be at least as good as reflecting short pulses.
