To be stealthy one needs to be nearly unseen, the "low profile,"
naturally. I used to do this for a living (NSA), and now for
my hobby, and have found one very good source of wire, big in commercial
sales, but also very accomodating and helpful to amateurs: Press Jones
N8UG, The Wireman, Inc. 261 Pittman Rd. Landrum, SC 29356 800/895-5811
n8ug@juno.com (aka Davis RF Co).
I recently bought and am now using a most remarkable stealth wire,
Davis' #WM-34, 26 AWG 19-strand copper clad steel with HDPE black
jacket. I defy you to find it near or in trees, etc! And, running less
than 100 watts, that small size does not seem to be a problem. I doubt
that any legal amateur power would encounter difficulty.
Press tells me that this is sold mainly abroad where the enthusiasm for
kite antennas creates a good market.
One fellow recently wrote that he used a sling shot or bow/arrow to
launch 20-lb monofilament line into or over trees, which he then used to
pull up the antenna wire. He did not install an insulator but depended
upon the characteristics of the fish line. SOME PROBLEMS predicted: 1)
That fishing line is most likely not UV protected and will deterioriate;
chafing by foliage will expedite that problem! 2) Most fishing line
glints in the sun and draws attention 3) Dialectric constant unstable,
especially when wet.
I have found it much better to pull in a length of 3/32" black dacron
double-braided rope, and use a small black plastic strain insulator.
Good luck & 73....Allan W6MEO Yountville (Napa County) Ca.
E-mail: a.k.chapman@ieee.org
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