[SEDXC] tree climber - wire antenna installation help

[Frank T Brady]

UPDATE:
Again, thanks to SEDXC and all of the help offers I received.  The 135' 
doublet is up - Robert Miller was reasonable and fast.  I'm still 
cleaning up from all the necessary tree trimming.  It turned out that 
the longest route for the flattop was about 98', so I had to vertically 
droop 20' of wire at each end to accommodate the 135' antenna.

IMPLEMENTATION:
After several frustrating weeks trimming the 600 ohm feedline length 
without being able to tune all 80 through 10 bands, I was forced to 
resurrect a system of six relays I once used to physically insert 
segment(s) of feedline to add up to the exact feedline length for each 
band.  I originally built it for 450 ohm feedlines.  Converting it from 
narrow 450 ohm window line to the wide spaced 600 ohm line took up so 
much space I had to put it in the garage and remotely control the relays 
from the 2nd floor shack.  It now works like a charm!

QUESTION:
I haven't been able to hear even a hint of signal from the VK9XSP 
Christmas Island expedition.  Could part of the problem be that the 
antenna is only up 30'?  I can get Robert to raise it another 20' with 
significant additional tree trimming.  Before I go to the trouble, does 
anyone know from their own experience that raising a wire antenna from 
30' to 50' really helps?  I'm also aware of the complicated multiple 
lobe radiation patterns for multi-band wire antennas.  Maybe I have a 
deep null at the VK9XSP bearing - I'll never know.


73,
Frank W0ECS