Topband: Effect of trees- tree appreciation

[Gary and Kathleen Pearse]

Thank you all for the replies regarding the "T" versus "L" rebuild for my 160 antenna. I'm on a 120x120' city lot in Fairbanks. For fun look me up in QRZ, under 'Detail' zoom in for a satellite view via Google, then switch to a street view to see the trees. The motorhome is gone, the motorcycle is replaced with another, and the tower and trees still stand. 

The T would be strung between two spruce trees to the W of the home. Not the best scenario as the available tree spacing is a close ~75', the T wires would be touching the top of each tree trunk, and any excess for trim would drop down next to each trunk as well. A breeze would flex the trees and cause the vertical portion to rise and fall possibly affecting tuning.

The L (mimicking my former 160 antenna that came down with a blown tree) would climb a 75-80' tree adjacent to the SW corner of the home, be held away 5-7' from the trunk via branches except for the very top, and the remaining ~55' horizontal portion would head towards the street to the south but not reach the support, again at 75-80'. Eight tuned radials at ~15' are strewn where possible around the property. 

After some thought and your discussion, I think I'll repeat the L as it's easy to shoot the support ropes from the house roof. The T would be harder, and one end would be close to the power line that adjoins the north edge of the property. 

Adjusting resonance for the T would require lowering the whole deal a few times from both supports. Adjusting the L is simpler and only requires loosening the horizontal leg and shortening or lengthening the base of the vertical part. Plus I already have a big feed line choke and 3:1 matching unit built from the previous setup.

We'll see what happens,

73, Gary NL7Y