[TowerTalk] fullwave loop through trees

[Pat Chiles]

Well thank everyone for your advise and experiences.  I will now start 
developing plan B.  I tried it during the contest and wound up using the 
dipole instead.  I didn't see any squirrels running around on Saturday.  I 
wonder if my SB220 got them?

Thank folks,

Pat, K8PC
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Jarvis" <jimjarvis at verizon.net>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2006 3:00 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] fullwave loop through trees


>
>
> ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
>
> On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 14:01:03 -0400, "Pat Chiles"
> <chilesp at adelphia.net> wrote:
>>Has anyone done this before, without insulators, and did the antenna give
> expected results?
>>Thanks,
>
> ------------ REPLY FOLLOWS ------------
> By "without insulators" if you mean the loop wire is touching the tree
> itself, you are asking for trouble. Trees have been set on fire by
> arcing from antennas, even at relatively low power levels. The amount
> of voltage present at a node might amaze you.  If you can suspend the wire
> well away from branches, etc, it should work ok.
> Bill, W6WRT
>
> ------------REPLY FOLLOWS ---------------
> I agree Bill, having had the dead fronds of a Palm tree touch the end of a
> Carolina Windom.  The result was a complete Palm tree fire within 5 
> minutes
> of operating at 400 watts on 80 meters. It was spectacular and could be 
> seen
> for a mile.  Incidentally the tree survived surprisingly, I learned my
> lesson the hard way.  Mike, k6br
>
> ----------- Hitchhiking addition -----------
>
> I've had PE insulated Carolina Windoms through trees for almost 15 years
> now,
> running 1 kw, and been reasonably fortunate.  Trees were all high pines,
> maples
> oaks, and tulip poplars.  Just laid the wire over the branches, and hoped
> for
> the best.
>
> HOWEVER...it is clear I was living on borrowed time, due to abrasion and 
> UV
> degradation.  In NJ, I had a 40m GP, mounted at 50' in a maple tree...with
> 4 insulated radials draped down through the branches.  Running an sb220,
> with
> maybe 800w out.  My neighbor used to phone with some regularity and great
> amusement,
> to advise that "you're burning the tree again".   What I was burning was 
> the
> insulation
> off the wire, for the most part...but also stray leaves and twigs.  Maples
> are harder to
> start burning than palm fronds, fortunately.
>
> Short form:  It's not a great idea, but if you use insulated wire, it'll
> work for a while.
> And it beats being off the air.
>
> n2ea
>
>
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