[TowerTalk] Concealed antenna issue

[Jim Hoge]

Dave,
 
Before you go overboard with the aluminum, consider a (wire) cage vertical supported by the tree. Just run multiple wires up the trunk, bonding them at the base and at the top. As for an 1/8 wave vertical, don't rely solely on a tuner but rather make it as near a resonant antenna as possible. Perhaps the simplest method is to string it up the tree as high as possible and then let the remainder slope back towards earth.... an inverted el. The current maximum of the antenna is at the bottom anyway so it's a better method than center loading a shorter antenna with a coil. Inductive loading is normally my last resort as it has the greatest losses, translating to reduced efficiency. My preferences are 1: full size, 2: top loaded, 3: center and top loaded, 4: center loaded. I don't have anything that is loaded only at the base. Again, try the cage vertical and see if additional wire don't help. it's still stealthy.
 
gl,
Jim W5QM