In article ,
"Namikis" wrote:

I am using a Eavesdropper/C antenna from Antenna Supermarket, hung between a
tree and one of the chimney towers on the side of the house. At times during
the year some of the branches of surrounding trees grow long enough that the
leaves and/or the branch touch one or more of the wires between traps. Can
this grounding effect significantly impact reception effectiveness?

Yes and no. The tree being spread out around the antenna is similar to
the antenna being in an attic. The electric field gets weaker the closer
you are to earth and the tree hanging over it will weaken the field some
more. This won't stop the antenna from working it is just sub optomal.

Antennas work best in the clear and the higher up they are the better
they will work.

You should trim the tree to keep branches from whacking the antenna and
breaking it when it gets windy.

You need some kind of strain relief for when the tree moves in the wind
since the chimney does not move on the other end. Some people use a
pulley and weight system for this.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California