That configuration is no better than shunt feeding the mast near the bottom,
and is a lot more complicated mechanically, particularly keeping the wire
straight and parallel to the mast. Put a stainless hose clamp around it
about a foot from the bottom, feed it through a tuner there and see what it
does. Replace the tuner with a fixed network(s) when satisfied.

--
Crazy George
Remove NO and SPAM from return address
"Albert P. Belle Isle" wrote in message
...
It would seem that a 40+ foot aluminum mast with a grounded bottom
just calls out for a wire from its top, parallel to it, down to a
deck-level feedpoint with a tuner.

Does anyone have any experience trying to do this? Was it any better
than the typical weakening of your backstay with insulators? (I have a
B&R rig, so I don't even have a backstay, anyway.)


Good listening,
Al
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Location: 42N39, 71W09 (Near Boston, MA)
HF Antennas: 65ft TFD, 45ft T2FD, 28ft vertical, 65ft doublet
HF Receivers: Ten-Tec RX340, RX320, Harris R2368, Cubic R3030A
Decoders: Code300-32, Universal M-8000, PK-232MBX/DSP
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