On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 20:50:55 GMT, Mike Coslo
wrote:

Possible dum question alert!

I've been thinking about verticals lately, and am curious about a
vertical for 80 meters.

Specifically, I am wondering about putting a vertical in one of my trees
in the yard. I have *big* trees, 80-90 feet tall, and could put a full
1/4 wave vertical in one of the huge oak trees just outside the shack.


Go for it.
Yes the tree will affect the antenna some, and it's effect will vary
with the seasons so you *might* have to change the tuning, or matching
between Summer and Winter. OTOH, I have 75 meter slopers that hear
(and work) Europe on a regular basis. They run through trees and the
tuning does change a bit. There is a difference in tuning between the
one through trees and the one near trees. They both work great.

What is more, it is one place in the yard that I can get radials in more
than one direction.

As was already mentioned, keep the wire well away from the tree
itself. The end of the wire will have some very high voltages,
particularly if you run the legal limit, but I'd not worry much about
starting a fire in an Oak, except in the Fall.


I've looked on the web to see if anyone else has done this, and I've
seen some references to other types, but the lack of 1/4 wave verticals
for this makes me suspicious.

I'd guess it's more a lack of 90 foot trees to support the antennas
rather than antenna performance. :-))


Anyone done this, or is there a reason why it won't work?

Been done, worked fine in the cases I've read.

You'll have to fix the return add due to dumb virus checkers, not spam
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair?)
www.rogerhalstead.com


- Mike KB3EIA -