Bob wrote:
I've got plenty of trees to hang up a dipole for 40 meters and feed it with
ladder line. Power level = 100 Watts.
What's the opinion(s) on the wires contacting leaves, especially near the
end points? Better to use plastic insulated wire rather than enameled wire?

I've had three HF dipoles strung thru four trees at my remote location
out in the boonies for five years. I use common Home Depot insulated
stranded #14 600V THHN wire. I've never had any problems at all at the
100-150W level with the wire including at the ends which are buried in
the foilage. I do tape the exposed solder joints at the insulators
though. There'a a lot of chatter here and there about trees being
quasi-conductors and catching fire etc. which I write it off as
mythology.

However I have had major problems with the support ropes. The rope is
the 3/16" jacketed UV-resistant Dacron type sold by The Wireman and
others for ~13 cents a foot, It's not Home Depot rope, it's supposedly
the best available for the purpose.

My experience indicates to me that while the wire is OK in all respects
thru trees the ropes have to be replaced every two years. The problem
is that tree branches of all sizes are very abrasive and will simply
eat thru rope if there's any relative motion between the rope and the
branches. Which is unaviodable in windy conditions. As a result I'm
seriously considering replacing the rope with the same wire I use for
the antennas.

w3rv