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Re: [TowerTalk] Antennas in trees

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Antennas in trees
From: Patrick Greenlee <patrick_g@windstream.net>
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2015 08:18:58 -0500
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Arrows and tennis balls are prone to hanging up in trees. I have had better luck with fairly large (an ounce or what ever you cast well) lead fishing weights, the teardrop streamlined ones. I can cast one of these completely over a pretty large tree so that the weight doesn't have to come down through the middle of the tree. I then remove the weight and tie on a small rope (1/4 inch) and pull that over the tree to use to pull a larger rope if needed. Black UV stabilized HD fishing line as sold by Walmart for juglines and trot lines is good and long lasting in a sunny environment. It is a good line to leave in the tree to hold/connect to the antenna or strain insulator if you prefer.

It is good self defense to use a pulley on the end of the rope with a weight to set the tension in the antenna. This will accommodate the motion of the tree in winds.

I have seen (but not done it myself) a powerful slingshot used to shoot the weight over the tree. Requires good alignment of the slingshots initial trajectory with the open faced spinning reel but got the job done. I don't think it was his first rodeo.

Walmart is currently selling carbon fiber arrows for 45-70 lb pull in 31 inch draw length for $3 each. I bought and have used 15 lately. A couple nocks came off but could be slipped back on with a small drop of alphacyanoacrylate anerobic adhesive AKA super or crazy glue. They have some aluminum shaft arrows for even less. (Price is USD last week but Canadian should be comparable.)

I have been successful with bow and arrow but found you need to back away from the tree so as to shoot less vertically and not have the arrow falling down through the middle of the tree.

Good luck!

Patrick       NJ5G

On 8/1/2015 6:03 PM, ve4xt@mymts.net wrote:
Anyone have any advice for getting the fishing line to come back to ground zero?

I have no problem getting the line over a nice, tall branch but the arrow and 
tennis ball get caught up on the way back down. If I'm lucky, I can snap the 
line and retrieve the arrow, but that's only happened once.

I don't exactly have a bucket truck guy to call where I am (cottage). And I'm 
running out of cheap arrows.

Kelly
ve4xt

Sent from my iPhone
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