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Message-ID: <QUU+wHAVTHj8MwTm@telemetry.demon.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2002 09:11:49 +0000
To: "RSGB LF Group" <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>
From: "Tom Boucher" <tom@telemetry.demon.co.uk>
Subject: LF: Trees as antenna supports
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Dear LFers

Just a few more words of advice to the would-be Robin Hoods or Davids
(as in vs. Goliath) amongst us.

1) Use a proper lead weight with an eye in it instead of a steel nut.
These are obtainable along with the catapult in any angling shop and are
available in various weights. I use a 6 or 8 ozs one.

2) Use the fluorescent orange coloured mono-filament nylon line. Much
easier to see when it is hanging down through the branches. 

3) If the weight doesn't reach the ground on the other side of the tree,
don't immediately pull it back but ease it back and forth to try and
bring it down.

4) If that doesn't work, pull it back SLOWLY. If you do it fast, the
line will wrap itself around a branch and you will never get it down.
Do not pull with all your might as you stand a good chance of injuring
yourself as the weight flies towards you. (I speak from experience!)

5) Once you have the mono-filament across the highest point, use it to
pull back some thin cord and then use this to pull across the rope
halyard. Doing it in two stages lessens the risk of breaking the thin
nylon. I use polypropylene for halyards BUT I would think twice about
using polyprop for guying masts as it is attacked by UV and deteriorates
with age. 


- I've not managed to get a halyard higher than 60 ft with a catapult,
mainly due to the poor elasticity of the synthetic rubber used as
previously noted. Anyone know of a good source of bows and arrows in UK?

73, Tom G3OLB