In the QST article I reference, the ham is in Tennessee, not Florida, 
just so you will know you have the right article.

John is right about a fire escape, or even an aluminum step ladder for 
both the mast and the ground plane. Just strap the ladder to something 
so that it won't fall over and hit anybody.

A wooden railing means you must supply the wire radials.

Also, while 3 or more radials are standard practice, a vertical can 
work just fine with only two radials. If using only two radials, it is 
better to run them as close to 180 degrees apart as possible, rather 
than 90 degrees or less.

To clarify about checking the feed line for shorts, you do not want 
conductivity between the center pin and the outer shell of the PL259 
connector on either end.

You do want to see conductivity between the center pins on each end, 
and between the outer shells on each end of the feed line. If you do 
not see that when you check center to center, and shell to shell, you 
have found one problem.

When you do get the antenna working, you really will like 10 meters, 
so hang in there.


Mike Duke, K5XU
American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs