Mike,

Everyone has their own reason for using verticals.  One big reason is 
lack of space or supports for a dipole or beam.  If you have the space 
and supports, a wire antenna will be a lot cheaper and possibly less hassle.

To minimize  wire breakage, leave some slack and don't pull it tight. 
There are also things you  can do to allow for strain relief:  Counter 
weight, bungee cords, etc.  I use a long spring that was probably 
intended to pull a screen door shut.


I'm a bit curious about  the estimated price of installation of the 
Hustler vs. the Butternut.   i know you have to pay taxes, duties, and 
other junk, but  just looking at the price of the antenna, the Hustler 
is $250 less than the Butternut.   Why would it cost more to install the 
hustler?

73, Steve KW3A

On 3/14/2011 1:09 PM, Michael Ryan wrote:
> Hi All:=20
>
> I'm really getting scared off by this vertical thing. It seems like the =
> more research I do, it looks like more and more that an expensive =
> outboard auto tuner will have to be added, either at the base of the =
> antenna it self or in the shack.=20
> It would add around 300 bucks to my antenna pushing it over  the 1K =
> mark.=20
> Ie: package 1, DX Engineering Thunder Bolt with Unon and self supplied =
> radial kit and attachments, would come to 724 put up, trusting my =
> FT-450's tuner.=20
> Package 2, Hustler 6-BTV, with self supplied radial kit and attachments =
> 920 put up, trusting my FT-450's tuner. =20
> Package 3, Butternut HF-9V with self supplied radial kit, 870 put up, =
> trusting my Ft-450's tuner.=20
> Now add 300 to these proposed solutions should my Yaesu's tuner won't =
> tune, gets out of hand. =20
> Now add in the Nay Sayers who are waiting to rip me to pieces with "I =
> told ya sos" should either of these ending nothing but an expensive post =
> in the ground that radiates RF.=20
> But thousands of verticals are in use. Could thousands be wrong?=20
> I'm thinking I should just shoot a commercial G5RV or Radio Works =
> Carolina Windom up in the trees and forget it. LOL=20
> I certainly won't have to worry about maintaining tree supports unless =
> they get uprooted in a major wind storm. =20
> So what if I have to have someone solder my wire once a year and don't =
> hear them complain that they have to take a run out to Michael's place =
> and fix that Damn antenna! LOL=20
> What the eyes don't see, or in our case, what the ears don't hear, the =
> heart won't feel! LOL=20
>
> 73:=20
>
> Michael De VO1RYN=20
>
> P S=20
> If it doesn't cost me a grand and only 300 at the most, it would be kind =
> of worth it?=20
>
>
> =20
>