Hi;
For what is worth I have been using a butternut and although it works I 
haven't been totally impressed.  I seriously wish I could think of the 
name of the thing but if I had room there is a fiberglass vertical which 
apparently has an internal wire that simply lengthens or shortens to 
adjust the swr.  It was pricey and apparently requires some rope 
supports but the tuning would be a delight.  Now how this tuner would 
work with a remote station is another question.  The "old" saying once 
was that verticals work poorly in all directions but sometimes necessity 
forces compromise.  I also used a cushcraft r8 which I was very happy 
with but it just didn't handle our wind.
If you have the space a dipole will do lots more for much much less.
As for propagation on the higher bands, I thought we were on the up side 
of the sun spot cycle?
-- 
richard