Had a couple of different 5btv/5band trap vertacles,   vertacles which were
simply the antenna u bolted onto a pipe in the ground that worked pretty
well even on 80meters!  You set it up on the ground before you actually
stick it up in the air, It wasn't perfect, but it was comparitively cheap
and easy to assemble especially with either some sighted help or a good
audio noise bridge and or swr meter.  I figure that's something worth a try.
Also, the hamstick dipole idea's not bad, takes two sticks per band with the
adapter in the middle, and for that matter, if the house's not all metal
outside or roof wise, maybe even a single hamstick per band on a good magnet
or tripod mount inside the house, or if you can open a window to change a
single stick mounted outside, maybe that'd work.  but the 5btv system did
pretty well and simply for me without any strung out radials.  Hope you the
best in your endeavours, and very sorry about your "tree mendous loss."
Danny.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Fiorello" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, October 21, 2006 8:45 PM
Subject: Buffalo snow storm


> Hi everyone;
> The snow is gone, the antenna is history, and there are still lots of
trees
> down.  I was using a kushcraft r8 which was roof mounted.  It was
convenient
> in that it came with a counterpoise which supposedly avoided the need for
> long wire tuned radials.  It would appear that it just isn't sturdy enough
> for this area, however.
> I have looked at the gap but some of the reviews on e-ham were not exactly
> encouraging.  Butternut makes a good product but it can be hard to
initially
> tune and then we have to deal with a set of radials.  The step-ir was also
> very interesting but I was never certain if it was self supporting and
then
> we go back to radials.
> Are there some exciting options out there I haven't looked at?  This is a
> reasonably sized city lot about 50 by 140 problem is there is one pole at
> the rear of my yard which services my home and both neighbors.  Needless
to
> say there are lots of wires al ready up there.  I would much prefer a nice
> simple dipole and it certainly would be easier to put up.
> 73
> Rich