Hi John, Have you considered a transmit loop with your trees and poor soil conditions??? Mike http://www.geocities.com/we0h/index.html My most recent Lowfer transmitting antenna, though, was a fairly ordinary vertical with a Tee top and a loading coil at the base. Lots of trees, alas, and poor soil as well, so way too much loss to do any good with plain CW. 73, John