[Lowfer] Quick Antenna Question

[Steve Hughes]

Hi Group,

I am learning a lot from this bunch. I just started fiddling with Argo 
and Spectran, and for the first time was also able to copy the ARRL CW 
material using the program CWGet. All this by way of sneaking up on LF 
beacons. Learning Morse with Ham University as well. Loving every minute 
of it.

Right now I have a 65' antennna hung between a tree and the house. It is 
the $9.95 spool of braided copper wire and insulators kit avail from 
Radio Shack. Seems to work well enough with my new RX-320, but I am 
having very limited success with essentially ANY ham signals. This isn't 
quite what I expected--lots of noise, precious other than SW broadcast 
signals. I am unfortunately in a little bit of a stucco house derived 
valley here in St. Paul, and have had dramatically better reception at 
my farm in Shell Lake WI, but I am not there at present so, well, rats.

I want to get an upconverter to bring in the LF signals that I am 
craving. I know the RX-320 is not strong at teh long end, butg until I 
do build a converter, I'm trying a higher and longer antennna.

Simple (probably sort of dumb) questions:

Does an insulated wire perform more poorly than a bare wire?

Does light contact with tree limbs degrade reception enough to make 
pruning an important consideration?

Does it matter a lot where on the wire I attach my down lead?

Could I connect another 150 feet of solid electic fence wire more or 
less in parallel to my current 65' of copper wire, or what that cause 
some sort of problem?

I expect someone can direct me to a site that addresses this sort of 
stuff. I don't mean to interrupt the flow of exquisitely cool screen 
caps from Argo. I'll get back by the side of the road as soon as I get 
myh antenna squared away.

Thanks,

Steve Hughes