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« on: September 03, 2012, 1642 UTC »
If you don't want to shell out the $$$ for an EZ Hang, just get your hands on a cheap slingshot and some 1 oz steel sinkers (please don't use lead). Get a big spool of 20lb-ish test monofilament fishing line, and some masonary line (from Home Depot).
Lay out a zig zag pattern of the fishing line on the ground in front of you. Estimate about what you would need to get it over the tree in question, but don't cut it from the spool, just let the spool lie there on the ground too. But the zig zag pattern on the ground is important, so that it easily (and with minimal friction) flies up into the air. Tie a sinker to the end of the fishing line.
Hold the slingshot with a gloved hand (the hand you use to pull the sling back can be bare) and, wearing goggles, fire that sinker up to were you want the line to go. It almost always pays off to aim higher than where you really want it. With some practice this works well. Next, use the fishing line that has been launched over the tree to pull the masonary line up over the tree. Masonary line is much stronger than the fishing line you just used, and is also "slippery" and doesn't knot. Finally, use the masonary line to pull your antenna rope over the tree, which really should be the good UV resistant dacron type stuff they sell on eBay or at Ham Radio Outlet. Rope from Home Depot will not work well at all for antennas. Use real antenna rope, it's worth the money.
The slingshot, fishing line, sinkers and masonary line is probably a $40 initial investment. Good antenna rope is not all that expensive either; I've found the Davis RF stuff on eBay to be excellent and I believe this is also the stuff that Ham Radio Outlet stocks. It lasts forever, doesn't kink, and is really is easy to work with.
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