I'd like to get started doing portable HF work and I'd like some information on antenna possibilities.
My broad (and somewhat flexible) criteria are:
- By "portable" I mean it can be carried in a modestly-sized vehicle such as a sedan/saloon and hauled on foot a reasonably short distance. I don't intend to take the antenna to mountaintops (unless there's a road there :) ).
- Multiband is preferred, but I'm better off on a single band than on no bands. Assume I have a tuner, although a portable antenna that can be made resonant on multiple bands would be a nice thing.
- I prefer something I can buy over something I can build partially because of my general building skill, and principally because of lacking time. Recommend a type of antenna, rather than a specific commercial product.
- The antenna should be able to be set up by a solo operator.
I'm attracted to the Buddipole system for a few reasons, although I wonder sometimes if I might be better with a longer dipole and some means of putting the thing up. The Buddipole seems usable just about anywhere, though, which is a huge plus.
Since specific product recommendations are off topic here, can you give me some guidance as to the types of antennas that might be suitable for this situation?
I would like to be able to use full barefoot power (i.e. 100 watts), and would work principally in SSB mode with occasional CW.