Hello again !
Thanks for all the responses ! I have decided that the best antenna for my situation is the Anttron Mod. #1700. This antenna once tuned is slightly less than 6 feet tall. Most 11 meter fiberglass whips are 3 or 4 feet in length. They will work by trimming them down but as I was saying, I wanted as much antenna above the bed as possible but not over 6 feet total length from the bumper mount to the tip. The Anttron #1700 has a fiberglass helical section at it's base which is only 2 feet long. A 4 foot SS whip top section is slid in the fiberglass sections tip and pruned for the desired frequency. I'm told the #1700 is broadbanded compared to the "Hamstick" for 10 meters. Anttron went out of business, not due to bankruptcy or anything like that but due to it being a family ran business and a member was lost, so I'm told. The tooling and machines to build Anttron antennas were bought by a company in Oklahoma. They are now producing all new Anttron antennas and I'm told they are developing new ones, like the "Hamstick JR.", a 6 foot long version of the "Hamstick" (7 foot) antenna. I ordered a #1700 antenna direct from them and should have it before the end of the week. Thanks again to all that posted or emailed me on this subject. I am still going to experiment with a wire antenna under the fiberglass lid when I get the time.
Scroll down below my signature for more info on Anttron (Oklahoma) the Anttron antenna I'm getting.
73's and HAVE FUN HAMMING !!
de Jim
NJ3T
Somerset, PA
http://anttron.tripod.com/id2.htm ANTTRON 1700
6 FT. OF TALK POWER
2 FT. OF 3/8 IN.O.D. FIBERGLASS ROD WITH A
4 FT. .125 STAINLESS STEEL WHIP
ADJUSTABLE FOR LOWEST S.W.R.
WOUND WITH #14 WIRE FOR FULL
LEGAL LIMIT ON THE HAM BANDS
BROADBAND
POWER RATED
2000 WATTS
TUNES 26-29 MHZ.
HIGH GAIN
LOW NOISE
3/8" X 24 THREAD
COLORS: BLACK, WHITE
OR BLUE OR RED
SUGGESTED RESALE
$22.99
MADE IN THE U.S.A.
The New Anttron company is now K& E Electronics
Oklahoma City, OK Tele: 405-947-2891
BTW: MARKJ , CQ magazine has an article about tuning fiberglass 11 meter antennas to 10 meters (May Issue) I'm told.