Maybe something like the MFJ-1976 telescoping vertical would be ideal - adjust length of element for 6,10,12,15,17,20m
A Full 1/4 wave for each band. This antenna stays where adjusted & works great ground mounted with has many ground radials has you can fit.
Also works very well elevated about 6ft with 2 1/4w radials also held up on ends 6ft - great for a single band - I prefer 17m or 20m this configuation. Catch you on the airwaves with mine.

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1979

73 K1WJ David

$300 bucks is tough - save more $$ - you still need a power supply, coax & antenna.

You should look at:

The Alinco SR8T - new at HRO for $530 - shipped to your door. 100w HF rig. See reviews here on eham.

Power supply - Astron RS-35M or the SS-30m - both good to go - Price $189 or $149 at HRO.

Then get some good coax - 100ft is common ( use as little as needed to get job done) however I like to see my antenna at least 50ft away from my operating position. - 213, or 9913 or 8x if want to save some $, but still decent.

Many antenna options - a vertical in many cases is the simple solution - give the antenna type the greatest consideration - But I have operated with anything from a MFJ hamtenna to a 3 element beam, vertical or wire antenna.

73 K1WJ David

Not having 12m is bunk - Pics of radio - looks cheap, if price over $900? Too much $$$. 73 David

I have a vx3r & the battery symbol on the display will blink when low or show one bar - alot of times I'll just wait until power fails - ht will not stay on - then charge it. 73 Dave

Which is a better Rig?

Seems like the Alinco DX SR8T at $529 vs the Icom 718 at $739 would be the better deal.

What does the Icom give you for $200+ more?

73 K1WJ

When is the TenTec all mode QRP rig coming out? 10 watts?  73 David

Last summer I used a 20m MFJ Hamtenna ( Mobile Antenna ) Mounted 2 ft off the ground - then had single 1/4wave 20m counterpoise also 2ft off the ground held up on end by camera tripod - can see general set up on QRZ  pic on upper Right under call K1WJ.
Made hundreds of contacts - had set up in back yard of Arizona HOA for 8 months.
Now at new house going to set up a MFJ 2286 - 6m-40m vertical - has 17 foot whip - telescoping. Should be interesting, may try ground mounted - for multi band use - or elevated with single counterpoise maybe elevated 4-6 ft this time, for single band use, most likely 20m.

73 K1WJ David

On ssb voice, call cq for about 10 seconds - wait 5 to 7 seconds on receive - call again.

I will do this continuous for about 3 to 5 minutes - if no response - look for activity on the band to see if it may be open.

Best band to call cq on is 20 meters or 40m - more likely band is open.

More stations need to call cq more often - bands could be open & no one is calling........ 73 K1WJ David

On HF: I just state " CQ CQ CQ K1WJ State of Arizona calling" - works for me - never a misunderstanding. 73

They work good - Try the MFJ 347 Dipole mount - or the MFJ 2220 comes with 2 20m HF sticks & dipole mount.
Have used myself the 6m/17 & 20m versions - all work good for quick limited space set ups.
The 20m version at 27ft high would generally out perform a Hustler 4BTV with 32 ground radials.
6m through 20m versions works decent - cant speak about 40/80m - did not think it was worth tryng.

73 K1WJ

Capacity hats will reduce the amount of inductance necessary to resonate the antenna, and increase bandwidth. But contrary to popular belief they add nothing to the radiation resistance. For a component of an antenna to increase radiation resistance it must itself radiate.

It is true if you put a Capacity hat on top of a short mobile antenna it will change the antennas efficiency but what happens is the current on the radiating element moves further up to the top.

Because the current is now further away from ground this lowers ground loss. So the ratio of radiation resistance to ground loss and Omni Loss resistance, which is the reduction in the amount of inductance needed for the loading coil, goes down.

73 K1WJ

Bottom line: Kenwood is back & kicking some ass. The world has been waiting for this radio a long time........73 K1WJ David

I dumped e bay when they forced every one to use Pay-pal - E bay = SUCKS.

73 K1WJ

Joe,

I just ordered one - mine will be ground mounted with 16 ground radials of various lengths in back yard of AZ HOA.
Should work great on 6-20m - adjusted for 1/4 wave. Will submit review here in a month or so.

Best 73 K1WJ - David

Soldering them together is fine - the current will go to the correct wire based on frequency.

On 20m at the radio - once transmit - current will go to the 16.5ft wires.

On 10m - it will go to the 8.5ft wires.

Good to use a insulated separator - to keep wires away from each other - close to feedpoint - where soldered.

Wires will be inverted to some degree - top wires more flattop - than set below.

With inverted wire length for freq. should be about 5% shorter - than formula = 468/freg.

Try to get apex at 33ft minimum for 20m.

Made a few fan dipoles - always come out good.

73 K1WJ David