You can also buy a wire reel antenna cheaper than you can make one, if you figure your time as being worth any more than a burger flipper from SH Electronics. This one is tin plated, AWG24, 19 strands .035" and 134 feet long, marked with 9 tabs for 80 through 6 meters, you set adjustment with two 6-32 wing nuts, when coiled into the reel the uninsulated wire is shorted against itself so that it doesn't act as an inductor, stainless steel hardware, plastic case, it handles up to 100 watts maximum. Nicely illustrated, go to
www.radiobug.comI have no relation to the company and haven't tried one yet, but plan to buy one for my RACES portable kit the first chance I get.
73 de KE4SKY
Virginia RACES State Training Officer