HF verticals, recommendations

[G0VKT]

Got to agree with a simple dipole type antenna.
Go with a doublet, open wire line and a suitable tuner.
Cheap as chips. Have a play with some simple wire antennas.
Save money and learn something at the same time.

[WB6BYU]

 10, 15 and 20 meters is really my priority (12 and 17 meter is low priority).

Then start with something like a 6BTV, 5BTV, 18AVQ, 14AVQ, or other trap vertical mounted
over a good system of ground radials.  The ones that cover 80m will typically have a fairly
narrow bandwidth (often just a 80m mobile resonator on top of a 10-40m trap vertical.)

You can always add parallel wires for 12m and 17m, and there are add-on kits available for
some of the verticals.

The Butternut verticals are also a good option.

Once you get them adjusted you don't need a tuner (other than to extend the SWR bandwidth
on 80m).

That gets you started.  From there you can see which bands are of most interest to you,
and where you want to improve things.  But that makes it simple and relatively inexpensive
to start, and can give remarkably good performance.

[K3GM]

.......I will mount it above my roof on a mast.......
Rick W7HBP

If you desire to roof mount, or elevate the vertical above the earth, keep in mind that any quarter wave radiator will require (at a minimum) two radial wire cut to a quarter wavelength* it's velocity factor. Elevated multband verticals can be problematic, especially for a new name with little to no test equipment.  Consider that 4 bands could have up to twelve radial wires of various lengths, all interacting with one another.  It can be done, it just takes patience and time.

[N4CR]

I will mount it above my roof on a mast.

This is a recipe for a lot of dissatisfaction.

Try to get it out and away from the house. For DX, height of a vertical doesn't make as much difference as having it not interfere with your electronics and not pick up signals from the house.

Ground mounted and away from the house is a much better solution.

[KB5UBI]

I vote for a ground mounted Butternut or Hustler BTV over a reasonable radial field. I put in a Butternut as a back-up to my ladder line fed doublets, but the  Butternut is now my primary antenna.

KB5UBI

[W8JI]

I will mount it above my roof on a mast.

This is a recipe for a lot of dissatisfaction.

Try to get it out and away from the house. For DX, height of a vertical doesn't make as much difference as having it not interfere with your electronics and not pick up signals from the house.

Ground mounted and away from the house is a much better solution.

I second that. There are very significant field levels below the radials even when 4 radials are used for each band. So far as RFI and noise, unless you can make the entire roof (or beyond) a nearly solid metallic sheet, you are begging for problems.

Out in the yard away from things is generally far better, if you have a choice.

[N8CMQ]

I will mount it above my roof on a mast.

This is a recipe for a lot of dissatisfaction.

Try to get it out and away from the house. For DX, height of a vertical doesn't make as much difference as having it not interfere with your electronics and not pick up signals from the house.

Ground mounted and away from the house is a much better solution.

I second that. There are very significant field levels below the radials even when 4 radials are used for each band. So far as RFI and noise, unless you can make the entire roof (or beyond) a nearly solid metallic sheet, you are begging for problems.

Out in the yard away from things is generally far better, if you have a choice.

I had a situation where I 'had' to remove my GMV and roof mount it. It didn't work as well, only local stations could copy me, and it attracted unwanted attention from the wrong crowd. Once it was back on the ground, I was back to working the world!

[AD5ZC]

If you like DX, 17 meters should not be "low priority.

[NU1O]

If you like DX, 17 meters should not be "low priority.

Agreed!  17 meters has been the best band for DX for at least the last year.

73,

Chris/NU1O