"Robert" wrote in message
...
I would like to ask for recommendations for specifications of a wire dipole
that
will give me the most bang for my portable buck. For example, Using an
Icom 703+
at a different location, (friends back yard, local park, etc.) and
remembering
this model includes a built in auto-tuner, would I get the most out of a
single
band dipole, a dipole that can be tuned for more than a single band, an
OCF
design, or loop? I would like to be able to use a single antenna design
for as
many of the HF bands it would be capable of used in conjunction with the
afore
mentioned auto-tuner? What bands? I'm not especially fussy, but hopefully
I can
get away with using it on 40 and 20meters. More up to all the HF bands
would be
fantastic, but I'm sure I will be told it wouldn't be practical.

Well for once I have to agree with CJ. The OCF will give lots of bands and
not too difficult or expensive. YOu can put up one about 130 feet long and
work most bands from 80 meters up except for 21 mhz. The swr goes way too
high on that band for most built in tuners. You can also just put up one
about 65 feet long and and work 40 meters up except for 21 mhz again.

I like the socalled Carolina Windom. It is an OCF antenna with a choke on
the feedline about 20 feet below the feed point. YOu will need to have the
feed point of the antenna about 25 feet in the air for this to work well.
YOu often need a choke in the feedline anyway.

I won't mention any comercial brand as I build the wire antennas myself.