I think that most here know that even the best (rubber duck type antenna)
is still only 1/2 of a real antenna (no real ground plane) and adding a
wire, hanging off the ht and connected to the outside of the antenna
connector improves performance.

What I was wondering is.

Has any one tried doing the same thing with something like foil tape going
around the outside of a HT? Or possibly a spring or a couple of springs
connected to the antenna connector?

Btw it's a 5w Icom T2h so its pretty big for an HT, I commonly get in areas
where I can key up the repeater of choice but skip in and out sometimes.
My only other choice would be a small yagi (kind of hard to fit in a
suitcase)

Thanks
Ki4ILB