Make dipoles. They are cheap.
It's hard to go wrong with that advice. But as that is said, why not consider the tri-band inverted V dipole, put up at a short, campground-type height?
Some antennas work for the world, people get into that, I'm not immune. I keep track of my DX contacts. Best would have been one into Croatia, but since he couldn't get my call in 3x and told me to try back later, I'd say my signal was only going as far as Slovenia or Dalmatia. Life is full of small disappointments.
As I got into HF I was told by various people, in basically the same words, that you have to decide on what you want out of your HF purchase and antenna construct. My take from that tailored advice, is that you can give Gruess Gott from Stalingrad to Berlin, you can do DX, or you can talk to people close to you on HF that most traditional HF antennas won't get you contact with.
This particular antenna construct, the knock-off AS-2259 with wires cut for 80, 60, and 40, has recently been proving its ability to talk close, outside of the range of VHF and inside the range of what might be commonly thought to be HF distances.
Most antenna constructs for HF, are built for range. The one described, is built for local and regional use, for when VHF unaided, can't work, and VHF repeaters don't work anymore due to whatever reasons. Repeaters are a weak link, I'd not put much faith in the continued use of them... unless of course, they are home-built with home maintenance. Can't say I know much of the good side of reliance on VHF repeaters.
I was talked into a regional net, a farm net, most of the seven calls I copied down are Extras, remainder are Advanced or General status. These people, ranging from 80 to 365 miles away, are just good folks from listening to the talk on that freq. Some have vehicle problems, such as a '98 Blazer that runs fine but won't start again when hot until cooled down. Much advice there, given out among old friends with the welcoming of new people [Does that sound sort of like a survival situation? If so, grab popcorn now]
For me, that is the reason for HF radio, why I got licensed and all, and why I am trying to learn what works on HF. I'd sooner speak to somebody next door who might prove to be of mutual help, than to make contacts with people who will forever remain strangers in some far-off place.
The previously-described AS-2259 knock-off, with wires cut for ham bands, seems to be proving itself on a local and regional level.
Picture it: An antenna capable of going out 400 miles in daylight hours and more at night, that is only 15' tall and capable by one person of being put up in fifteen minutes, by two people in much less than that time. One that can help the radio to talk and receive on HF within thirty miles. Forget the footprint, it's pretty large at 120'. All that is needed is a small patch of open ground.
