[mikethedruid]

If you are going with a "long wire" antenna, make sure the antenna wire is insulated on both ends with glass, ceramic, or plastic insulators. You will also want a good ground. The ground is as important as the antenna. You can buy a ground rod at any hardware store, and the clamp to connect the lead in wire to it. For the antenna itself you can use bare, stranded copper wire. I would not use less than 16 gauge, 14 or 12 gauge would be better. The lead in wire can be 16 or 14 gauge insulated wire. Make sure you solder the lead in wire to the antenna wire well, and that you make a secure mechanical connection between them before soldering, that is, wrap it around several times before you solder the lead in to the antenna wire. Also use a lightning arrester. The lead in from the antenna connects to one post of the arrester, the lead in from the ground post connects to the other post of the arrester, and they each continue on to the radio. As to the length of the antenna, as long as possible. 75 feet is good, 125 is even better. This illustration may be of help.
[Image: https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-XDPtDzxAw/T.../lwire.jpg]
I hope this is of help. Also, if you have power lines, have the antenna at right angles to them to minimize interference from them.