The first antenna I bought for POTA cost me $75 and worked fine. The second antenna I built in my garage for about $18 in parts and worked better. I'm not saying that to sound clever — it's just how it went, and it's a pretty common story. The end-fed half-wave antenna is one of the most forgiving, portable, and genuinely effective antennas you can put up in a park. And if you build your own, you'll know exactly what's in it, which pays off every time something needs troubleshooting.