Hi Matthew
Dave has has got it spot on with regards horizontal mounted antenna. These are really only ok for skip and not so good for local chatter. After a quick Google search I'd be inclined to try the double bazooka as this is basically a wire dipole. It will be directional (signal is radiated 90 degrees to the antenna).
Personally I'd be trying possible to get a vertical up. Even if its a t2lt on a fibreglass pole that can be put up and down as required

Hope this helps
James. 26JS07 (26AM07)

Hi Matthew, personally I've not experimented with such antenna on any band. To me the Double Bazooka is basicaly a dipole,whether that be in the vertical or horizontal plan but with coax as the driven elements in a DC shorted configuration.

I guess these shares some similarities to a Folded Dipole, but could possible be regarded as a Stub Match configuration.

I'm sure others will post advice soon, but I need to read-up on these types of antenna's, and possible try one out. But I would say it probably has a wider bandwidth compaired to a traditional dipole.

Regarding the Zepp to me that is another name for a J-pole antenna, but I could be wrong. But J-poles and it's bigger brother the Slim Jim are good antenna's which I have used numerious times. I would say the TXis  better than RX, but that may have also been conditions at the time.

I'm curious to the troubles you've been having with verticals.

73's Bill

Hi Matthew and welcome to Alpha Mike DX Group.

I am delighted to allocate you 26AM013 call sign.

73’s Alpha Mike Admin

Hello Alpha Mike Group,

My name is Matthew, after a break of a few years I have started DX'ing again and very much like to obtain an Alpha Mike callsign.
In my youth I was very active in several of the old DX groups that (as far as i can see) have unfortunately faded out.
One of my proudest moments was become a Mike Echo Whiskey in the old Magnificent Earwigs group.

I am located in Abingdon in the county of Oxfordshire, and if available I would like to request 26AM013.

With kind regards,
Matthew.

Just worked a station from my QTH to Chelmsford using only QRP power. R5-S9 each way. Distance was just over 30 miles away

Mode: FM Simplex
Frequency: 145.475
Power: 5 Watts
Antenna: Sharmon X510

New Yaesu FT-736R is working a treat.