[Azham] Ideas on ultra-portable, stealth, QRP apartment operation?

[Darrell Shandrow]

Hi all,

I am a blind ham living in Tempe near Rural and University.  I am
contemplating returning to HF after a long absence with my own station,
despite my living in an apartment.  Not only this, but I am considering
setting up my own, totally emergency powered 1B class station for field day
this year.  So, the setup needs to run on batteries for the sake of
portability.

Here are my primary requirements:

1.
Ultra-portable, QRP rig that can run on battery power.  I'm considering the
Yaesu FT817, but I hear there may be difficulties with its accessibility for
blind users.  If anyone out here on this list has one of these rigs, or
something similar, and lives near me, I'd be appreciative if I could take a
look at it.
2.
Ultra-stealth antenna implementation.  The idea is that it be very difficult
for someone else here in the apartment complex to realize I am transmitting
on HF unless they knew what they were looking for.  I am aware that the BNC
on the 817 can accomodate an HF whip antenna, so I am even considering this
as a possibility.  Tuning a conventional mobile antenna is probably going to
be an issue for me since, again, I am blind.  Though I could certainly learn
to manipulate the antenna mechanically, I don't have an accessible SWR meter
or other test equipment.

Any ideas would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks.