[Elecraft] antennas

[Shaun Oliver]

Hi all, at the moment, I have a piece of wire running straight into the 
back of my radio as an antenna.
assuming I have my lengths and what all right, could I not use this here 
piece of wire to tx?
or, am I running the risk of exposing myself to more rf than perhaps I 
should?
I'm seriously considering an NVIS setup for 40 and 80 meters but, I need 
to be careful in that regard also as the reflector element for such an 
antenna would be aproximately 44.2 meters which is roughly the length of 
the block from boundary to back fence.
could I not rig up a quarter wave length of wire and reflector and use 
it for a similar setup or does it absolutely positively have to be half 
wave?
thanks in advance.

-- 
Shaun
web sites:
http://www.myspace.com/blindmanshaunoliver
http://blindman.homelinux.org/~blindman/
skype: brailledude