The main advantages of a half wave vertical are no radials and the antenna only needs to have only one end supported. If there isn't a high enough support around bending it over 45 degrees or there abouts is OK too.

The disadvantage is the impedance is very high at the base (2387 + J 1576 ohms) and needs to be transformed to 50 ohms. So the antenna needs to have an antenna tuner at the base loading it against a section of quarter wave.

Other solutions are using ladder line used to connect to a antenna tuner or using the right length of ladder line that will act like a impedance transformer and change impedance to something close to 50 ohms. Tl.exe predicts that this length is 50 feet and the impedance will be 69 ohms.

This is a comparision of a 20 meter end fed vertical patterns. 90 degree pattern is the vertical standing straight up. 45 degree pattern is it a bending over at 45 degrees. Both patterns were taken 90 degrees directly off the side.

Not much difference between the two. So if you can't go straight up don't be afraid to lean it over!

A really useful piece of equipment is a 33 foot collapsible fiberglass pole. You just extend it out, tie the end of a 33 foot piece of wire to the end and stand it up. Use some nylon string to guy it and you have a 20 meter vertical!

You can get the poles from either Kanga Kits or from MFJ.