HF is the spectrum between 3 and 30 MHz for those just tuning in
1/8 wave kinda for some frequencies though stunted to all hell without a counterpoise. Damn inefficient. At 20 watts with one of those, you're lucky if you're getting a couple watts to actually radiate you're lucky
You were probably better off with the speaker wire though depending on the frequencies you're working on, you may have been warming the clouds above you w/NVIS if you didn't have any height!
The have been Ham ops involved for years as part of the MARS programs. SatCom was just a natural progression.
Guess what my hobby is lol