>>283856This is a dipole antenna.
Ground goes one way, signal goes the other.
Ideally, you should feed the antenna with 300, 450, or 600 ohm twin-lead, then use a balanced line antenna tuner. But if you don't want to do that, you could use a dipole with standard coaxial cable feedline, then utilize your radio's internal "tuner" to achieve a match.
Achieving a 50 ohm load is still important. You will need either an internal tuner, or an external one. Internal tuners are automated and fast. External tuners typically are manual, but can take a greater mismatch...plus, I think they're easier. Although you can buy automatic external tuners now.
All the tuner does is take a load that is NOT 50 ohms, and let you dial it in so your transceiver "sees" 50 ohms. There is a drop in efficiency, but that is better than no transmission at all or having a damaged transceiver.
A VHF or UHF handheld is the easiest way to start. If there are local repeaters, your range can be HUNDREDS of miles, maybe thousands if it is a linked repeater system. Handhelds though, simplex? Radio-to-radio? They usually suck for that...couple miles, straight line, max.
