If you live on a 60 x 120-foot city lot, QRP is the only way to go. Get a copy of the RF safety program by Wayne Overbeck N6NB, and use the maximum permissible exposure limits for uncontrolled areas. Ground planes work fine at altitude. Our DX friends like to use these antennas. They seem to work well in all directions.
Commercial radios work fine.
Just turn the power down. You can not beat their performance. Big control knobs make for operating ease. QRP means 5 watts or less output power. Bells and whistles are not needed.