Ran across this on Amazon (cheap 1:9 balun)

[IQ_imbalance]

I'm contemplating my next radio setup, and ran across this on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R09WHT6?ref_=cm_wl_huc_item

Seems a cost-effective way to connect a long wire back to an SDR.....

[Zoidberg]

Looks like a good simple solution.  That's pretty much what the Palstar has for the Hi-Z antenna input and ground: spring clips for bare wire, 9:1 transformer, and some sort of ESD protection.  Very quick and easy, although random wire picks up too much RFI in my area.  It's best when I'm away from suburban RFI and can just toss some wire up a tree or stretch it out horizontally.