As an Aussie, it boggles my mind that "the land of the free and the home of the brave" allow HOA's to have such invasive control over your own property. Sure if a property is a junkyard it needs cleaning up and some HOA rules are positive. But wow I am just blown away how a country whose constitution was founded on freedom has such draconian insidious control - sounds more like the regimes of control present in North Korea... I see many comments of not wanting to own a property in a HOA area...
As an American it boggles my mind you cant figure it out. HOA's are developed for a common good and arise out of a demand for what they offer and people want to live in them quite commonly. The minor rules are usually of no concern and actually add to the insurance that the community will maintain it's high standards of appearance and value and often offer amenities like a common area with huge pool and jacuzzi complexes and clubhouses for parties and gatherings as part of it, so they are pretty important to those who want that as a part of their home searching. Everyone has a choice to buy in an antenna restrictive HOA or not and these videos only come about when someone wants it both ways. We have choices. Simply put most of America is not restricted but in cases like this the resident chose to buy inside of the protections of an hoa. I personally have homes in and HOA and a second home not in one. Kind of odd for an Aussie to look at the USA in the light of lacking freedoms compared to the land of OZ.
Friend, I agree with you that these HOA horror stories of draconian restrictions, fines, fees, and intrusions into privacy are antithetical to a freedom loving people. However, please do keep in mind that most of these HOA's are only in affluent areas either run by leftists or at least heavily influenced by them. Our rural areas are nearly one hundred percent safe from such nonsense. I've heard plenty of stories of your government enforcing silly restrictions on you freedom loving Aussies, too.
You may want to research this: The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2019 prohibits private rules that prevent amateur radio operators from installing outdoor antennas. The HR 9670 bill also aims to eliminate HOA restrictions on amateur radio antennas. I am on the Board of our HOA and we allow Amateur Radio Operators to have antennas due to this rule.
Neither The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2019 nor the HR 9670 were voted on; they are not in force and therefore carry no legal weight. It is great when an HOA Board such as yours understands the value and follows those guidelines.
This helps me because I have a CHA Hybrid Micro/Mini. I do not live in a HOA, and while I would rather swallow sewing needles than live in one, my wife hates the antennas. Thank you for the video.
Not all HOAs are horrible. Some have fairly basic rules and just take care of the roads, lights, amenities, etc. I've seen quite a few who would not care in the least if a house had antennas on top or out back.
Great video! I'm about to pull the trigger on a Chameleon MPAS Vertical (the one for around $350.00 at DX Engineering). I am a homeowner but realizing that permanent antennas have their downsides, not the least of which is maintenance of them, ground loop RFI issues, putting holes in your siding to attach brackets, running coax, ground connections, etc. I had several in my other house here in FL and they can become unwieldy. A portable solution that you can out i up in 3 minutes at the start of the day and take down at days' end eliminates all of that hassle. Not to mention its advantages in an HOA environment. Another great idea I stumbled across is a 40-80 meter privacy fence wire (200' across the top, with around 100' of counterpoise on the bottom of the fence). This is awesome for a receive antenna! very little noise. Not to go way off topic but I put after putting in the 100' part near the ground, I actually was able to tune it using the 9:1 balun and work DX on it. I kid you not. This was before putting in the 200' part on top of the 6' privacy fence) So I plan on combining the fence antenna (for 40/80 transmitting and HF receiving) with the Chameleon, giving me great coverage across the HF bands. ALL with a small low profile footprint. Sometimes we just need to think outside of the box. Keep making these HOA videos. 73 de Scott W1AL
The MPAS vertical is awesome, and you have the right idea. I have set it up so many times back yard portable to operate for an afternoon or evening here in the HOA, then pull it down. This is precisely the type of use it was intended for.
@@HOAHamRadio I just ordered one from GigaParts. I had ordered from DX Engineering but they said there was an issue with the order (I would imagine lack of stock) so I cancelled it and went with GigaParts. Hopefully they stock it. I also plan on installing a ferrite core before it comes into the house. They really work well, and I'd imagine it would give me double protection from common mode currents, being this is basically a form of end fed antenna.
Update: The MPAS Lite just arrived today. I set it up in 5 minutes using a Faraday cloth in lieu of ground radials. Immediately got on the air, and used the FTDX101D's internal tuner to tweak the SWR. Love it already. Contacts on all bands, including an SSB QSO with Martinique on 10M. The Faraday cloth really works well. I just spike it through the Faraday cloth, and voila, instant ground plane. This is well worth it, especially here in FL where lightning considerations rule the day.
As always, great content for us HOA people. Harbor Freight sells a collapsible flagpole that can be adapted to HOA use as a mast for a wire, or as an antenna itself. You just have to jump the sections for continuity if you use it for the antenna. But I doubt it is as good of quality as your mast. I currently use a Chameleon MPAS Lite 17 foot ground mounted vertical which does very well. No one sees it in my backyard and it takes me 10 minutes to put up or take down. I make more than enough phone contacts over the big pond. It's great for portable work too. I'm guessing you fared well during the storm. I'm on the opposite coast and we just got a little rain. De K4CKR
Fantastic work @outlaw6595! I have the Harbor Freight version, and will show it off someday. Its definitely subpar in quality to the Chameleon. It will never be the station reference antenna, but I'll bet you I'll still be able to get it to radiate. Thanks for asking...the storm was a non-vent for us; have had worse thunderstorms pass through -- got lucky again.
For beginners, I would suggest a simple vertical antenna that won't break the bank. Learn and expand. My first antenna was a Wolf River Coil, then I moved on to the Chameleon MPAS 2.0. Now, as is obvious I own sooooo many. But if I was to recommend a starter antenna, it would be a Wolf River Coil Mini or a G Gabil Radio 7350TC...both require some means of measuring SWR to tune. Others who read many have opinions that vary wildly, and there is a lot of personal preference as well. If you have room to put up a wire antenna, then something like the Chameleon CHA LEFS 4010 which is resonant on multiple frequencies.
No joke, I woke up this morning thinking about shifting my interest towards the Portamast and wondered if Bob was still fond of his. I open TH-cam with the intent of finding his last video on the product and can’t believe my eyes that the first thing in my feed is a *new* update on the portamast that is less than 24 hours old!
@@cchalfantusa my HOA allows for a 25' flagpole, but no one here flies that high...so I was trying to blend in; that is the only reason I went with the 20' vs 25'. The 25' version is 4 lbs heavier and less than 1 1/2 feet longer collapsed; so the 25' should be considered to get the extra length.
@@HOAHamRadio I’m on the 15 foot bandwagon now. Only because it looks manageable to rise and lower without a ladder I’m 6 foot three, but the 25 foot looks like it might require a ladder.
It sounds like the flagpole is only a support mast for the wire antenna. You might want to consider the Greyline Performance stealth flagpole antenna. The antenna costs about $1,000, not including the remote tuner. You could reduce the cost considerably if you can build a similar antenna with your flagpole or a Harbor Freight Tools flagpole. The design in an off center vertical antenna with no radials. You need to insulate the base of the antenna with PVC, which you have already. The bottom section of the metal flagpole is 4 feet long. Then you’ll need another insulator. The top section of 16 to 24 feet is above the second insulator. Use ladder line to feed the antenna at the offset center, at 4 feet above the ground. The ladder line connects to a SCG SG-230 or equivalent remote antenna tuner. A remote antenna tuner must be used, because it’s a non-resonant antenna. If you attempt to use a shack based antenna tuner, the high SWR on the coaxial cable line will result in very severe losses. Between the coaxial cable side of the remote antenna tuner and your HF transceiver, you’ll need a common mode choke. I researched the optimum configuration of the stealth flagpole antenna system by asking dozens of hams how they configured the stealth flagpole antenna system. It functions between 160 to 10 meters. If you can build the offset vertical dipole antenna yourself with alternative components similar to the Greyline Performance flagpole antenna, then the highest cost item will be your remote tuner. The one downside to the vertical flagpole antenna is that it picks up some more electrical noise than a horizontal wire antenna. Another stealth antenna design you could try is use a Christmas light string for the horizontal wire. Cut the leads for each light bulb, and then glue the light bulbs in each socket. Cutting the light bulb leads will minimize the effect that RF could have to light up the bulbs. That Christmas light string will simply look like Christmas lights that you never took down, and that Christmas light string never lights up!
Chameleon was the best or top 3 wire ntenna producer for ham radio operation (portable or fixed) the boox remeber me the ecomm III and I usea similar ideas in my garden 45'slooper configuration...the black box seems more like a mix by mat tuner and cg3000 73 de iz3qvb
Why did you mount the feed point box so low on the side of the house, making the 30' antenna wire a tripping hazard and mowing obstacle? Wouldn't it be a safer if the feedpoint box was mounted at least 6' above the ground? KZ9V
Math.... The Porta Mast was so far from the house, the wire was so long; that left me with no option but to place it where I did. My yard is private property and no one will walk where this is except me. So, as long as I have my memory, I'm good. It certainly would be better higher, and I do wish I had the room for it.
Nice solution you have for an antenna. But how do you know where your garden ends. There is no fence, wall or something else on the border. May you can plant flowers on it, so others know where your property starts.
This deployment looks great. Most importantly, it seems like it will meet or exceed the WAF. The WAF or “wife acceptance factor” is probably the most important aspect of any antenna install. All jokes aside, great job with this install. I also live in an HOA and this seems like a good setup for me. Thanks and 73.
In the United States, the FCC regulates HAM radio and an HOA can't restrict you from erecting and using an antenna. There are rules, but you can do it. My HOA tries to restrict TV Antennas, I have the biggest TV antenna I could find.... Nothing they could do about it (I own my home and the property it sits on, when I put up an antenna at my mother-in-laws, I did have to put it in the attic because she owns the condo but does not have exclusive use of the outside of the condo) I could have mounted it to the deck but not the roof or walls.
Actually the HOA can absolutely legally restrict ham radio antennas. Every Federal bill introduced to protect ham radio antennas, to date, has either not passed or failed to be voted upon. Many hams have used proposed legislation as threats to HOA's and been successful, and I say good for them -- legally, however, at the opposing end of an informed attorney, they would lose. You are correct about TV antennas; OTARD protects reception antennas -- HOA can't do a thing about it.
Negative, the closest you could get is a Harbor Freight flagpole that would require mods. It would never be the same strength and durability, nor the quick up and down for portability.
Very nice install and a very informative video. I use the CHA MPAS lite with the SS antenna and have had good results with it. I too live in a restrictive HOA and am constantly looking for other ways to beat the system. I have to ask in your opinion does the wire slopper give a broader reach than the vertical? I noticed you did not deploy a counterpoise why? I keep taking the vertical up and down and perhaps the wire I could leave and it would not be noticed but I don't have change the effectiveness of the antenna. 73's
Thanks for watching and commenting. Both a vertical and a sloper will act differently, but I can't call one better than the other. Perhaps more DX with the vertical, but I have no trouble getting into Europe with my sloper. For me it came down to convenience in the HOA; my wire is virtually invisible, and therefore, I can leave it up without worrying about getting a knock on my door.
Thank you, interesting video to watch. I want to get started in HAM but have no idea where to start. I see your in Tampa bay area too. I'm in Sarasota myself. Thanks!
Just saw a video by Ham Radio 2.0. He bought an antenna that rolled up into a Carpenter’s Chalk line case. might be quicker for you than winding it up on that paddle.
Great video. I too live in an HOA and have given thought to a flagpole mast before but the relative minor cost for this rig seems like a winner. One question - are you still using ground raidials? I saw them in an earlier video regarding the CHA mini and the mast but I didn;t see any connection once you attached to the wall. Thanks.
I know this is a debate on this type of antenna, and I have used radials in the past. Once I installed my previous antenna on the side of the house, I stopped using them because of the nuisance. With this new install shown in this video, I have not been using radials and have had no complaints or issues with common mode current. I will likely put a choke at the coax attachment to the CHA Hybrid Mini as a preventative measure.
I run 9:1 endfeds. I do not use a counterpoise. But the coax does act as a counterpoise. I rule is to run 50 feet of coax. If I need a choke. The choke goes by the radio.
If you ran a longer wire, couldn’t you run it as an inverted L? I would be worried about the wire being a hazard coming out of the box that low on the side of the house. Your liability if someone did get hurt alone could make your life miserable. Plus then the HOA could add to your troubles because someone got hurt by something you did without their approval. And if that was my setup, I’d probably be the one to walk into it, be engrossed in whatever I was doing, forget it was there, and boom! I’ve done it before! Keep the videos coming, I’ve learned a bunch from them.
Inverted L is certainly an option, and now my brain is trying to figure out "how" in my space. No one else walks through my back yard, as it is my property, so I'm the only one who needs to remember -- but that could be a concern for others trying to do a similar setup.
I thought I read some of the several years ago about HOAs and antennas where the FCC had literally made a rule making it illegal to block antennas by HOAs. So long as they comply within the state and federal laws for height and so forth maybe I'm wrong on that but I distinctly remembering reading an article over this very thing and how the FCC stepped in and put a stop to the HOAs several years ago. Couple of decades ago or something like that
I hope to have a video released soon with more detail on the unit itself. While I have the great pleasure of testing some Chameleon products, I don't always have the details on production / sale dates. While it is not currently on their website, I do know they hope to introduce this soon. They will most certainly do an email notification as they get closer.
I was told that a hoa can’t regulate a ham radio and only the fcc can regulate them And also a hoa can’t stop a person from using a large antenna that falls under the federal communications act
Hi from the U.K. - always amazed at the ingenuity of hams when problem solving and I congratulate you. Is there a technical or HOA avoidance decision to mount the antenna end so low on your house siding. Great vid thanks for sharing. 73 Mike
Thanks for watching. The location on the house was just a function of how much space I had between the house and the mast. I have a small yard so I only had so much room to spread out the 30 ft wire and slope it from the 15 ft height on the mast.
I use a 30' wire because that is as long as I could get in the space I have. Chameleon sells the CHA Mini kit with a 30', 60' or 130' wire. I've been killing it on 20 meters since I did this install a few weeks aga; its been average on 40...but I haven't had much time to test it and band conditions fluctuate. I've used a CHA Hybrid Micro with a 73' wire and operated well on 40.
Thank you! I do already have the CHA Mini so I was thinking of doing the same setup as you. Just wasn't sure if 30' would be OK for 20/40. I am assuming I would have to use my tuner? You measure it with an analyzer to see if its resonant at all?@@HOAHamRadio
Great idea and great video. I love all your videos and your channel focus on HOA ham radio issues. Quick question: why did you go for the Chameleon CHA Porta Mast instead of a telescoping flagpole of roughly the same gauge? I know you like Chameleon products; however, it appears a similar FLAGPOLE could be utilized for roughly 1/2 the cost of the Porta Mast based on my quick research. I'd be interested in whether you went this route mainly because you love the CHA product line? I respect that, and just wondering if you've looked at the option of an actual flagpole to do the same job. FYI, my install will be a 20-25' pole instead of what looks like the 15' version in your Tampa backyard. I'm in a deed restricted manufactured home community down in North Fort Myers trying to accomplish the same objective of stealth wire antennas that are easy to put up, take down.
The Chameleon is preferred based on the quality and the mechanical mechanism for engaging / disengaging as it goes up and down. I also own a Harbor Freight model and the Chameleon is heads and shoulders better from a quality perspective. Heavier gauge aluminum and superior mechanism on the Chameleon unit. It will come at a higher price, but for me it was the quality. I'll point this out in my final actual "Review" of the Porta Mast. My model is the 20' unit, they do make a 25' unit.
From a distance, it is invisible; on top of it, you can see it. Since it is my property, and people aren't walking through my back yard, I am good. If they, the HOA, did see it...it may be a problem. I've had the wire to the front yard endfed for 3 years and no one every said anything...i.e., they didn't see it.
If you mean radials, I run without radials due to space limitations; hundreds of contacts regionally and globally no issue. If you literally mean lightning protection / shack grounding the coax feed goes to my single point utility box where I have all my feedlines -- I show this in many of my videos as well as have two videos dedicated to the topic.
Cool! Curious why you installed the antenna near the ground, rather than say about 7-8 feet up? I realize that you might have needed to move your mast to accommodate that, but at least nobody running through your yard, or any animals, would not run into the antenna. Is there a minimum flag size that the HOA requires? If not, you could put up a 1" x 2" flag, and then the mast wire could be connected to the top of the mast rather than only 2/3rds up. Cheers! Great plan and creativity!
It was a matter of geometry...where the mast had to be, how much wire I had to get out...I would have preferred it higher up but ran out of room. Not sure if there is a minimum flag size, but there are flag size recommendations based on height of the pole. LOL on the 1" X 2"...that might attract some unwanted attention : )
@@HOAHamRadio Maybe, but then you might get yourself a new HOA rule named after you!!! 🙂 Just a bummer that you have to work so hard to use the property you own and yet still are restricted as to what you can do with it. Great creativity though!
@@HOAHamRadio A neighbor could see it and complain about the wire. Stay friendly with your neighbors. I think I would put it higher on the wall of the house. Don't need anyone walk into it.
@davidgold3267 good observation, you didn't miss it. I'm running without one to stay minimalist here in the yard. Since the video I've added a choke to deal with common mode current, which has worked. Making contacts with ease 20 through 10; 40 is a bit more challenging so far. Don't know if that is due to band conditions or my 30' wire.
Why would you mount the box so low where people and animals could trip on it ? since it only gets higher the closer to the pole, face high would be fine, easy access and nobody get's strangled! have a great day
Geometry; where the mast is located, length of wire, and distance to the house all forced this less than ideal location. I get your point and agree it would have been much better higher. That said, my back porch is private property, and I'm the only one who uses it : )
Thanks for stopping by and the positive feedback @HAMRADIODUDE. I did a 20M Christmas light dipole last year (disabled all the bulbs so it was a true antenna...and not attracting attention). Going to show it as and endfed this year.
Yep, good suggestion. That would be preferrable but I ran out of space based on the distance between the mast and my house, and the height of the wire on the mast
Great Video, love to see people find a solution that anyone can live with. But, the black box. I think you called it a tuner? Can I get the make and model? Thanks, KE6UPI
Thanks for the view and feedback. The tuner doesn't have a model # yet as it is still in its first manufacturing cycle -- here is a more detailed look at it. th-cam.com/video/gIDJW5JLXUE/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the review and your installation. It is not my intent to offend anyone. However I do not understand paying someone/group. Who tells you what you can or can not do with your own property. Yes I understand they may provide some amenities like lawn care. However there are the people who get elected as HOA president. That power goes to their head. They make changes to the rules. Just because of the color you painted your house. Not to mention the new window treatment. Your wife fell in love with and installed.
No offense, but I think you messed up mounting your box down low as you did. Your wire is coming across your sidewalk too low. Why didnt you mount it up high like at the top of the windows to get it above head height?
Lot's of factors that I didn't go into during the video. Your observation is valid but I didn't have a choice. Its in my back yard, over a deck that no one uses...no one ever walks near it.
@HOAHamRadio Why? In the UK, every boundary is fenced. You have no privacy. It clearly doesn't bother you, but it seems strange to see from my perspective. On another note, I like your solution. HOAs don't exist here, but planning consent is needed for towers. Four home owners challenged my application, but I won nonetheless. I now have a 15m tower and Steppir DB11 in the garden. As a bonus, those neighbours don't speak to us 😊
@@johnratcliffe6438 Congrats on your solution and victory with the tower; fantastic. On fences here, some people prefer them, for some, they have no preference. There are neighborhoods which offer both so everyone can choose to their liking.
Why didn't you put the box up higher on the house so people won't run into the wire? Also it won't be as obvious to everyone if it is higher and horizontal since having the wire go to a box low on the side of the house is going to look oddly suspicious to anyone looking into your back yard.
It was all math; I could only get the mast so far away from the house, the wire was so long, it kind of forced this layout. No one ever uses this back porch of walks near this wire so its okay. However, if I could have, hanging it higher would have been the absolute best thing to do.
If by "Bill" you mean the rules of a HOA, they are not government laws. They are rules of a local subdivision, put in place by the developer of the property to protect his investment while he / she is developing the property and building homes, and to protect the long term value of that real estate.
Nice, but oops! You just created a collision/trip hazard for an unsuspecting person to walk into when they come around the corner and straight into the cable, so you have created a HOA safety issue!
People who willingly live within an HOA housing district are the weirdest people. I will never understand the desire to live inside a community that mascaras as a neighborhood but is really just a prison.
Most HOA's state "no antennas". When they say this, they are thinking of towers / antennas that are visible. So if you can remain incognito / stealth, everyone is happy.
Geometry. The mast is so high and so far away from the house, the furthest point of the house was used, the wire was so long...that forced me that low. Its private property, and no one better be walking on my back porch, otherwise they will have more significant problems than running into my antenna wire : )
I guess the major unanswered question would be, being a ham radio operator, WHY would you choose to live in a HOA neighborhood❓ The ham radio hobby REQUIRES antennas‼️Something that HOA boards seriously frown on, regardless of size or appearance.
Simple, I became an armature operator after I moved here. And, to live within reasonable driving distance of my employer, it is impossible for me to find a home which is not in an HOA neighborhood. The real question is why are people unwilling to adapt to their circumstance and operate amateur radio in spite of the challenges. A great deal of ham radio is about preparedness and adaptability in unfriendly circumstances (grid down, post natural disaster, etc...); do you mean to tell me we are not creative enough to be able to communicate with our radios in compromised situations? If you can't do that, perhaps this isn't the hobby for you.
The whole point of a ham radio is for a bargaining chip for when you live in a hoa community, wanna fine me for painting my house 3 shades off white well here's a 60' ham radio antenna 😅
Why would a ham put up with the tyranny of HMO? I have a 65 foot tower with a triband 20-15-10 meter quad as well as full size dipoles for the 80 and 40 meter bands for uncompromised performance. No sooty HMO telling me what I can't do. 😊.
I also have found it very challenging being a ham in an apartment, particularly since they cut down the tree that supported my EFHW. It has forced me to operate portable and I have gotten very adept at putting up temporary antennas. Sometimes, because I can select my location, I have antennas that are much better than my friends and often have zero noise floor. I do wish I could just flip a switch and be on the air sometimes, but living in an apartment has forced my lazy butt to learn skills I would not have otherwise.
@@stuarthall3874 I hear you. I took my just-purchased IC-7610 and EFHW over to a local park last month and made dozens of HF contacts over an S1 noise floor. However, I needed assistance from other local hams to assist me in setting up my EFHW, and so I will have to further develop my skill in setting it up on my own if I want to operate HF more frequently. 73 VE7NDE
FYI an HOA can NOT stop you from having or installing a permeant flag pole so long as you properly fly an American Flag around the clock thanks to a federal law known as THE FREEDOM TO DISPLAY FLAG ACT which specifically; by name, prohibits an HOA, Rental or other Association from preventing a home owner or renter from flying the American Flag and does not specify the manner in in which you display the flag!!!!
Yep, all stemming from a ww2 and Korean War and Vietnam War vet named Mr. Barfoot who fought his HOA for the right to fly the American flag in his yard. The man had served over 30 years in the military and the HOA had the gall to tell him to take it down.
I wish everyone would take the attitude. There's nothing worse than a new neighbour who fills the garden with fishing poles and loose ugly cable draped everywhere
As an Aussie, it boggles my mind that "the land of the free and the home of the brave" allow HOA's to have such invasive control over your own property. Sure if a property is a junkyard it needs cleaning up and some HOA rules are positive. But wow I am just blown away how a country whose constitution was founded on freedom has such draconian insidious control - sounds more like the regimes of control present in North Korea... I see many comments of not wanting to own a property in a HOA area...
As an American it boggles my mind you cant figure it out. HOA's are developed for a common good and arise out of a demand for what they offer and people want to live in them quite commonly. The minor rules are usually of no concern and actually add to the insurance that the community will maintain it's high standards of appearance and value and often offer amenities like a common area with huge pool and jacuzzi complexes and clubhouses for parties and gatherings as part of it, so they are pretty important to those who want that as a part of their home searching. Everyone has a choice to buy in an antenna restrictive HOA or not and these videos only come about when someone wants it both ways. We have choices. Simply put most of America is not restricted but in cases like this the resident chose to buy inside of the protections of an hoa. I personally have homes in and HOA and a second home not in one. Kind of odd for an Aussie to look at the USA in the light of lacking freedoms compared to the land of OZ.
@@floridasaltlifethankyou for unnecessarily explaining to me what I already stated with "and some HOA rules are positive".
There is a creeping fascism on the rise in the U.S. It's HOAs today, a Trump family dynasty tomorrow. A real march of the stupids it will be...
As a Canadian, your absolutely right it does boggle the mind
Friend, I agree with you that these HOA horror stories of draconian restrictions, fines, fees, and intrusions into privacy are antithetical to a freedom loving people. However, please do keep in mind that most of these HOA's are only in affluent areas either run by leftists or at least heavily influenced by them. Our rural areas are nearly one hundred percent safe from such nonsense. I've heard plenty of stories of your government enforcing silly restrictions on you freedom loving Aussies, too.
You may want to research this: The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2019 prohibits private rules that prevent amateur radio operators from installing outdoor antennas. The HR 9670 bill also aims to eliminate HOA restrictions on amateur radio antennas. I am on the Board of our HOA and we allow Amateur Radio Operators to have antennas due to this rule.
Neither The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2019 nor the HR 9670 were voted on; they are not in force and therefore carry no legal weight. It is great when an HOA Board such as yours understands the value and follows those guidelines.
The Parity Act isn't in force.
A Bill is not a Law until it is signed.
The Parity Act and HR 9670 have no teeth. Be glad your HOA understands.
hoa's are pointless and a waste of time
This helps me because I have a CHA Hybrid Micro/Mini. I do not live in a HOA, and while I would rather swallow sewing needles than live in one, my wife hates the antennas. Thank you for the video.
Glad to offer a stealth way to keep the XYL happy : )
Not all HOAs are horrible. Some have fairly basic rules and just take care of the roads, lights, amenities, etc. I've seen quite a few who would not care in the least if a house had antennas on top or out back.
I'm studying for my technician license and will be taking it next month. This kind of content is great for us newbies getting into HAM.
Best of luck to you on the exam, hope you pass with flying colors @kevkev5935. Thanks for the feedback; I'll keep em coming.
@@HOAHamRadioThank you so much.
Study for general and do it after you pass tech on the same day.
Great video! I'm about to pull the trigger on a Chameleon MPAS Vertical (the one for around $350.00 at DX Engineering). I am a homeowner but realizing that permanent antennas have their downsides, not the least of which is maintenance of them, ground loop RFI issues, putting holes in your siding to attach brackets, running coax, ground connections, etc. I had several in my other house here in FL and they can become unwieldy. A portable solution that you can out i up in 3 minutes at the start of the day and take down at days' end eliminates all of that hassle. Not to mention its advantages in an HOA environment. Another great idea I stumbled across is a 40-80 meter privacy fence wire (200' across the top, with around 100' of counterpoise on the bottom of the fence). This is awesome for a receive antenna! very little noise. Not to go way off topic but I put after putting in the 100' part near the ground, I actually was able to tune it using the 9:1 balun and work DX on it. I kid you not. This was before putting in the 200' part on top of the 6' privacy fence) So I plan on combining the fence antenna (for 40/80 transmitting and HF receiving) with the Chameleon, giving me great coverage across the HF bands. ALL with a small low profile footprint. Sometimes we just need to think outside of the box. Keep making these HOA videos. 73 de Scott W1AL
The MPAS vertical is awesome, and you have the right idea. I have set it up so many times back yard portable to operate for an afternoon or evening here in the HOA, then pull it down. This is precisely the type of use it was intended for.
@@HOAHamRadio I just ordered one from GigaParts. I had ordered from DX Engineering but they said there was an issue with the order (I would imagine lack of stock) so I cancelled it and went with GigaParts. Hopefully they stock it. I also plan on installing a ferrite core before it comes into the house. They really work well, and I'd imagine it would give me double protection from common mode currents, being this is basically a form of end fed antenna.
Update: The MPAS Lite just arrived today. I set it up in 5 minutes using a Faraday cloth in lieu of ground radials. Immediately got on the air, and used the FTDX101D's internal tuner to tweak the SWR. Love it already. Contacts on all bands, including an SSB QSO with Martinique on 10M. The Faraday cloth really works well. I just spike it through the Faraday cloth, and voila, instant ground plane. This is well worth it, especially here in FL where lightning considerations rule the day.
@@N1IA-4 Yep, that's the MPAS light, easy set up, easy to operate, makes contacts! Glad you are having success.
The only thing I can think of to make it more stealth is a sticker that says AT&T, Spectrum, or Comcast
Perfect suggestion!!
Thanks!
Thanks friend for the gift, much appreciated.
I saw in CQ. A guy bought a hustler and hid it inside a two inch PVC pipe that he used as a flag pole with the coax buried to his shack
That sounds like a pretty good idea. Thanks for sharing.
Many HOAs ban flagpoles from what I've read.
@@joewoodchuck3824 must be a bunch of damn commies !! LOL
As always, great content for us HOA people. Harbor Freight sells a collapsible flagpole that can be adapted to HOA use as a mast for a wire, or as an antenna itself. You just have to jump the sections for continuity if you use it for the antenna. But I doubt it is as good of quality as your mast.
I currently use a Chameleon MPAS Lite 17 foot ground mounted vertical which does very well. No one sees it in my backyard and it takes me 10 minutes to put up or take down. I make more than enough phone contacts over the big pond. It's great for portable work too.
I'm guessing you fared well during the storm. I'm on the opposite coast and we just got a little rain. De K4CKR
Fantastic work @outlaw6595! I have the Harbor Freight version, and will show it off someday. Its definitely subpar in quality to the Chameleon. It will never be the station reference antenna, but I'll bet you I'll still be able to get it to radiate.
Thanks for asking...the storm was a non-vent for us; have had worse thunderstorms pass through -- got lucky again.
@@HOAHamRadio I'm on the opposite coast. I pray we all stay "lucky."
Absolutely! Glad to see Lee is going north instead of right at you!!!
whats good for beginners? I have no idea how to start i will move in the next years out of country rural area
For beginners, I would suggest a simple vertical antenna that won't break the bank. Learn and expand. My first antenna was a Wolf River Coil, then I moved on to the Chameleon MPAS 2.0. Now, as is obvious I own sooooo many. But if I was to recommend a starter antenna, it would be a Wolf River Coil Mini or a G Gabil Radio 7350TC...both require some means of measuring SWR to tune.
Others who read many have opinions that vary wildly, and there is a lot of personal preference as well.
If you have room to put up a wire antenna, then something like the Chameleon CHA LEFS 4010 which is resonant on multiple frequencies.
Great video, great idea! I don't live in an HOA but I know some who do and I am sharing this with them.
Thanks for watching and the feedback; hope this helps your friend.
No joke, I woke up this morning thinking about shifting my interest towards the Portamast and wondered if Bob was still fond of his. I open TH-cam with the intent of finding his last video on the product and can’t believe my eyes that the first thing in my feed is a *new* update on the portamast that is less than 24 hours old!
LOL...fond of it would be an understatement...in case that isn't already clear : )
BTW, I have the 20' version; that is what has been shown in every video.
@@HOAHamRadio do you ever wonder if you should have considered a taller model? I’m debating this detail while I save up.
@@cchalfantusa my HOA allows for a 25' flagpole, but no one here flies that high...so I was trying to blend in; that is the only reason I went with the 20' vs 25'. The 25' version is 4 lbs heavier and less than 1 1/2 feet longer collapsed; so the 25' should be considered to get the extra length.
@@HOAHamRadio I’m on the 15 foot bandwagon now. Only because it looks manageable to rise and lower without a ladder I’m 6 foot three, but the 25 foot looks like it might require a ladder.
It sounds like the flagpole is only a support mast for the wire antenna. You might want to consider the Greyline Performance stealth flagpole antenna. The antenna costs about $1,000, not including the remote tuner.
You could reduce the cost considerably if you can build a similar antenna with your flagpole or a Harbor Freight Tools flagpole. The design in an off center vertical antenna with no radials. You need to insulate the base of the antenna with PVC, which you have already. The bottom section of the metal flagpole is 4 feet long. Then you’ll need another insulator. The top section of 16 to 24 feet is above the second insulator.
Use ladder line to feed the antenna at the offset center, at 4 feet above the ground. The ladder line connects to a SCG SG-230 or equivalent remote antenna tuner. A remote antenna tuner must be used, because it’s a non-resonant antenna.
If you attempt to use a shack based antenna tuner, the high SWR on the coaxial cable line will result in very severe losses.
Between the coaxial cable side of the remote antenna tuner and your HF transceiver, you’ll need a common mode choke.
I researched the optimum configuration of the stealth flagpole antenna system by asking dozens of hams how they configured the stealth flagpole antenna system. It functions between 160 to 10 meters.
If you can build the offset vertical dipole antenna yourself with alternative components similar to the Greyline Performance flagpole antenna, then the highest cost item will be your remote tuner.
The one downside to the vertical flagpole antenna is that it picks up some more electrical noise than a horizontal wire antenna.
Another stealth antenna design you could try is use a Christmas light string for the horizontal wire. Cut the leads for each light bulb, and then glue the light bulbs in each socket. Cutting the light bulb leads will minimize the effect that RF could have to light up the bulbs. That Christmas light string will simply look like Christmas lights that you never took down, and that Christmas light string never lights up!
th-cam.com/video/-NHhjj252P8/w-d-xo.html
I’m not in an HOA but I really like the setup 👍🏼
Thanks for stopping by the channel, and the feedback.
question can I use a f loop outside in wet weather ?
You can use the F-LOOP as long as it's not raining on it.
I got this same system last week , works great
Chameleon was the best or top 3 wire ntenna producer for ham radio operation (portable or fixed) the boox remeber me the ecomm III and I usea similar ideas in my garden 45'slooper configuration...the black box seems more like a mix by mat tuner and cg3000 73 de iz3qvb
Yep on the tuner, Mat is making a custom solution for Chameleon. The Emcom III comparison sounds about right.
Chameleon makes high quality products in the USA, and that is a company I can get behind.
They really do. I've used their antenna systems for years, before I was ever doing TH-cam videos.
Good idea for preppers types. Plus just looks nicer, unless you are going for a Star Wars theme for the house.
Thanks for the comment and view; appreciate it.
I can see your box having a dual purpose I can also see your box mounted under the eve
For sure, lots of creative ideals for multi purpose on this one.
You should check with the FCC. Unless something has changed, I had heard that HOA's couldn't outlaw reasonable ham antennas.
You heard wrong...
Why did you mount the feed point box so low on the side of the house, making the 30' antenna wire a tripping hazard and mowing obstacle? Wouldn't it be a safer if the feedpoint box was mounted at least 6' above the ground?
KZ9V
Math.... The Porta Mast was so far from the house, the wire was so long; that left me with no option but to place it where I did.
My yard is private property and no one will walk where this is except me. So, as long as I have my memory, I'm good.
It certainly would be better higher, and I do wish I had the room for it.
Nice solution you have for an antenna. But how do you know where your garden ends. There is no fence, wall or something else on the border. May you can plant flowers on it, so others know where your property starts.
Can you tell me how far it is from the corner of the house to the mast ? Thank you
This deployment looks great. Most importantly, it seems like it will meet or exceed the WAF. The WAF or “wife acceptance factor” is probably the most important aspect of any antenna install. All jokes aside, great job with this install. I also live in an HOA and this seems like a good setup for me. Thanks and 73.
Thanks, this IS a great set up. And yes, I too had to pass the WAF : )
In the United States, the FCC regulates HAM radio and an HOA can't restrict you from erecting and using an antenna. There are rules, but you can do it. My HOA tries to restrict TV Antennas, I have the biggest TV antenna I could find.... Nothing they could do about it (I own my home and the property it sits on, when I put up an antenna at my mother-in-laws, I did have to put it in the attic because she owns the condo but does not have exclusive use of the outside of the condo) I could have mounted it to the deck but not the roof or walls.
Actually the HOA can absolutely legally restrict ham radio antennas. Every Federal bill introduced to protect ham radio antennas, to date, has either not passed or failed to be voted upon. Many hams have used proposed legislation as threats to HOA's and been successful, and I say good for them -- legally, however, at the opposing end of an informed attorney, they would lose.
You are correct about TV antennas; OTARD protects reception antennas -- HOA can't do a thing about it.
If you signed on the dotted line, they sure can.
Squared away!
How hard / feasible would it be to make own antenna similar to the chameleon getting parts from Home Depot?
Negative, the closest you could get is a Harbor Freight flagpole that would require mods. It would never be the same strength and durability, nor the quick up and down for portability.
Your HOA watching this 👀👀
They could be : ) That's the risk I have to take to get videos out to others who can benefit from this type of set up. Thanks for watching.
Very nice install and a very informative video. I use the CHA MPAS lite with the SS antenna and have had good results with it. I too live in a restrictive HOA and am constantly looking for other ways to beat the system. I have to ask in your opinion does the wire slopper give a broader reach than the vertical? I noticed you did not deploy a counterpoise why? I keep taking the vertical up and down and perhaps the wire I could leave and it would not be noticed but I don't have change the effectiveness of the antenna. 73's
Thanks for watching and commenting. Both a vertical and a sloper will act differently, but I can't call one better than the other. Perhaps more DX with the vertical, but I have no trouble getting into Europe with my sloper.
For me it came down to convenience in the HOA; my wire is virtually invisible, and therefore, I can leave it up without worrying about getting a knock on my door.
I hid a vertical in a fruitless pear tree once, even painted it the exact same color of the tree, and they still found it and wrote me up.
Wow, now that's an intrusive HOA...
Thank you, interesting video to watch. I want to get started in HAM but have no idea where to start. I see your in Tampa bay area too. I'm in Sarasota myself. Thanks!
Its a great hobby. Start small to see if you like it then you can always upgrade.
It's great!!!! Another name for that waterproofing tape is conformal tape.
And it DOES conform! I don't know of anything that works better.
Just saw a video by Ham Radio 2.0. He bought an antenna that rolled up into a Carpenter’s Chalk line case. might be quicker for you than winding it up on that paddle.
I've heard of that, may need to check it out.
Great video. I too live in an HOA and have given thought to a flagpole mast before but the relative minor cost for this rig seems like a winner. One question - are you still using ground raidials? I saw them in an earlier video regarding the CHA mini and the mast but I didn;t see any connection once you attached to the wall. Thanks.
I know this is a debate on this type of antenna, and I have used radials in the past.
Once I installed my previous antenna on the side of the house, I stopped using them because of the nuisance. With this new install shown in this video, I have not been using radials and have had no complaints or issues with common mode current. I will likely put a choke at the coax attachment to the CHA Hybrid Mini as a preventative measure.
I run 9:1 endfeds. I do not use a counterpoise. But the coax does act as a counterpoise. I rule is to run 50 feet of coax. If I need a choke. The choke goes by the radio.
If you ran a longer wire, couldn’t you run it as an inverted L? I would be worried about the wire being a hazard coming out of the box that low on the side of the house. Your liability if someone did get hurt alone could make your life miserable. Plus then the HOA could add to your troubles because someone got hurt by something you did without their approval. And if that was my setup, I’d probably be the one to walk into it, be engrossed in whatever I was doing, forget it was there, and boom! I’ve done it before! Keep the videos coming, I’ve learned a bunch from them.
Inverted L is certainly an option, and now my brain is trying to figure out "how" in my space. No one else walks through my back yard, as it is my property, so I'm the only one who needs to remember -- but that could be a concern for others trying to do a similar setup.
Nice clean installation. Great video! excellent content and use of time! 73
Thanks for the view and feedback; much appreciated.
I thought I read some of the several years ago about HOAs and antennas where the FCC had literally made a rule making it illegal to block antennas by HOAs. So long as they comply within the state and federal laws for height and so forth maybe I'm wrong on that but I distinctly remembering reading an article over this very thing and how the FCC stepped in and put a stop to the HOAs several years ago. Couple of decades ago or something like that
Nothing has been signed into law. OTA only covers TV and am/fm stereo reception antennas
The antenna at Stalag 13 on Hogan’s Heroes comes to mind
I'll take that as a huge compliment. One of my favorite all time shows.
What can you tell us about the tuner? Maybe a link? I can’t find anything on it. Thanks great video! Stay safe!
I hope to have a video released soon with more detail on the unit itself. While I have the great pleasure of testing some Chameleon products, I don't always have the details on production / sale dates. While it is not currently on their website, I do know they hope to introduce this soon. They will most certainly do an email notification as they get closer.
I was told that a hoa can’t regulate a ham radio and only the fcc can regulate them
And also a hoa can’t stop a person from using a large antenna that falls under the federal communications act
Wrong
Great ingenuity!
Thanks for watching and the feedback.
I thought the FCC was backing us for antennas and they were not able to be banned?
Fun Fact: the phrase "CHA Hybrid Mini" has been uttered more times in this video than in by the engineers who designed it.
That was the plan...permanently scribe it on everyone's mind : )
Hi from the U.K. - always amazed at the ingenuity of hams when problem solving and I congratulate you. Is there a technical or HOA avoidance decision to mount the antenna end so low on your house siding. Great vid thanks for sharing. 73 Mike
Thanks for watching. The location on the house was just a function of how much space I had between the house and the mast. I have a small yard so I only had so much room to spread out the 30 ft wire and slope it from the 15 ft height on the mast.
I like this! I am in an HOA also. What length did you say that wire is? I want to be able to do 20/40.
I use a 30' wire because that is as long as I could get in the space I have. Chameleon sells the CHA Mini kit with a 30', 60' or 130' wire. I've been killing it on 20 meters since I did this install a few weeks aga; its been average on 40...but I haven't had much time to test it and band conditions fluctuate. I've used a CHA Hybrid Micro with a 73' wire and operated well on 40.
Thank you! I do already have the CHA Mini so I was thinking of doing the same setup as you. Just wasn't sure if 30' would be OK for 20/40. I am assuming I would have to use my tuner? You measure it with an analyzer to see if its resonant at all?@@HOAHamRadio
@m9a1man32 I run it through a LDG AT-100 Pro II; don't even pay attention to SWR.
Great idea and great video. I love all your videos and your channel focus on HOA ham radio issues. Quick question: why did you go for the Chameleon CHA Porta Mast instead of a telescoping flagpole of roughly the same gauge? I know you like Chameleon products; however, it appears a similar FLAGPOLE could be utilized for roughly 1/2 the cost of the Porta Mast based on my quick research. I'd be interested in whether you went this route mainly because you love the CHA product line? I respect that, and just wondering if you've looked at the option of an actual flagpole to do the same job. FYI, my install will be a 20-25' pole instead of what looks like the 15' version in your Tampa backyard. I'm in a deed restricted manufactured home community down in North Fort Myers trying to accomplish the same objective of stealth wire antennas that are easy to put up, take down.
The Chameleon is preferred based on the quality and the mechanical mechanism for engaging / disengaging as it goes up and down. I also own a Harbor Freight model and the Chameleon is heads and shoulders better from a quality perspective.
Heavier gauge aluminum and superior mechanism on the Chameleon unit. It will come at a higher price, but for me it was the quality. I'll point this out in my final actual "Review" of the Porta Mast. My model is the 20' unit, they do make a 25' unit.
Bob 2024!
Your videos are the best 👌
Thanks for the compliment; I try very hard to give everyone something of value!
Nicely done.
Thanks for the view and positive feedback.
Well done fantastic job
Thanks for the kind words / feedback!
Very well done.
Thank you kindly!
ODARD rules!! I turned my Lawyer loose on my HOA . Problem solved.
Fantastic, glad you are on the air without interference.
No HOA complaints about the wire from pole to house?
From a distance, it is invisible; on top of it, you can see it. Since it is my property, and people aren't walking through my back yard, I am good. If they, the HOA, did see it...it may be a problem. I've had the wire to the front yard endfed for 3 years and no one every said anything...i.e., they didn't see it.
@@HOAHamRadio if it doesn't work out you could always move to the 100% Flag pole antenna.
No grounding?
If you mean radials, I run without radials due to space limitations; hundreds of contacts regionally and globally no issue. If you literally mean lightning protection / shack grounding the coax feed goes to my single point utility box where I have all my feedlines -- I show this in many of my videos as well as have two videos dedicated to the topic.
I am looking for about your products. When I post this , I am looking for more information on this thing was this video
Is there something specific I can help with?
If the swr at the load side of the Hybrid Micro is acceptable, then bypass the autotuna.
Well Done! Cheers!
Thanks friend, love this antenna.
Great video and tips! I can see myself doing something similar in the next year.
Thanks for the watch @MikeN2MAK; hope this helps.
Cool! Curious why you installed the antenna near the ground, rather than say about 7-8 feet up? I realize that you might have needed to move your mast to accommodate that, but at least nobody running through your yard, or any animals, would not run into the antenna.
Is there a minimum flag size that the HOA requires? If not, you could put up a 1" x 2" flag, and then the mast wire could be connected to the top of the mast rather than only 2/3rds up.
Cheers! Great plan and creativity!
It was a matter of geometry...where the mast had to be, how much wire I had to get out...I would have preferred it higher up but ran out of room.
Not sure if there is a minimum flag size, but there are flag size recommendations based on height of the pole. LOL on the 1" X 2"...that might attract some unwanted attention : )
@@HOAHamRadio Maybe, but then you might get yourself a new HOA rule named after you!!! 🙂 Just a bummer that you have to work so hard to use the property you own and yet still are restricted as to what you can do with it. Great creativity though!
Great video. I get the appeal of the flagpole. But the HOA doesn’t mind the wire running from your house to the flagpole?
The wire is really hard to see unless you're on top of it...and the HOA Board of Directors is not invited into my back yard close enough to see : )
@@HOAHamRadio A neighbor could see it and complain about the wire. Stay friendly with your neighbors. I think I would put it higher on the wall of the house.
Don't need anyone walk into it.
Maybe i missed it....where is the counterpoise?
@davidgold3267 good observation, you didn't miss it. I'm running without one to stay minimalist here in the yard. Since the video I've added a choke to deal with common mode current, which has worked. Making contacts with ease 20 through 10; 40 is a bit more challenging so far. Don't know if that is due to band conditions or my 30' wire.
Good idea about the winder in the box.
Thanks for the view and the feedback... Its a genius idea; wish I would have thought of it rather than stumbled into it : )
Why would you mount the box so low where people and animals could trip on it ? since it only gets higher the closer to the pole, face high would be fine, easy access and nobody get's strangled!
have a great day
Geometry; where the mast is located, length of wire, and distance to the house all forced this less than ideal location. I get your point and agree it would have been much better higher.
That said, my back porch is private property, and I'm the only one who uses it : )
#hoalife. I have an interesting solution to my HOA restrictions, hint "seasonal decorations" 🤣. Great video! Your audio is amazing
Thanks for stopping by and the positive feedback @HAMRADIODUDE. I did a 20M Christmas light dipole last year (disabled all the bulbs so it was a true antenna...and not attracting attention). Going to show it as and endfed this year.
Excellent. Thx!
You’re welcome, hope you found it helpful.
Good job! I would have mounted the box higher so people don't walk into it.
Yep, good suggestion. That would be preferrable but I ran out of space based on the distance between the mast and my house, and the height of the wire on the mast
Great Video, love to see people find a solution that anyone can live with. But, the black box. I think you called it a tuner? Can I get the make and model?
Thanks, KE6UPI
Thanks for the view and feedback. The tuner doesn't have a model # yet as it is still in its first manufacturing cycle -- here is a more detailed look at it. th-cam.com/video/gIDJW5JLXUE/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the review and your installation. It is not my intent to offend anyone. However I do not understand paying someone/group. Who tells you what you can or can not do with your own property.
Yes I understand they may provide some amenities like lawn care. However there are the people who get elected as HOA president. That power goes to their head. They make changes to the rules. Just because of the color you painted your house. Not to mention the new window treatment. Your wife fell in love with and installed.
No offense, but I think you messed up mounting your box down low as you did. Your wire is coming across your sidewalk too low. Why didnt you mount it up high like at the top of the windows to get it above head height?
Lot's of factors that I didn't go into during the video. Your observation is valid but I didn't have a choice. Its in my back yard, over a deck that no one uses...no one ever walks near it.
Very clever, good ideas 😊
Thanks for watching and the positive feedback.
HOA rules end at first environmental disaster where HAM systems are needed for emergency communications...
Exactly! I'll be ready for them when they need me.
Why isn't your property boundary fenced?
Not a common practice where I live.
@HOAHamRadio Why? In the UK, every boundary is fenced. You have no privacy. It clearly doesn't bother you, but it seems strange to see from my perspective.
On another note, I like your solution. HOAs don't exist here, but planning consent is needed for towers. Four home owners challenged my application, but I won nonetheless. I now have a 15m tower and Steppir DB11 in the garden. As a bonus, those neighbours don't speak to us 😊
@@johnratcliffe6438 Congrats on your solution and victory with the tower; fantastic.
On fences here, some people prefer them, for some, they have no preference. There are neighborhoods which offer both so everyone can choose to their liking.
Why didn't you put the box up higher on the house so people won't run into the wire? Also it won't be as obvious to everyone if it is higher and horizontal since having the wire go to a box low on the side of the house is going to look oddly suspicious to anyone looking into your back yard.
It was all math; I could only get the mast so far away from the house, the wire was so long, it kind of forced this layout.
No one ever uses this back porch of walks near this wire so its okay. However, if I could have, hanging it higher would have been the absolute best thing to do.
Did you call "miss utility" before digging?😮
"Sunshine811" for sure; I cover that in another video. Safety first!
Great video and informative as usual. 73 from St Pete! Neighbor
Thanks for watching and the positive feedback neighbor.
GREAT VIDEO but I could have been two sheets to the wind with all the times you said Cha Hybrid mini if I was playing the shots game 73 to you
LOL; now I have an idea for a future videos... Thanks for stopping by and watching.
I saw it on hogans heroes ln 1969 first.
Yep, great show, couldn't wait to watch it coming home from school as a kid!
Does this Bill affect All of America
If by "Bill" you mean the rules of a HOA, they are not government laws. They are rules of a local subdivision, put in place by the developer of the property to protect his investment while he / she is developing the property and building homes, and to protect the long term value of that real estate.
you could always incorporate one into a clothes line. Of course the HOA might not like them too.
Clever!
Thanks for watching!
Nice, but oops! You just created a collision/trip hazard for an unsuspecting person to walk into when they come around the corner and straight into the cable, so you have created a HOA safety issue!
LOL, some sacrifices must be made for good antennas!
Excellent video. 73
Thanks for the view and feedback.
People who willingly live within an HOA housing district are the weirdest people. I will never understand the desire to live inside a community that mascaras as a neighborhood but is really just a prison.
They know now.😂
“HOA’s are the devil” Bobby boucher’s momma
Wow . No fencing in your neighborhood.
Not here.... Would be nice as then I could hide some wires on it.
The HOA is just a bunch of Karen types with an authority complex.
What are the rules you have?
Most HOA's state "no antennas". When they say this, they are thinking of towers / antennas that are visible. So if you can remain incognito / stealth, everyone is happy.
Why so low? Seems dangerous to someone not paying attention...
Geometry. The mast is so high and so far away from the house, the furthest point of the house was used, the wire was so long...that forced me that low.
Its private property, and no one better be walking on my back porch, otherwise they will have more significant problems than running into my antenna wire : )
I guess the major unanswered question would be, being a ham radio operator, WHY would you choose to live in a HOA neighborhood❓
The ham radio hobby REQUIRES antennas‼️Something that HOA boards seriously frown on, regardless of size or appearance.
Simple, I became an armature operator after I moved here. And, to live within reasonable driving distance of my employer, it is impossible for me to find a home which is not in an HOA neighborhood.
The real question is why are people unwilling to adapt to their circumstance and operate amateur radio in spite of the challenges. A great deal of ham radio is about preparedness and adaptability in unfriendly circumstances (grid down, post natural disaster, etc...); do you mean to tell me we are not creative enough to be able to communicate with our radios in compromised situations? If you can't do that, perhaps this isn't the hobby for you.
They can find you, " Hams by Zip Code"
: ) That's a risk I run as a TH-camr putting information out there to help others.
HOA's should be abolished, or at least stripped of their authority to coerce or apply penalties.
The whole point of a ham radio is for a bargaining chip for when you live in a hoa community, wanna fine me for painting my house 3 shades off white well here's a 60' ham radio antenna 😅
Why would a ham put up with the tyranny of HMO? I have a 65 foot tower with a triband 20-15-10 meter quad as well as full size dipoles for the 80 and 40 meter bands for uncompromised performance. No sooty HMO telling me what I can't do. 😊.
Why would to be part of an HOA's? From alI I've seen (TH-cam only) they seem to be more problems than there're worth.
I’m sure they don’t mind as long as you put your toys away when not using them.
I think you're right; don't draw to much attention to myself and they leave me alone.
Remember, as bad as HOA-dwelling hams have it, _apartment-dwelling_ hams, such as myself, have it _far_ worse.
I hear you. My conditions are not near as challenging as many
I also have found it very challenging being a ham in an apartment, particularly since they cut down the tree that supported my EFHW. It has forced me to operate portable and I have gotten very adept at putting up temporary antennas. Sometimes, because I can select my location, I have antennas that are much better than my friends and often have zero noise floor. I do wish I could just flip a switch and be on the air sometimes, but living in an apartment has forced my lazy butt to learn skills I would not have otherwise.
@@stuarthall3874 I hear you. I took my just-purchased IC-7610 and EFHW over to a local park last month and made dozens of HF contacts over an S1 noise floor. However, I needed assistance from other local hams to assist me in setting up my EFHW, and so I will have to further develop my skill in setting it up on my own if I want to operate HF more frequently.
73 VE7NDE
@@denelson83 Great, glad to hear. I'm impressed at using the 7610 portable. I will never again complain about having to lug my 7300 around. : )
@@stuarthall3874 Well, the 7610 does have a carrying handle on it, so that is certainly a plus.
Would never live where I couldn't do what I want with my own property. I don't understand HOA's
The question to ask is "Why would anyone live in an HOA?"
FYI an HOA can NOT stop you from having or installing a permeant flag pole so long as you properly fly an American Flag around the clock thanks to a federal law known as THE FREEDOM TO DISPLAY FLAG ACT which specifically; by name, prohibits an HOA, Rental or other Association from preventing a home owner or renter from flying the American Flag and does not specify the manner in in which you display the flag!!!!
Yep, all stemming from a ww2 and Korean War and Vietnam War vet named Mr. Barfoot who fought his HOA for the right to fly the American flag in his yard. The man had served over 30 years in the military and the HOA had the gall to tell him to take it down.
Anyone who buys a house with an HOA gets exactly what they they paid for... enjoy.
PS HOAs are stupid if you didnt know this already.
I wish everyone would take the attitude. There's nothing worse than a new neighbour who fills the garden with fishing poles and loose ugly cable draped everywhere