We Put up a Ham Radio Antenna and the HOA Doesn't Know...

►I stopped by to help John, Kb1OYB, and Craig, KC1ELZ put up a "temporary" ham radio antenna at John's new place. HOA rules don't allow external antennas but we think we've got a way to make it work.
► DISCLAIMER
This video is for entertainment purposes only. Be sure to follow all rules and regulations applicable in your area.
▼This is the Cross Bow Craig used:
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#hamradio #antenna #amateurradio #hoa

[@MowerJunkie]

Very cool! I'm glad he was able to get around the HOA.

[@iamgriff]

A crossbow, fishing pole, and a homemade arrow. 😂

[@craigszwed]

Good concise edit job, Rob.

[@robinj.9329]

This is exactly what I hate about living "in Town", is complaining neighbors! My Grandfather, born in 1898 always said: "If you can't raise a pig without bringing the Sherriff to your door, YOUR TOO CLOSE TO TOWN!" But that also goes for a flock of chickens, a few hives of Honeybees OR an antenna 📡!

[@beekeeper8474]

I have two hives and 6n chickens in the city

[@jeffharting4138]

Your Grandfather was a wise man

[@Radiowild]

I won't tell if you won't! lol

[@epnuzuluaga766]

I have the same issue with my 259c I used a dollop of remoil to free the knob up, and it works well now.

[@NullaNulla]

Another way is dig a trench with a shovel just flipping the grass over, bury the coax no conduit (run the risk) then flip the grass/dirt back over and walk up/down it a few times and it'll go back alike it was. Make sure the matcher/coil is behind a tree out of sight where the coax comes out and then just do your best to hide the building end somehow.

[@DK5ONV]

Excellent....

[@Tommy_Boy.]

Nice shot into the tree! 👍📻⚡73!

[@TI2GBB]

I put my DX Commander rapide system in the yard in the back of my house and after more than a year neighborhoods are not saying anything.. just one of them ask me what was that pole and I told them it's part of my weather station and I use it to collect satellite info for Data engineer project at the work ( which is true! LOL) and he just say ( hughhh, that's sound like geek stuffs!) 73s from Costa Rica

[@hamradiocomms]

Nice, that should work really well being so high up. The only thing I would do differently is hang the paracord on the back side of the tree so even less chance of being seen.

[@gerrimiller7238]

A good friend did this with a horizontal metal fence, and even told me you could use your house's electrical wiring as an antenna. Not sure how accurate he was, but he seemed to know what he was talking about.

[@bigguyprepper]

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should

[@stickoutofthemud]

@@bigguyprepper That doesn’t count for guys though. 🤣

[@laszlokovacs8827]

Some HOA's more flexible than others. Yes, you do have rights and many HOA's bylaws are designed to take those rights away. You knowingly and willingly signed a contract limiting your rights. Many contain very specific language severely limiting or outright banning and Amateur Radio activity. You can take them to court but many are run by professional HOA management companies with a staff of attorneys that can literally bleed you dry financially and make your life in the neighborhood very miserable in the process. They have a whole bag of tricks. I've seen it happen. Best advice is be stealthy with your antennas and NEVER tell ANYONE what you are up to. Forget the tower till you move out of the HOA. Better yet, run for president of the HOA.

[@joekrepps]

Just stumbled upon this video. Hoping there's a follow up video on how well it worked. I, too, have woods backed up to the HOA condo we live in. We're a little different in that we've got the small parking lot between the front of the condo and the woods. MIGHT be possible to run the coax from our 2nd floor window (where I'd be operating), over the parking lot to the trees. My real question is - did the trees suppress some of the incoming/outgoing signals? I've heard, not so much on 40m and lower frequencies but I'll probably do more 20m-10m as the sunspot cycle ramps up I'll take a look at your other videos. Very grateful for this one!! 73 de WB3CFN...dit dit

[@SevenFortyOne]

the antenna is working quite well. John is making all kinds of contacts on it.

[@ZlayaCo6aka]

Add a common mode choke between the feedline and the 49:1 transformer. Another core with coax wound around it should suffice.

[@paulplack490]

Maybe not. On some bands, the coax is the counterpoise, and choking it may prevent tuning.

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

What's usually better, putting the 1:1 next to the unan or at the tuner..?

[@kenhurd4000]

I use tv tuner spray you can get at any automotive store and spray the pot.... works great to clean it up

[@75ohmHAM]

I always kinda chuckle when the old dudes bust out the mfj box on the multi bands 😊

[@SevenFortyOne]

Why?

[@meggalavk3ktt]

nice set up fun fact if he put a 4 to1 balun on there it would work on 80m as well with 1 or 2 radials. good work beating the hoa

[@mm3nrx]

you OWN your HOME but you DON'T? WTF America!

[@BLACKHEAT1028]

HOA is supposed to make reasonable accommodation for us Ham Operators, a wire antenna (to me) is fine, I think they don't want a 4 element beams or something they don't like the looks of. Nice video thanks for the share

[@beekeeper8474]

Hoas are Karen's will control

[@chublez]

@@beekeeper8474 They will if yall keep bending over for em. Freedom isn't free. Give up your rights with nor argument and don't expect to keep many of em.

[@GamingKing545]

years ago when we lived in sc our neighbor would use an antenna that resembled a clothes line

[@verystupidhandle]

Sneaky Sneaky! Like my G5RV at 50ft @ the Condo! Shhhhh! ;))

[@just_in_time5518]

I like that pistol crossbow! I should pick me up one of those. 😎

[@SevenFortyOne]

I know...I think I'm going to get one too

[@Ztbmrc1]

Hm, I have have some trees not far from my apartment in the 3rth floor. There is only a big parking lot between them, and the tenant nor the neighbors like a cable over the promises. And of course I do not want to risk the cable to brake or come loose one day falling on several cars. My insurance will probably not cover that.... But good job. Btw you were analyzing the antenna while you were standing next to it. So it could be that you have influenced the results a bit... And when the tree gets wet, the antenne characteristics will also change. But a decent tuner should cover that.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I wouldn't run a wire over a parking lot.

[@ettsn]

Use DeOxIt spray on that pot, it will clean right up with no need to disassemble.

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Rob, That was a nice launcher setup. Stay safe. 73 WJ3U

[@SevenFortyOne]

I agree. Craig's a pretty clever guy

[@frankartieta4887]

I run only qrp cw I use a EFHW antenna often Nevertheless This setup ought to be able to work fine from 40 to 10 with the use of a tuner With a piece of wire about 66 feet long The antenna wire itself can be awful small and still handle 100 watts 18 gauge copperweld works great and is so fine diameter it hard to see Copperweld is strong

[@beekeeper8474]

You can make an efhw that will take legal limit. I made one and have put 1500+ into it.

[@sotm2]

The HOA knows now!!

[@ManuelPinner]

A nice and fed wire 18 gauge to a Tree is Perfect for this,

[@1crazynordlander]

I have always wondered if you could use a EFHW in a vertical configuration.

[@SevenFortyOne]

It seems to be working pretty well so far

[@AccelHeight]

I fly an EFHW from a kite during beach vacations. It works incredibly well.

[@paulplack490]

The Cushcraft "Ringo" antennas are vertical end-fed half-waves. The ones for 6 and 10 meters work well.

[@pablotabloz]

Never buy a house in an HOA.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Some people don't have a choice. The example in this video is subsidized housing for seniors

[@barrykelly2722]

They know now. Lol

[@Francois_Dupont]

lol, right in the sticks. now try to do the same in a metropolis.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Where there is a will, there is a way. It might be a compromise, but there are ways to get antennas installed just about any where

[@JasonCooper-em4gt]

No hoa in my woods😢

[@kevinkc3onohelijeepworld953]

Hey if you went that far & they leave it alone I would shoot another line and drag up a balanced Dipole and hell you in the trees make it a 160 and you could have all the bands. Use green wire and make a open spaced feeder and string it 20/30’ up and over to the roof 😉 they re looking down for other violations like kiddie pools turning green and looking for chipping deck paint and holes in window screens☺️

[@mrkattm]

Good for you guys, Ham antennas can be so unsightly and can really bring the property values down.... they are so darn ugly, they are embarrassing. I am an extra class ham and I am so tired of guys complaining about HOAs not letting them have antennas, those kind of guys really are the bad eggs that ruin it for the rest of us. I have a very strict HOA and I have been able to set up all kinds of hidden antennas and I have talked all over the world. If you must have a massive tower with a 40 meter yagi then you should move to the country sans neighbors.

[@jamescollier3]

I thought federal law prevents hoa from stopping you with an antenna?

[@mrkattm]

@@jamescollier3 They can not prevent you from putting up a TV antenna or satellite dish but there are reasonable conditions that need to be met. It is referred to as the OTARD rule, you can look it up to see those conditions (FCC 47 C.F.R. Section 1.4000). They can stop you from putting a 100 ft tower with a 40 meter yagi eyesore.

[@dobermanguy9437]

I would never buy a house with the HOA I'm paying the mortgage I don't need them telling me what I can do and what I can't do I know a ham operator who moved into a house and he told the realtor he was going to put up a tower the realtor told him it was fine well he moved in and then the HOA got on his ass he ended up suing the realty company and sold the house and moved somewhere else where he could have a hundred foot Tower if you are into radio never move into a HOA you will not be able to have an antenna you might be able to get away with a wire antenna Maybe

[@mrkattm]

Good thing you are not my neighbor, your neighbor is paying a mortgage too so what gives you the right to bring his property values down? I am an extra class ham and I live in a very strict HOA and I have put up all kinds of hidden antennas and I have talked all over the world on them. The last thing I would want to see every morning is a big old industrial looking eyesore of an antenna out my back windows. You are the kind of guy that gives the hobby a bad name. You should rethink your position.

[@mrkattm]

@@Joe-by8jh that makes no sense, go look up what communism is and get back to me.

[@k0rc]

@@mrkattm you seem to be BIG on bringing property values down. What is your data that supports this statement?

[@mrkattm]

@@Joe-by8jh You do a serious disservice to the people that were truly hurt by the Nazi party in the1940s with that comparison. You are either ignorant of what really happened or are a complete narcissist, I suspect the later. If you don't want to live in a deed restricted community then don't, but myself and lots of others don't want to live next to a monstrosity eye sore of a ham antenna and we pay good money for this privilege. As I said I am an extra class licensee and I can tell you that you can talk all over the world on just a wire hanging from a tree.

[@donalfinn4205]

Imagine, at that hour of your life, you can’t put up an aerial🤷‍♂️

[@SevenFortyOne]

Huh?

[@donalfinn4205]

because of HOA I mean.

[@srhslayer]

It’s against federal law for the boa to tell you you can not their are limits but they can’t say no

[@SevenFortyOne]

Yes they can. There is no law protecting hdm radio antennas yet

[@SCP_Bright]

@@SevenFortyOne FCC disagrees with you. Don't spread misinformation.

[@SevenFortyOne]

What is the law and where is it written?

[@Cryton12345]

Oh Ham radio antenna's are enforced allowed by federal law HOA can't say against it otherwise.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I'm afraid that's not the case (yet). HOA can prevent hams from putting up antennas

[@SCP_Bright]

@@SevenFortyOne reported for spreading misinformation.

[@richardallison8745]

For the life of me and my 50 years being a ham, why do people take up the hobby of ham radio and move into a HOA? I always bought a house with some property on the edge of town where I had room to put up proper wire antennas and did not live in a HOA subdivision. Maybe getting a boat and obtaining fishing or a hobby of model trains would make more sense. Antennas being a flagpole or an antenna in the attic don't work that well. Yes you can make contacts but they only work a small fraction as well as a half wave antenna that is high in the air, besides radiation emitted from an attic antenna might not be safe depending on frequency and power level. My advice to stay in the hobby is to sell your home and move to one with 1 - 3 acres.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Just because someone doesn't have the means or desire to live on a large lot doesn't mean they shouldn't be a ham. It just means they have to find more creative ways to put up antennas. Perhaps you have forgotten part of the spirit of Ham Radio is innovating and finding ways to make things work.

[@richardallison8745]

@@SevenFortyOne I am not saying people in subdivisions should not be in ham radio but stealth antennas do not work well on hf and the rf on an attic antenna is most likely unsafe for the family.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Oh. But you said your advice was to sell your house to stay in the hobby if one lived in an HOA implying that if one wasn't willing to do that they should give up the hobby. Maybe I misunderstood. By the way, the antenna featured in this video was used to make contacts into Italy and Germany a few hours after it was put up. I could be wrong but I think that means it's working fairly well.

[@richardallison8745]

@@SevenFortyOne Yes, QRP works good but at 100 watts or more, you are radiating with a dummy load. I am 70 years old and 50 years in ham radio and previously had a Commercial Radio License. This is my advice, take it or leave it. Also FCC REQUIRES hams have calculations done for rf safety and exposure and I would not recommend putting a hf dipole in the attic at medium to high power levels. I know people do it but if the exposure is too high, then there is an issue. I have no more advice and I am not going back and forth with this.

[@SevenFortyOne]

You must not have watched the video. The antenna we put up is outside, 50 feet or more from the house, and being used with a 100w transmitter.