GROUND RADIAL FOR THIS SET UP: I forgot to show and mention in the video I do have a ~ 60' radial attached to the URT-1 that snakes around the back of the house.
I only read the first two words of the title and immediately clicked. Turns out this video is not about "stealth ham," so if you are looking for ways to eat ham without being detected this is unfortunately not the video for you.
I came here just to say one thing. Never move into a HoA unless you're ok with being told you are a renter who has to buy the place. You don't own that home, it's just in your name for tax reasons, the HoA owns it; you just get to live there as long as you obey the lease (their rules), and pay your HoA fee's (rent). I also rent, but it didn't require I put my credit on the line, and I can move anytime I want without trying to sell my lease to some other sucker; that's the landlords problem.
HOAs for anything thats not a town home, condo, or shared lake property shouldn't be leigle, and should 100% be something you as a new buyer can opt out on. Its so screwed up that a builder gets to setup these organizations so that crazy bipolar boomers can torurcher people just trying to live their lives.
There are precisely one of three chances I'd ever want to live under an HOA, due to the risk that even a decent HOA can turn into a totalitarian hell hole. Slim chance. Fat chance. No chance. I'd rather try to live under a bridge naked on the south pole. There ain't any bridges there and well, unsurvivable with or without that mythical bridge.
Thanks Bob. I think the "dont overthink it, just do it" works in our favour. I read about people using barbes wire, lawn furniture, rotten matresses, all sorts of metal to get on the air. Just get on the air. 🤜🤛
In the end, it comes out that way anyway. I've always loved the class, "Take an ideal conductor, draw out the diagram". Now, ball that up and throw it out, there's no such conductor in the universe. One can have everything optimized, with the best possible components, get a weird reflection back, maybe some odd irregularity in a conductor, maybe a deposit in the ground, might even be one board on a fence that's resonating weirdly when it shouldn't do anything, might even be a bird. A tuning we will go, a tuning we will go, hi-ho amerry-o, a tuning we will go... Sometimes, as you said, just to get a signal, others to avoid parasitics or even just plain gremlins. Gremlins meaning, I've no idea, maybe someone brighter than I am will figure it out someday - depends upon how many horticultural centers one visits to find that potted special someone...
I use an Alpha Antenna HOA buster. It works really well for me. I have different gutter sections that I can use to change my direction. I've hit both coasts and several South American contacts from Texas.
My father was a ham and built his transmitter out of WWll surplus parts, and it seemed it was 7 feet tall. It had a huge tube in the bottom that lit up the ham shack like a mad scientist's laboratory. He also made his own antennas. While I am not a ham, I have built my own TV antenna. It's a Food Service Grade DTV antenna. It's 2 8" metal baking pans screwed to a 12" 2x4 with a baking sheet mounted on the opposite side of the 2x4,as a reflector. The pans are mounted 1" apart with a matching transformer soldered to the pans. Works well in my area. I get the pans from Dollar Tree. Ordered the matching transformers from Amazon. And the 2x4s from pieces laying around. It's only OTA for me.
Hey I just want to say that this is a great vid. I also live in an HOA compound and as an SWLer, I do want to acquire some form of outside antenna at some point. I like your philosophy of "compromise". It is like saying 'Hey, this is how it is but I'm going to do the best that I can AND I'm going to keep trying.' To me, that is motivation in itself and that is great. TYFP and keep up the great work!
My brother and I used a section of gutter above our bedroom to boost our radio antenna in order to tune in LA based radio stations up in Fresno back in the 80’s.
When I was a kid I lived in a 20 story building on the southern tip of Brooklyn NY. Our windows faced NYC and the open water facing Europe. My friends and I made home base systems and we learned to turn the aluminum frame of the widows and a k40 or fire stick placed in the center on the frame made our windows into super antennas. We had to be stealth because we were in apartments and could not run an antenna where it was visible. So we figured this trick out . We could broadcast strong enough that our signals came over both the local FM and television stations in all the radios and 📺 that were close to our base stations. We could pick up and send signals across the Atlantic and pick up signals from stations as far away as Jamaica.
Thank you. I live in an HOA in Jacksonville Florida. I am not allowed any type of outside antenna. This weekend I will take a very hard look at the rain gutter and hopefully it is one continuous gutter not sections. Then if the gutter is satisfactory I’ll order the CHA URT 1. I’ll let you know how things went for me. I remember rain gutters from the 1950-60s. I’m presently 77 yr. Old. Back then I helped my father put up new rain gutters. In those days gutters came in specific length. Measured, cut to the length needed for that section of the roof. Slipped together then soldered together with a hand blow torch very heavy soldering iron and lead/solder. The lead/solder came in bars 12 inches long. We would melt the lead in a small pot then apply it to the gutter. But today the gutters come from a roll of aluminum and are formed out of the back of a truck.
@@HOAHamRadio Of course. I'm a ham too. I was just offering information to the person stating "no antennas", where in fact there's a provision to have a dish in any HOA.
When I visited Largo last year I had to hide my antenna so I used my mom's apartment gutter. It was great fun! One end into the gutter and another wire on the ground.
Thanks for posting this. I am moving to a new home in a subdivision that I don’t think has an HOA, but the covenants say “no aerials, antennas etc”. So I am probably going to give this gutter antennas a try.
Hi Bob: My gutter and drainpipe system are run through a Jetstream 4:1 balun fed with 50-ohm coax. Connected to the sides of the balun is 12 awg wire (white colored) that runs parallel to the drainpipes and up through all the gutters. Gutter connections are accomplished with a mounted solder lug that also runs up to one of my highest gutters - again soldered on a lug. All house gutters are used. Running about 190 watts, I get into all of Europe, South America, all of US and Canada, Caribbean, and Northern Africa. I am almost 99.9% CW. I will be replacing my Comet vertical that was my principal antenna system (Comet CHA250 BX) with the HD version. My SWR through my Yaesu FTDX5000MP Limited is never higher than 1.3 to 1. Guess I cannot complain - 73 Rich W2FKN.
I really like this, thanks for the demonstration. I have been off the air for a little over 10 years now and live in an HOA as well, and am trying to figure out how I want to get back on the air. I think something like this is a fantastic option. I think that I will probably try a wire of some kind, and this is a great alternative. 73s, KC9MSA
I've laid antenna wire on my roof (that matches my shingle color) at the last two communities I've lived at and I have worked well over 100 countries with no problem. The key was the roof mounted remote antenna tuner, that you would have to stand on the roof to even see.
I hooked up to my apartment buildings gutter two-story building and it ended up being a inverted l Works beautifully 20 and 40 m no tuning needed it's a good one except for the building noise but it's very easily filtered out
Been using my front gutter for an antenna for years, it 45 feet long and loads up perfectly on almost all bands with antenna tuner and seperate 8 foot ground rod.
Man the best way to deal with a HOA, is find a lawyer who beat them in court put them on retainer and send the HOA a note saying any communication from the HOA to you should be routed through that lawyer. They do not mess with me at all.
Nice, when you've the funding to afford such billable hours. We mortals tend to be a bit challenged in that department. It'd be cheaper to design and build a T-1000 terminator.
WHAT!? I never thought of that. Brilliant! For what it's worth, I'm a relatively new General (upgraded in June, original ticket in March) and TI5/N3KS was my very first contact on HF (20m). Still a bit confused how to request a QSL card (qrz was confusing as I'm new to that, too). Anyway, super cool video. Can probably use plastic sections of gutter/downspout to tune it if needed.
The longer the downspout the lower you'll be able to go in the bands, its a great option. I've never jumped into the QSL card collecting so I'm not sure either. Appreciated you stopping by for a look.
In the past I used to own and live in 3 different condos in Ohio that had HOAs. Usually at first the boards were somewhat OK. Then they got new HOA managers and board members, they all turned into "Condo Natzis", and I had to move because of lawyers, fines and strict rules that robbed me of my freedom. I felt like a mouse locked in a cage with no hope. I finally learned my lesson and I now live in a house Indiana with no condo at all and most of the people here are free and happy.
Wow Bob.. a gutter antenna.?.. What other hairbrained antenna ideas you gunna come up with.. Growing corn in the garden to make a corn stalk antenna.?. That will never work!! LOLOL.. Just kidding, as you know.. Great Job.. I can't believe this is your first try with the gutter.. but, you beat me cause I haven't tried it yet either, LOL... Great success and it's probably one of the best stealth options for HOA environment.. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us out here struggling to make things work.. Gutter antenna for the WIN !!!.. 73 k0klb
When the King of Crazy Ideas shows up for a view and a compliment, I consider myself a success. Thanks Kevin. Its great to be able to share and help others who need to hide in plain sight, and then, as you know, its a blast just to just go give things a try and hear someone even respond on the other side of the wire!
Try bonding all of the gutters together or multiple gutters together using a piece of wire at the corners of the home or however it needs try to make the gutter as long as possible doing this. Or even a loop all the way around the house with the gutters in play. I've gotten pretty creative at this and you can make multiple antennas if you know what you're doing. If youve a plan.
Back in 79 when I got my novice ticket I could barely afford the Heath HW-16 so no money for a fancy antenna so I loaded up 36ft of metal gutter! Ya gutter was once made of metal!!! No Tuner on 40m. Awesome Video Bob! 👍👍👍
Taking the opportunity here to remind hams to write your members of congress to ask them to support S.3690, the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act, which would require reasonable accommodation of hams in HOA's.
It's always a constant struggle. One time parts of my A/C compressor and furnace started vibrating, apparently resonating when I was transmitting on 80 meters. She freaked out and I've been doing damage control since then, trying to prevent a repeat.... Installing more ferrites, etc.
Hi Bob, verry interesting video abaud the guttery antenna i have a sink gutter from 22 meters long 5 meters high I its a full size 20 m antenna and a half wave for 40 m and a kwarter wave for 80 m, iI going to give it a try... you never know how the gutter perform.s. Thanks for the Idee...bob Keep up the good work.. i
People are also free to buy into a property that has stated covenants about what is allowed and what is not. People are free to make their own contracts. If you don't like HOA's, don't buy a house or condo that's in one. Simple as that.
@@pesco7 it is not "simple as that", buddy. Board members die, rules change, personal drama leads to selective enforcement. Even if the HOA is acceptable when you move in, there's very little stopping the board members from jacking up the dues and changing all the rules. Everyone has the freedom to enter a contract, but one-sided contracts are unenforceable. HOA CC&Rs are an obviously one-sided contract and shouldn't be enforceable, it's ridiculous to take somebody's house away because they parked the wrong kind of vehicle outside or neglected to mow the grass for a few weeks. Just mind your own business and stop acting like you're entitled to tell me what I can and can't do in my own house. Simple as that.
@@pesco7 if the housing market were free and fair, I would be more inclined to agree with you. as the market is right now, with ridiculous prices and interest rates for even the most modest houses, I can't pretend like the average person really has a choice about whether or not they live in an HOA. In this market, people are forced to either snap up the first thing they can find that fits their budget, or continue renting for years waiting for something right to come onto the market and wasting money that could be going toward equity in a home.
@@tissuepaper9962If I was in the market to buy a house I could totally find one without an HOA. It would actually be pretty damn easy. There are several neighborhoods in my area that don’t have them. We currently live in Pinopolis, South Carolina and I can do whatever the fuck I want to in my yard.
For those needing to insulate the downspouts so they're not a part of the antenna might check out plastic downspout connectors at home improvement stores
Low and behold, you had an antenna there the whole time! Great experiment 👍 👌 Is your building stuco with chicken wire behind the coating? I work a gutter on a stuco building with a lot of other metal objects around. I didn't it would work, but it does. FT8 works best here! 80-160m are ok at night 🌙 From my experience, a tuner with 5:1 works much better than a 9:1. Thanks for the video 😊
Great video want to know where you purchased the tan box on your house next to the antenna mount looking for one for my coax to enter my shack Thank you Michael
Hey @michaelcotellessa6509, the small tan box next to the black Chameleon Antenna turner is: amzn.to/45EPYtW The box on the other side of my house where my antenna coax enters the house is: www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-ue-2p
Thanks for the video Bob. I have the Alpha Antenna HOA buster but it is very noisy. I'm using a tuner in the shack. Do you think the Chameleon tuner would help with the noise? Thanks, Jim
The CHA URT-1 will not make your radio happy but actually tune the antenna at the feed point! To reduce noise, refine your radials system and put a RFI choke at the feed point under the CHA URT1.
Can't guarantee it Jim, but it is certainly a reasonable expectation. It was a bit noisy that night, but the band conditions were terrible. I've used it a few other times, and the noise floor was low compared to what I am used to here -- that was on 20 meters. Given the URT-1 matches at the feed point, I would expect an improvement over the HOA buster for sure.
I'm surprised that you haven't tried the hoa buster from Alpha Antenna. As a ham that rents a townhouse, I'm really looking for a useable antenna solution so I can get on hf again. This really has my interest peaked. 73, Chris VA3NFR
Mostly the concern with all the aluminum and paint, as I explained. Plus the HOA Buster is a bit pricey for what it is...n 5:1 with some inexpensive hardware. In a future video I will focus on the unun versions. Someone gave me a their HOA Buster they were not using, so now that I know my gutters work, I'll be hooking it up for the unun version of my future video.
You know what is a good match with the ic705? A is-52a plus.. uses same battery and paired with a TNC4 and iPhone with radio mail app you got one hell of a pocket survival kit. Btw the id52 radios are waterproof. Just saying brother!!!
I had some hard and non-negotiable rules when I went house hunting, and they were deal breakers... no HOA, and no CCR (conditions covenants restrictions). I just refused to deal with it.
Now if you have have a neighbour that also recreationally radiates, do you get intermod issues with the corroded aluminium joints in your gutter antenna? Even adjacent 3rd party structures could reradiate intermods from all these diodes. So, yeah. Any intermod issues?
i tought there was an FCC ruling in the states that an HOA could not restrict the placement of communications antennas as well as satellite dish placement in the usa ? CORRECT ME IF IM WRONG
How does a vehicle work as an antenna? Could you park a van or school bus or motorhome and use a metal part of it as an antenna? Body, shell, frame, etc?
So what's the HOA standing on this? IF they find it, and I going to be demanded to remove it, or is it allowed? I think I missed you mentioning that? Pretty cool either way.
@@HOAHamRadio Are you a ham that also likes long range wifi setups? Microwave PtP wifi shot to the highest point in the region with network radio way up there = do silly things like 50kbit data across the globe and space.
Question, I'm in northern California and only RNZ International 17675 out of New Zealand comes in loud and clear. Is my long wire on my shortwave radio too long?
That set up is down as I've moved on to testing other antennas (which is what I do on my channel). I could work 20 and up. 40 was a challenge with my old gutter. I think if (when) I installed new gutter that was connected to a longer length, 40 would be achievable, and maybe even 80.
Hey Bob, thanks for the video. I am working on a base loaded vertical to stick out of a southern facing window at my apt. Currently tweaking and experimenting with it. I have probably 60 plus feet of gutter I am trying to figure out a way to tap into aswell. Do you think that would get out better than my buddi stick esq window base loaded vertical with a single ground wire about 12 feet off the ground?
Yep, I noticed that after I released the video. I rarely use my gimbal / iphone combination, but did for that one scene. I used the front facing camera...and that was the result. I could have flipped it in post edit if I was paying attention.
Would love to try a gutter antenna, though I’ve been told stucco houses (with chicken wire underneath) make this type of antenna very ineffective. Is this incorrect?
Not really! Because the GUTTERS are higher-up, the stucco won't be affecting RX and TX. If you had to operate from indoor - that would be another story!
Oh oh the HOA are coming for you. You have an unclassified black box on the side of you house. It is larger than the specified HAO Limit by 1/16" We need to know what it does, what in is for and who put it there.
I'm pretty sure the Supreme court ruled that satellite dishes are not allowed to be blocked by an HOA because it limits the ability to receive communications. This would be no different.
or geet a extending mobile antenna that you crank up and down and only put up when your ready to transmit do it in your backyard you can att leaves and sticks to the ariels to make it look like a tree for a bit
@@JoseArrom Thanks. I should have done that before posting. I was trying for a more general answer to my question. Since your post, I got that the TI is a U.S. ham, but haven’t figured out the “5” yet.
The paint will have virtually no effct on the efficiency of the antenna. Remember broadcast antenna towers are painted from bottom to top with aviation orange and white paint.
Thanks for the comment. I've heard others say paints can have metals in them and keep them off your antennas; I don't know the accuracy of the statement....
Nah. My property. I'll have whatever I want in my yard. Even a tall antenna. When the HOA pays my mortgage, utilities, and taxes, then, and only then can they even think about telling me what I can/can't do on my property.
GROUND RADIAL FOR THIS SET UP: I forgot to show and mention in the video I do have a ~ 60' radial attached to the URT-1 that snakes around the back of the house.
The bigger question is why are you so bonkers as to choose to live in an HOA neighborhood? HOAs are nothing but trouble.
I only read the first two words of the title and immediately clicked. Turns out this video is not about "stealth ham," so if you are looking for ways to eat ham without being detected this is unfortunately not the video for you.
🐷🐷
😅😅😅
You are such a ham 😂
Dammit
Drat
I came here just to say one thing. Never move into a HoA unless you're ok with being told you are a renter who has to buy the place. You don't own that home, it's just in your name for tax reasons, the HoA owns it; you just get to live there as long as you obey the lease (their rules), and pay your HoA fee's (rent).
I also rent, but it didn't require I put my credit on the line, and I can move anytime I want without trying to sell my lease to some other sucker; that's the landlords problem.
HOAs for anything thats not a town home, condo, or shared lake property shouldn't be leigle, and should 100% be something you as a new buyer can opt out on. Its so screwed up that a builder gets to setup these organizations so that crazy bipolar boomers can torurcher people just trying to live their lives.
There are precisely one of three chances I'd ever want to live under an HOA, due to the risk that even a decent HOA can turn into a totalitarian hell hole.
Slim chance. Fat chance. No chance.
I'd rather try to live under a bridge naked on the south pole. There ain't any bridges there and well, unsurvivable with or without that mythical bridge.
What a gaffe LOL.
Learn what HOA is and then post moron.
Thanks Bob.
I think the "dont overthink it, just do it" works in our favour.
I read about people using barbes wire, lawn furniture, rotten matresses, all sorts of metal to get on the air.
Just get on the air.
🤜🤛
Totally agree. We often make this far more difficult than it needs to be.
In the end, it comes out that way anyway.
I've always loved the class, "Take an ideal conductor, draw out the diagram". Now, ball that up and throw it out, there's no such conductor in the universe.
One can have everything optimized, with the best possible components, get a weird reflection back, maybe some odd irregularity in a conductor, maybe a deposit in the ground, might even be one board on a fence that's resonating weirdly when it shouldn't do anything, might even be a bird. A tuning we will go, a tuning we will go, hi-ho amerry-o, a tuning we will go...
Sometimes, as you said, just to get a signal, others to avoid parasitics or even just plain gremlins. Gremlins meaning, I've no idea, maybe someone brighter than I am will figure it out someday - depends upon how many horticultural centers one visits to find that potted special someone...
I use an Alpha Antenna HOA buster. It works really well for me. I have different gutter sections that I can use to change my direction. I've hit both coasts and several South American contacts from Texas.
Fantastic and thanks for sharing. Its helpful to hear from those who have been using this as their main set up with success.
My father was a ham and built his transmitter out of WWll surplus parts, and it seemed it was 7 feet tall. It had a huge tube in the bottom that lit up the ham shack like a mad scientist's laboratory. He also made his own antennas.
While I am not a ham, I have built my own TV antenna. It's a Food Service Grade DTV antenna.
It's 2 8" metal baking pans screwed to a 12" 2x4 with a baking sheet mounted on the opposite side of the 2x4,as a reflector. The pans are mounted 1" apart with a matching transformer soldered to the pans.
Works well in my area.
I get the pans from Dollar Tree. Ordered the matching transformers from Amazon. And the 2x4s from pieces laying around. It's only OTA for me.
Hey I just want to say that this is a great vid. I also live in an HOA compound and as an SWLer, I do want to acquire some form of outside antenna at some point. I like your philosophy of "compromise". It is like saying 'Hey, this is how it is but I'm going to do the best that I can AND I'm going to keep trying.' To me, that is motivation in itself and that is great. TYFP and keep up the great work!
My brother and I used a section of gutter above our bedroom to boost our radio antenna in order to tune in LA based radio stations up in Fresno back in the 80’s.
Amazing what you can do with a length of metal.
When I was a kid I lived in a 20 story building on the southern tip of Brooklyn NY. Our windows faced NYC and the open water facing Europe. My friends and I made home base systems and we learned to turn the aluminum frame of the widows and a k40 or fire stick placed in the center on the frame made our windows into super antennas. We had to be stealth because we were in apartments and could not run an antenna where it was visible. So we figured this trick out . We could broadcast strong enough that our signals came over both the local FM and television stations in all the radios and 📺 that were close to our base stations. We could pick up and send signals across the Atlantic and pick up signals from stations as far away as Jamaica.
This is fantastic information about ingenuity and overcoming the obstacles, thanks for sharing.
Thank you. I live in an HOA in Jacksonville Florida. I am not allowed any type of outside antenna. This weekend I will take a very hard look at the rain gutter and hopefully it is one continuous gutter not sections. Then if the gutter is satisfactory I’ll order the CHA URT 1. I’ll let you know how things went for me.
I remember rain gutters from the 1950-60s. I’m presently 77 yr. Old. Back then I helped my father put up new rain gutters. In those days gutters came in specific length. Measured, cut to the length needed for that section of the roof. Slipped together then soldered together with a hand blow torch very heavy soldering iron and lead/solder. The lead/solder came in bars 12 inches long. We would melt the lead in a small pot then apply it to the gutter. But today the gutters come from a roll of aluminum and are formed out of the back of a truck.
Best of luck on the investigation and considering this as an option!
You're allowed a satellite dish by federal law even in an HOA. Just so you know.
@@joewoodchuck3824 Yes, OTARD protects the right to have a receive antenna like a dish; us hams like to transmit : )
@@HOAHamRadio Of course. I'm a ham too. I was just offering information to the person stating "no antennas", where in fact there's a provision to have a dish in any HOA.
@@joewoodchuck3824 Understood, thanks! Appreciate the attention to details so many others misunderstand.
You never know what works until you try it. Great video!
That's my motto. Thanks for the feedback.
Very good and well explained! People needs to think out of the box and experiment!
Thanks Chameleon Antenna; the URT-1 makes it easy and tunes up anything!
Any progress on the High Power version of the URT-1?
When I visited Largo last year I had to hide my antenna so I used my mom's apartment gutter. It was great fun! One end into the gutter and another wire on the ground.
Surprisingly, it works! You are another example; thanks for sharing.
Thanks for posting this. I am moving to a new home in a subdivision that I don’t think has an HOA, but the covenants say “no aerials, antennas etc”. So I am probably going to give this gutter antennas a try.
Glad you found the demonstration and hope it works great for you!
Hi Bob:
My gutter and drainpipe system are run through a Jetstream 4:1 balun fed with 50-ohm coax. Connected to the sides of the balun
is 12 awg wire (white colored) that runs parallel to the drainpipes and up through all the gutters. Gutter connections are accomplished with a mounted solder lug that also runs up to one of my highest gutters - again soldered on a lug. All house gutters are used. Running about 190 watts, I get into all of Europe, South America, all of US and Canada, Caribbean, and Northern Africa. I am almost 99.9% CW. I will be replacing my Comet vertical that was my principal antenna system (Comet CHA250 BX) with the HD version. My SWR through my Yaesu FTDX5000MP Limited is never higher than 1.3 to 1. Guess I cannot complain - 73 Rich W2FKN.
This excellent confirmation of how well a gutter antenna can work! Thanks for sharing the specific details of your set up for others.
I really like this, thanks for the demonstration. I have been off the air for a little over 10 years now and live in an HOA as well, and am trying to figure out how I want to get back on the air. I think something like this is a fantastic option. I think that I will probably try a wire of some kind, and this is a great alternative. 73s, KC9MSA
Wires hide well and make great antennas. Gutter hides even better! Good luck getting back on the air.
I've laid antenna wire on my roof (that matches my shingle color) at the last two communities I've lived at and I have worked well over 100 countries with no problem. The key was the roof mounted remote antenna tuner, that you would have to stand on the roof to even see.
I hooked up to my apartment buildings gutter two-story building and it ended up being a inverted l Works beautifully 20 and 40 m no tuning needed it's a good one except for the building noise but it's very easily filtered out
Another person talking about a successful gutter antenna! Fantastic. I've heard many say this is a great solution for them. Thanks for sharing.
Been using my front gutter for an antenna for years, it 45 feet long and loads up perfectly on almost all bands with antenna tuner and seperate 8 foot ground rod.
Absolutely fantastic! More confirmation this is a really good solution. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for demonstrating, Bob!
Thanks Talkpod Team for coming by for a look.
This is awesome! Thank you for the video.
You are welcome @Krispin2291; had fun with this one.
Man the best way to deal with a HOA, is find a lawyer who beat them in court put them on retainer and send the HOA a note saying any communication from the HOA to you should be routed through that lawyer. They do not mess with me at all.
Nice, when you've the funding to afford such billable hours. We mortals tend to be a bit challenged in that department. It'd be cheaper to design and build a T-1000 terminator.
@@spvillano itd probably be easier just to choose not to live in a hoa....
@@DaClaptain my first option!
@@spvillano most of the time, that is enough to keep them from doing anything.
Or simply don't live in a HOA. Why voluntarily live under yet another government?
WHAT!? I never thought of that. Brilliant! For what it's worth, I'm a relatively new General (upgraded in June, original ticket in March) and TI5/N3KS was my very first contact on HF (20m). Still a bit confused how to request a QSL card (qrz was confusing as I'm new to that, too). Anyway, super cool video. Can probably use plastic sections of gutter/downspout to tune it if needed.
The longer the downspout the lower you'll be able to go in the bands, its a great option. I've never jumped into the QSL card collecting so I'm not sure either. Appreciated you stopping by for a look.
Brilliant! This is great to see. Thank you! 😊
Thanks, appreciate the positive feedback.
KQ4OKI from Safety Harbor, Glad to see these videos. Cannot wait to catch you on the air.
Thanks for stopping by; stay safe this week!
@@HOAHamRadio Many thanks, I'll try. I'm a Civil Air Patrol member, and will be busy once this passes.
Good job doxxing yourself
In the past I used to own and live in 3 different condos in Ohio that had HOAs. Usually at first the boards were somewhat OK. Then they got new HOA managers and board members, they all turned into "Condo Natzis", and I had to move because of lawyers, fines and strict rules that robbed me of my freedom. I felt like a mouse locked in a cage with no hope. I finally learned my lesson and I now live in a house Indiana with no condo at all and most of the people here are free and happy.
I'd have gone with my trademark. Having dinner with a judge, while some improbable accident happened...
Wow Bob.. a gutter antenna.?.. What other hairbrained antenna ideas you gunna come up with.. Growing corn in the garden to make a corn stalk antenna.?. That will never work!! LOLOL.. Just kidding, as you know.. Great Job.. I can't believe this is your first try with the gutter.. but, you beat me cause I haven't tried it yet either, LOL... Great success and it's probably one of the best stealth options for HOA environment.. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us out here struggling to make things work.. Gutter antenna for the WIN !!!.. 73 k0klb
When the King of Crazy Ideas shows up for a view and a compliment, I consider myself a success. Thanks Kevin.
Its great to be able to share and help others who need to hide in plain sight, and then, as you know, its a blast just to just go give things a try and hear someone even respond on the other side of the wire!
Try bonding all of the gutters together or multiple gutters together using a piece of wire at the corners of the home or however it needs try to make the gutter as long as possible doing this. Or even a loop all the way around the house with the gutters in play. I've gotten pretty creative at this and you can make multiple antennas if you know what you're doing. If youve a plan.
Back in 79 when I got my novice ticket I could barely afford the Heath HW-16 so no money for a fancy antenna so I loaded up 36ft of metal gutter! Ya gutter was once made of metal!!! No Tuner on 40m. Awesome Video Bob! 👍👍👍
Everyone knows that corn stalk antennas produce mass quantities of popcorn above 20 watts! You need to go back to General! 😂😂😂
When I was a 11 year old SWL listener I used the neighbors 3 ft high 400 foot long chain link. It was as good or better than my long wire.
Amazing what will pick up a signal.
Interesting, very interesting.
Good video. I am also in Tampa
Thanks for watching. Love the Tampa Bay area.
That’s an outstanding video!
Thanks for the kind feedback @N6PCD
Taking the opportunity here to remind hams to write your members of congress to ask them to support S.3690, the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act, which would require reasonable accommodation of hams in HOA's.
Thanks for another video!!
Same time, same place. Every Thursday 11:30 am : )
Years ago my friend did it useing screens on his apartment
It is amazing what you can use for an antenna.
An HOA in an HOA. Ham Operator's Antenna in a Home Owners' Association.
I like it.
My HOA consists of one person - the XYL... ;-) Even SHE might approve of this antenna. I might have to give it a try...
Now that you mention, I guess I actually have two HOA's. One external to the house, and one internal : )
It's always a constant struggle. One time parts of my A/C compressor and furnace started vibrating, apparently resonating when I was transmitting on 80 meters. She freaked out and I've been doing damage control since then, trying to prevent a repeat.... Installing more ferrites, etc.
Hi Bob,
verry interesting video abaud the guttery antenna
i have a sink gutter from 22 meters long 5 meters high
I its a full size 20 m antenna and a half wave for 40 m and a kwarter wave for 80 m,
iI going to give it a try... you never know how the gutter perform.s. Thanks for the Idee...bob
Keep up the good work..
i
73 bob from Maarten PA3DTQ
Looking forward to hearing how this works out for you. Best of luck.
I will let you know Bob
I would use WSPR to check you pattern and reach. Great job!
Thanks for stopping by for a look.
Amazing. Would love to see it work as well with an unun
...its on the list, the very long list...
I have zero experience with hams, but this is pretty cool to know should I need to throw up a stealth antenna!
Thanks for sharing Bob. I was always curious how the gutter antenna would work without removing layers of paint between connections. Bill. KC2KNA
My pleasure. I enjoy demonstration solutions that could be really helpful to others.
Long live the freest country where people can do whatever they want in their own home.
People are also free to buy into a property that has stated covenants about what is allowed and what is not. People are free to make their own contracts. If you don't like HOA's, don't buy a house or condo that's in one. Simple as that.
@@pesco7 it is not "simple as that", buddy. Board members die, rules change, personal drama leads to selective enforcement. Even if the HOA is acceptable when you move in, there's very little stopping the board members from jacking up the dues and changing all the rules.
Everyone has the freedom to enter a contract, but one-sided contracts are unenforceable. HOA CC&Rs are an obviously one-sided contract and shouldn't be enforceable, it's ridiculous to take somebody's house away because they parked the wrong kind of vehicle outside or neglected to mow the grass for a few weeks.
Just mind your own business and stop acting like you're entitled to tell me what I can and can't do in my own house. Simple as that.
@@tissuepaper9962 Well it is pretty simple. I don’t have an HOA. I never have to worry about that.
@@pesco7 if the housing market were free and fair, I would be more inclined to agree with you. as the market is right now, with ridiculous prices and interest rates for even the most modest houses, I can't pretend like the average person really has a choice about whether or not they live in an HOA. In this market, people are forced to either snap up the first thing they can find that fits their budget, or continue renting for years waiting for something right to come onto the market and wasting money that could be going toward equity in a home.
@@tissuepaper9962If I was in the market to buy a house I could totally find one without an HOA. It would actually be pretty damn easy. There are several neighborhoods in my area that don’t have them. We currently live in Pinopolis, South Carolina and I can do whatever the fuck I want to in my yard.
For those needing to insulate the downspouts so they're not a part of the antenna might check out plastic downspout connectors at home improvement stores
Yep, great idea! Plastic elbows will create a brake if needed.
Low and behold, you had an antenna there the whole time! Great experiment 👍 👌
Is your building stuco with chicken wire behind the coating? I work a gutter on a stuco building with a lot of other metal objects around. I didn't it would work, but it does. FT8 works best here! 80-160m are ok at night 🌙 From my experience, a tuner with 5:1 works much better than a 9:1.
Thanks for the video 😊
My stucco is over block, so no chicken wire here. I'll experiment with a different unun's when the time comes. Thanks for the view.
Put a 400’ tower up and it’s legally protected. 😂
Awesome!
If the aerial works it works and communications begin.
Great video want to know where you purchased the tan box on your house next to the antenna mount looking for one for my coax to enter my shack Thank you Michael
Hey @michaelcotellessa6509, the small tan box next to the black Chameleon Antenna turner is: amzn.to/45EPYtW
The box on the other side of my house where my antenna coax enters the house is: www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-ue-2p
Thanks for the video Bob. I have the Alpha Antenna HOA buster but it is very noisy. I'm using a tuner in the shack. Do you think the Chameleon tuner would help with the noise? Thanks, Jim
The CHA URT-1 will not make your radio happy but actually tune the antenna at the feed point! To reduce noise, refine your radials system and put a RFI choke at the feed point under the CHA URT1.
Can't guarantee it Jim, but it is certainly a reasonable expectation. It was a bit noisy that night, but the band conditions were terrible. I've used it a few other times, and the noise floor was low compared to what I am used to here -- that was on 20 meters. Given the URT-1 matches at the feed point, I would expect an improvement over the HOA buster for sure.
I'm surprised that you haven't tried the hoa buster from Alpha Antenna. As a ham that rents a townhouse, I'm really looking for a useable antenna solution so I can get on hf again. This really has my interest peaked. 73, Chris VA3NFR
Mostly the concern with all the aluminum and paint, as I explained. Plus the HOA Buster is a bit pricey for what it is...n 5:1 with some inexpensive hardware. In a future video I will focus on the unun versions. Someone gave me a their HOA Buster they were not using, so now that I know my gutters work, I'll be hooking it up for the unun version of my future video.
Could you use a all metal pole barn as an antenna. The pole barn dimensions are 32 by 32 and 12 ft ceilings in the bay
You know what is a good match with the ic705? A is-52a plus.. uses same battery and paired with a TNC4 and iPhone with radio mail app you got one hell of a pocket survival kit. Btw the id52 radios are waterproof. Just saying brother!!!
I really wish I had more time to play with my ID52A...its lonely.
Sounds like Hogan's Heros!
I like that comparison....
There is the OTARD law that prohibits HOAs from disallowing the installation and use of antennas!
I had some hard and non-negotiable rules when I went house hunting, and they were deal breakers... no HOA, and no CCR (conditions covenants restrictions). I just refused to deal with it.
For sure, many people do feel like you do; understandable. Thanks for not judging me, as many people do.
Now if you have have a neighbour that also recreationally radiates, do you get intermod issues with the corroded aluminium joints in your gutter antenna? Even adjacent 3rd party structures could reradiate intermods from all these diodes.
So, yeah. Any intermod issues?
i tought there was an FCC ruling in the states that an HOA could not restrict the placement of communications antennas as well as satellite dish placement in the usa ?
CORRECT ME IF IM WRONG
How does a vehicle work as an antenna? Could you park a van or school bus or motorhome and use a metal part of it as an antenna? Body, shell, frame, etc?
With this gutter set-up, did you use any counterpoise or radials on the remote tuner?
Yes, I forgot to mention that in the video. I have ~ 60' radial that snakes around the back side of the house.
Use a multimeter to check?
So what's the HOA standing on this? IF they find it, and I going to be demanded to remove it, or is it allowed? I think I missed you mentioning that? Pretty cool either way.
The HOA will never find it unless they watch youtube. :)
...the risk I take for my subscribers : )
A wire in the ridge of the roof works well, highest point, completely stealthy, attracts lightning though.
Yep, I've used that set up a few times.
@@HOAHamRadio Are you a ham that also likes long range wifi setups? Microwave PtP wifi shot to the highest point in the region with network radio way up there = do silly things like 50kbit data across the globe and space.
Question, I'm in northern California and only RNZ International 17675 out of New Zealand comes in loud and clear. Is my long wire on my shortwave radio too long?
I have metal gutters all around my house and a corrugated metal roof. I am wondering if this might make a good antenna?
I would consider the corrugated metal roof a wild card; don't know until you give it a try.
what do you think about the signal stick antenna? compared to the military tactical folding antenna?
A Signal Stuff Signal Stick is a UHF / VHF antenna. A manpack collapsible in an HF antenna. You may need to give me more specifics....
Can I use the metal roof on my house?
It would likely receive a signal, but not be very good at radiating one...just a guess.
What bands are you operating on? I know when you made that contact was on 20 meters.
That set up is down as I've moved on to testing other antennas (which is what I do on my channel). I could work 20 and up. 40 was a challenge with my old gutter. I think if (when) I installed new gutter that was connected to a longer length, 40 would be achievable, and maybe even 80.
Thanks! I'm curious if anyone has tried to tune their birdcage?
I don't think anything metal is off limits.
Just curious but would a metal roof like on a mobile home work the same as gutters? I'm talking steel roofing panels?
Since most mobile homes are metal all around, this solution would not be a good idea.
Unfortunately the RF from the gutter antenna reeks havoc on my washing machine and trips breakers. Makes the XYL very unhappy.
Such a non-standard set up like this will have different results for different circumstances. Sorry to hear its not working in your case.
Do you have to take all this stuff down, when there is a lightning/thunder storm coming?
...my downspout and gutters that have been installed on my grounded house for 40 years?
does hoa have jurisdiction of antenna? doesnt fcc have ultimate control? fed over hoa last I checked
Because congress fails to pass legislation based on the FCC guidelines, HOA's still have control to a large degree.
A satellite Slot Antenna is pretty stealthy too.
On my long list of things I want to try; great idea.
Are Lightning Rods allowed in HOA?? Tunable Gutter Coupler, joy !! N8YLF & lifetime FCC GROL.
Hey Bob, thanks for the video. I am working on a base loaded vertical to stick out of a southern facing window at my apt. Currently tweaking and experimenting with it. I have probably 60 plus feet of gutter I am trying to figure out a way to tap into aswell. Do you think that would get out better than my buddi stick esq window base loaded vertical with a single ground wire about 12 feet off the ground?
The only way to know for sure is to try. But my opinion is the gutter with a URT-1 would be superior....
@@HOAHamRadio Thanks, I really appreciate you taking the time to reply
What is that small thing that looks like a matching unit next to the G Gabil antenna bag?
If it has a white label with Chameleon on it, its a new product to be introduced in the next few weeks. Nice catch.
why is a large portion of the video mirrored?
Yep, I noticed that after I released the video. I rarely use my gimbal / iphone combination, but did for that one scene. I used the front facing camera...and that was the result.
I could have flipped it in post edit if I was paying attention.
The real idea should be to have any HOA support owners. Write in the use of Ham into the HOA rules.
HOA Home Of Anarchy
🤪
Aren't gutters supposed to be grounded?
Would love to try a gutter antenna, though I’ve been told stucco houses (with chicken wire underneath) make this type of antenna very ineffective. Is this incorrect?
Not really! Because the GUTTERS are higher-up, the stucco won't be affecting RX and TX. If you had to operate from indoor - that would be another story!
I set up in less than ideal situations frequently; still make contacts. I think this is worth a try.
Trying to sneak a whole ham into a movie theater. Ended up here instead
Great video thanks!!! Robert K5TPC
You bet, thanks for stopping by for a look.
Remote tuner is the key to any stealth antenna from my experience.
TOTOALLY agree with this.
Unfortunately, my gutters are plastic! At 73, I just don’t trust myself on a ladder these days or I’d try running wire on or in the gutters.
You can attach a wire that is following all your gutter system and do the same!
Try aluminum tape. KE9ANL
@@Chameleon_Antenna there is already such an antenna kit, I just can't remember what the name of it is.
But isn't the banning of OTA antenna illegal by federal law? or has the internet lied to me
OTARD does protect Over The Aire RECEPTION Devices; I am receiving and transmitting with this antenna. OTARD does not protect transmission antennas.
Oh oh the HOA are coming for you. You have an unclassified black box on the side of you house. It is larger than the specified HAO Limit by 1/16" We need to know what it does, what in is for and who put it there.
LOL, that could happen.
I'm pretty sure the Supreme court ruled that satellite dishes are not allowed to be blocked by an HOA because it limits the ability to receive communications. This would be no different.
I contacted the FCC about my HOA trying to ban my antenna. The FCC told me the HOA can't ban them.
or geet a extending mobile antenna that you crank up and down and only put up when your ready to transmit do it in your backyard you can att leaves and sticks to the ariels to make it look like a tree for a bit
Unless you're not transmitting, they'll find it if they want to.
My gutter is 240 feet long, YUM
That is a great length antenna; go for it!
Showing my ignorance of the hobby - What is the "TI5" ahead of "N3KS" ?
look upTI5. A US ham operating from Costa Rica.
@@JoseArrom Thanks. I should have done that before posting. I was trying for a more general answer to my question. Since your post, I got that the TI is a U.S. ham, but haven’t figured out the “5” yet.
Its a specific region in Costa Rica. rdxa.com/oldsite/NewsLetters/Ham_radio_prefixes_24Oct06.pdf
@@HOAHamRadio Bravo! Great link.
There are folks that have used a modified string of Christmas lights.
Yes, that is a great alternative. ruclips.net/video/-NHhjj252P8/видео.html
"Stealth Ham Radio Antenna the HOA Will Never Find" unless someone posts a video about it on RUclips! 🤣
The paint will have virtually no effct on the efficiency of the antenna. Remember broadcast antenna towers are painted from bottom to top with aviation orange and white paint.
Thanks for the comment. I've heard others say paints can have metals in them and keep them off your antennas; I don't know the accuracy of the statement....
I thought the HOA can’t do anything about an antenna because it’s regulated by the FCC so why try to hide it?
ham radio antanea are exempt from hoa rules
Nah. My property. I'll have whatever I want in my yard. Even a tall antenna.
When the HOA pays my mortgage, utilities, and taxes, then, and only then can they even think about telling me what I can/can't do on my property.
The most effective way to deal with an HOA…..don’t move into one in the first place, why would you place yourself at the mercy of a group of jerks