Get Your Ham Antenna Approved
Introduction
When it comes to installing an antenna for an amateur radio, many operators first consider the location of their home as their first step. Ideally, it is easier to find a home with existing antennas, and believe it or not, there are real estate agents who can help with this. However, this is not the path every operator can choose. Some rent their homes and must figure out how to get on the air at their location. Others get into radio long after already purchasing their home. So while some people are fortunate enough to live on a sizable piece of land where they can do whatever they want, others live in neighborhoods with a community association with rules and regulations.
All radio operators seek the best place on their property to install their antennas for optimal operation. Homeowner’s associations are generally viewed as an obstacle to this. However, what if there was a way to get approval?
In this article, I will share how I successfully achieved approval from my HOA. Let this serve as a simple blueprint for how you might achieve the same. I will also later provide you with another avenue of approach, which was suggested to me by an “Elmer” if your request is denied. For those reading who aren’t familiar with the term, an Elmer in the amateur radio community is a person who is another operator who is like a mentor or teacher. They can provide advice and guidance from their vast knowledge of radio. Shall we begin?
Getting Started
Getting your antenna approved by your HOA starts with looking at the language contained in your community guidelines, also known as your CC&Rs. These guidelines give you the exact information you need to get approval. Look for anything related to any type of antenna, wireless signals, building codes, or any language relating to the visibility from a neighbor’s property or common area. If there’s any language you think will apply to setting up your antenna, then you will probably need approval. If not, then you're probably okay to set one up without doing anything further.
My community’s guidelines have a "catch-all” language for any device emitting a signal in the light spectrum. This includes signals for television, wireless cameras, radios, weather stations, and anything else that emits or uses a wireless signal for transmission. Those guidelines also have language about anything visible from a common area or a neighboring property. An outdoor ham radio antenna is likely subject to both areas of the guidelines, so I addressed both in my proposal.
There should be specific guidelines for submitting requests for approval. In my community, there’s an architectural board that oversees requests. Again, each community is different, so be sure to check to see which governing body in your community is responsible for approving requests. This entity should have an application process and a person to contact. If none of these exist or the guidelines are unclear, then I suggest contacting someone on your HOA board.
Once I got the application for the process in my neighborhood, I could see the criteria they wanted. The application provided by my association has a nice form to complete. It was well-organized and easy to understand. I had to submit a drawing or picture of the location where I wanted my antenna, the type of materials to be used, a written description, a plat sketch (with the location of the antenna), and a statement I had spoken with my neighbors about the project. Pictures of the finished project had to be submitted upon completion.
My First Application
I submitted two different applications and received approval for two different antennas. The first antenna was an Ed Fong J-Pole antenna and the second was an MFJ 1984MP end fed antenna. Once I figured out where I wanted my first antenna, I took a picture of the location with my phone and used a photo editing app with a drawing feature to indicate where I wanted to install the j-pole. I made the needed edits to the picture and saved it for later. Next, I provided a written description of the project, including the type of materials I would use.
Some of you reading may or may not know that the Ed Fong J-Pole is actually what’s called a Slim Jim antenna. It’s made from the twin lead antenna material that used to be for receiving VHF and UHF analog television signals before television transmissions changed to digital. Ed's design is calibrated for VHF and UHF radio signals. The twin lead is soldiered to a coax connector through a PVC end cap. These can then be placed inside a length of thin-walled PVC and mounted. I found this to be beneficial because I passed the PVC off as a conduit and stated in the written description that I would paint it to match my house. I also stated that the antenna is the same as the old television twin lead. I wanted to supply the people reviewing the application with an accurate description of the material that comprised the antenna. I took a photo of the antenna and saved it for later. This way they could see the antenna and wouldn’t have to imagine it, removing any doubt and possibility of misidentification.
Next, I obtained the plat sketch from when my house was built and indicated where I wanted to install my antenna using a photo editor. If you don’t have an original sketch, then you may try obtaining one from the records your county keeps, or you may be able to recreate one yourself by drawing one by hand or with the help of a software program. Be sure it has the dimensions of any structures and your land and don’t forget to label where the antenna will be located.
Lastly, I spoke with my neighbors about it and indicated as much in my application. I’m unsure if other HOAs require this but mine did. After this step, I submitted my first application via email to the proper contact person on the architectural committee. I attached all the pictures and photos for the project to the email. The application had all my contact information. Within a week it was approved. After an additional week, I sent pictures of the completed installation. I was thanked for the quality of my work and clear communication.
My Second Application
The second application was about the same, except, I was installing an end fed wire antenna. Again, I took pictures and used an editing app to indicate the location. In my description, I stated that the wire was about 12 or 14 gauge in thickness and compared it to the strings of lights people hang in their backyards. After all, I was practically hanging the same thing, but without the lights.
I also stated that the thin wire would be almost invisible to the untrained eye. I described the frequency range and purpose of the antenna (for HF bands). I included the length of the wire and sent a picture of it in this application.
I emailed my application with pictures of the location, the plat sketch, and the wire antenna. Then I waited. A couple of days later, I received a response asking me a question. The architectural committee wanted to know if there were alternatives to the antenna I wished to use. After an image search on the internet for a 75 ft radio tower, I replied. I stated that I could install a vertical antenna on the top of a 75 ft tower or that I could go with an HF directional antenna. I attached pictures of those in my reply. A few days later, I received my approval.
Tips For Submission
When describing anything related to amateur radio to someone who isn’t an operator and who is on the HOA board, management company, or architectural committee, it is best to be as clear and concise as possible. Avoid using wavelengths to describe antennas because someone may conflate the wavelength with the antenna size. Use frequencies if needed to avoid confusion. Don’t leave any room for error and remember that most of the time, the person reviewing the application will not understand how the equipment works. The goal isn’t to explain how it works. The goal is to get the antenna approved so it can be installed without having to worry about ever getting harassed about it. So approach the description from the point of view of someone who knows nothing about radio and consider how to be as methodical and logical as possible.
Sell the utility and benefit of having an amateur operator in the neighborhood for emergency and backup communications. Describe the importance of communication during a community disaster or emergency. If you are part of an emergency communications group in your area, then you can include that too. I also recommend stating that any visible coax and other components like baluns can be painted to match any surface and that the remaining pieces of equipment will not be visible from a neighboring property or common area.
Application Denial
In the unfortunate event that an application is denied, there are options. Hopefully, a reason is given for the denial. Depending on what it is, addressing the reason and resubmitting for approval could be one option. Another option is to get elected to the architectural committee and then find another operator or person who is sympathetic to amateur radio to get elected to the board too. Elect enough of the right people to take over the board and submit all the applications you need for approval. One more option is to run stealth antennas that are unidentifiable to the untrained and unlicensed eye. Stealth antennas are antennas that amateur operators install that allow them to get on the air without getting approval. They are usually disguised or hidden from view. Sometimes they hide in plain sight. Ham radio operators are good at adapting to conditions and overcoming obstacles in the way of their objectives. Where there is a will, there is a way.
Conclusion
This article aims to provide some ideas about getting a radio antenna approved by the HOA. It may not always work in every case, but I believe someone else could take these ideas and use them to get their antenna approved. There’s currently a bill before the U.S. Senate to bring some relief to operators who live in restrictive associations. S.3690 is called the “Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act”. I encourage anyone reading this to take a look at it and if you support it, then contact your Senator and tell them to support this bill. There’s a similar bill being considered in the House of Representatives, called H.R. 4006, to also read. Lend your support if you agree and in the meantime, try some of the ideas I mentioned if you think they will work. Thank you for reading.
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