On Fri, 21 Nov 2003 10:37:02 -0800, "A.Pismo Clam"
wrote:

... I have not read the document in question, but it does sound too
good to be true.

Such feelings are generally indications of dreaming.

In essence he says that the:

"...[Federal] government will defend your right to crawl up on the roof
and put up a BIG, HONKING antenna..."

The government will DO NOTHING! Which means you won't get arrested.
The converse notion of their helping is dreaming in technicolor.

Want to know how? Here is the URL:

www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

Now you may have to prove to "the opposition" that the antenna you have
erected can indeed receive "local" television stations, but that should
not be that difficult to do...

Hi Pismo,

Big honkin' antennas? This completes the picture with dreaming in
surround-sound:
(1) A "dish" antenna that is one meter (39.37") or less in diameter
(2) An antenna that is one meter or less in diameter or diagonal measurement
(3) ... Masts higher than 12 feet above the roofline
may be subject to local permitting requirements.

Such interpretation of the law, while asleep, has created a vast
culture of lawyers who are willing to do follow-up work.

The trick is to design your antenna to within the law.
1. Choose the highest point of your roof line and erect the allowed
12
foot mast;
2. Place suitable dish or simple TV antenna (remember, local means no
40 element booms);
3. Run your favorite coax STRAIGHT UP (as nearly you can) to the top;
4. Ground to radial system and AC earth ground at bottom;
5. Gamma match to coax shield at the bottom (hidden).

Antenna does not have to be functional. It only needs to look
functional (do not point at the northern star, Polaris, for example).
If it is functional, you may need to provide for a choke at the
feedpoint to the antenna (to separate the two functions - your hobby
from your TV). Try to place this effort away from major home
interference sources (TV's and computer monitors, fish tanks,
fluorescent fixtures, and so on).

To extend the service frequencies in the HF region (because the mast
is still too short), then add guy wires attached at the top
electrically and physically, which are insulated about halfway down
with egg type insulators, or use rope the rest of the way to ground.
This top-load skirt may also serve as the choke, but don't count on it
without figuring in the time to experiment and confirm.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC