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antenna construction
In article ,
Michael Coslo wrote: Thanks Cecil, but I can't have any flag poles. 73's Good lord, what kind of neighborhood won't allow a flagpole? Unpatriotic creeps? A "planned" community, with a strict set of CC&Rs, enforced by a homeowner's association whose board has an extremely anal attitude towards any variation at all in the community's planned appearance scheme? Sounds like you need to get PRB-1 in your corner. Essentially, they cannot stop you from erecting *something*, you have the right to an antenna. PRB-1 applies only to governmental restrictions (e.g. city and county zoning rules). Unfortunately, it does not apply to CC&Rs (codes, covenants, and restrictions) which are written into the title of a home or other piece of property. Legally, these are part of the contract of sale of the property - they're a private agreement between seller and buyer, and are not implemented or enforced by the local government. Hams have asked the FCC to rule that PRB-1 overrides such CC&Rs. The FCC has declined to do so, on the grounds that it doesn't have the legal authority - Congress *could* have written/extended PRB-1 to override such CC&Rs, but chose not to do so. See http://www.eham.net/articles/16368 for one story on this aspect of the problem. Unfortunately for hams, antenna-restrictive CC&Rs are quite common in newer communities and are becoming even more so. I've heard that in some areas, they're almost (but not quite) a legal fact-of-life, in that lenders won't provide financing for the construction of the community in the first place unless the builder includes a fairly stiff set of CC&Rs in the plans (to "preserve the aesthetics and value of the community" I suppose). I believe I read an article a few months ago about legislation which specifically overrides CC&Rs to the extent of allowing the flying of a United States flag, but I can't recall the details... and I don't think it would necessarily have allowed a long vertical flagpole. There *is* one possible "out" with regard to antennas and CC&Rs, although it does not involve PRB-1. Instead, it uses the OTARD (Over-The-Air Reception Devices) rule (47 C.F.R. Section 1.4000), which specifically allows the installation of television, direct- broadcast-satellite, and "fixed wireless" antennas. This rule *does* override CC&R restrictions, as well as local zoning restrictions. It's not unlimited - mast height is limited to 12 feet, dish size is limited to 1 metre, the override applies only to antennas installed in an "exclusive use" part of the property (i.e. not in shared areas), and there can be *some* restrictions on placement in limited cases. In general, though, you're allowed to put up a TV antenna, and cannot be hit with restrictions which materially increase your costs in doing so or make the job significantly more difficult. The rule doesn't apply to ham antennas. However, there's at least one company (Force 12, I believe), which makes an antenna that can serve a dual purpose - it's a shortened, center-fed-and-loaded (I think) HF vertical, and also can serve as a TV reception antenna. Another possible option would be to put up an *insulated* 12-foot mast pipe with a standard TV log-periodic antenna at the top, run a set of radials along the roof, and feed it at the base with an antenna tuner. You might add some switchable base-loading coils, or even figure out some way to relay-jumper the log-periodic at the top to the mast so that it acts as a capacity hat. As long as you *do* use the antenna for TV reception, I believe it'd be covered by the OTARD preemption, even if you also use it occasionally for ham-band use. [Just remember to disconnect the TV feed system before keying up!!!] See http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html for details. -- Dave Platt AE6EO Friends of Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads! |
#2
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antenna construction
Dave Platt wrote:
In article , Michael Coslo wrote: Thanks Cecil, but I can't have any flag poles. 73's Good lord, what kind of neighborhood won't allow a flagpole? Unpatriotic creeps? A "planned" community, with a strict set of CC&Rs, enforced by a homeowner's association whose board has an extremely anal attitude towards any variation at all in the community's planned appearance scheme? Time to find a different place to live in. I live in a modern development in which the only restrictions are that you keep the house presentable, and the lawn mowed. There are some restrictions on tower height and fall radius, but I could put one up. Homeowners association = evil, bad, ptui! Right there is the first clue that people shouldn't even consider living in a neighborhood. Really, there are other options. - 73 de Mike N3LI - |
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