On Jan 22, 12:50 am, Jeffrey D Angus wrote:

Do we all have to act like having an FCC grant (license)
somehow makes us above the law?

Sooner or later, the homeowner associations are going to
catch on about bird houses, flag poles and the like and
just simply write into the rules, "No transmitting or
receiving equipment."

And we'll have brought it on ourselves by constantly showing
our inability to follow the rules.

I believe that the stealth concept has some problems. The main one is
that it sort of creates civil criminals, at least in our case.
But for my money, if the homeowners association says no antennas, then
it's no antennas.

I live in a thoroughly modern neighborhood, and we don't have antenna
restrictions, except for a radius-drop tower restriction - not that a
tower is likely to fall that way. NIce well kept houses, and the Ham
radio folks all get along with their more normal neighbors. My
neighbors actually like to watch my antics.

But here is the clue to the whole thing. Either don't live in a
neighborhood with antenna restrictions, or if you have deep pockets
and want to be a nuisance, get a lawyer and sue. I know that some are
going to say "You can't find a development like that. Park Forest,
just north oh State College PA begs to differ. No HOA either. Most
respectfully, anyone who lives in a development with an HOA just has
to know that restrictions are part of the package, even if some seem
arbitrary and even capricious. The restrictions allow the tenants to
feel superior. We have one in our area that does not allow any outside
decorations or drying clothes outdoors. I think you have to agree to
keep your garage door shut at all time (except for ingress and
egress) Point is, don't live there.

Side note. I was doing a public service bike-hike ride support. part
of it went on a township road through one of those neighborhoods.
Suddenly a van pulls up and a guy hops out. "What are you doing here?"
he says. The YL who was manning the station was a little concerned -
it looked almost like an abduction. Anyhow, we explained the bike ride
we were helping with. He wanted to know why, as the President of the
local Homeowners association, he wasn't informed or asked permission
to do this. Then he said he was doing to call the police. At that
point, I took out my cell phone, and said Fine, I'll even help, Ken
(yes I knew him). I'm going to call the Police, the Charity we're
doing this for, the newspaper and the local radio stations. Still want
to do this thing? He thought better of it, got back in the van, and
left.

Point is, if you live in such a neighborhood, that is what you get.
Don't live in such places if you want to enjoy Ham radio, there are
people who want to control your personal life