As a matter of courtesy, I try to avoid political, religious, and money discussions over ham radio. I try to heed the advice the Irish satirist Jonathan Swift gave in 1721, “You cannot reason someone out of something he or she was not reasoned into.” Sometimes these topics, especially contentious ones, can lead to arguments that can quickly generate more heat than light. Not a pleasant experience to be involved in either as a participant or a listener. As ham radio operators, we must constantly remind ourselves when we are on the air, we are ambassadors of goodwill. Our radio emissions know no geographical boundaries. However, for us to be on the air, we need antennas from which to tickle the aether (ionosphere).
Antenna Restrictions
Radio amateurs are finding it increasingly difficult to erect even modest antennas if they live anywhere close to a metropolitan area. Sprawling subdivisions come with HOAs (homeowners associations). According to Rocket Mortgage’s definition, “Homeowners associations – HOAs for short – are private organizations that oversee the management of some residential communities. HOAs establish sets of rules and regulations called bylaws for those living in the community to follow. They’re most often found in charge of common-interest communities, such as planned neighborhoods, townhouses and multi-unit apartment buildings or condominiums,”<>. Unfortunately, ham radio operators and their antennas are not always favorably found to be
