I'm not saying anything. I asked a question.
I've heard that you're supposed to get a permit before constructing a
tower, even in the country. Is that true? I have no idea.
A permit is just a piece of paper. I don't really care about it because
it probably doesn't matter. What does matter is whether or not you took
appropriate care in the design of your tower and antenna. Truth be
told, I don't really care about that, either, but you should. Look, the
human race has spent many hundreds of years figuring out how to make
tall things that don't fall over. To that end, techniques have been
established for constructing towers (just to pick an example at random)
that aren't likely to fall over except under the most extreme
circumstances. If you don't know what conditions would cause your tower
to fall, then you should find that out and determine if those conditions
are likely to happen. I happen to know a fellow who did not take proper
care building a tower and antenna system very much like yours and his
tower fell over and damaged his house. I wouldn't want to be that guy.
Another understanding I have is that there are legal requirements for
setbacks and such that are intended to make sure that your tower can't
harm your neighbors even in the event of a failure. Part of the
permitting process is to make sure all such legal requirements are met.
Meeting those requirements can help keep you out of trouble should bad
things occur. You may not be able to move to someplace that doesn't
have an HOA, but you probably can choose a house that has a yard big
enough to hold a modest tower.
Neal, please don't take this the wrong way. I'm not saying that you did
anything wrong. I'm mostly writing to the other people who might be
reading this and thinking about putting up a tower. If this is you,
please get some help if you don't know what you're doing. Actually, I
think you should probably get some help even if you do. A second pair
of eyes can make for some cheap reassurance, and a second set of hands
will definitely make the work easier.
On 3/31/2022 10:45 AM, Neal Naumann via BVARC wrote:
I would plead Ingorance to permits. I grew up in "the country " . I
never heard of getting a permit to do stuff. I just do it.
Are you saying I need a permit to put up a TV antenna? I imagine I
will look for direction if that is the case. But not until it seems
to really matter.
Neal N5EN
Get Outlook for Android <https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* BVARC <bvarc-boun...@bvarc.org> on behalf of Jonathan Guthrie,
KA8KPN via BVARC <bvarc@bvarc.org>
*Sent:* Thursday, March 31, 2022 10:17:26 AM
*To:* Neal Naumann via BVARC <bvarc@bvarc.org>
*Cc:* Jonathan Guthrie, KA8KPN <ka8...@ka8kpn.org>
*Subject:* Re: [BVARC] masts & towers
Did you permit the project to erect a tower and antenna?
On 3/31/2022 9:41 AM, Neal Naumann via BVARC wrote:
A TV antenna is permitted by law (which was drafted by the
advertisers running ads on the over the air television stations).
My Hygain TH-3JRS is is TV antenna. 33 feet is a height I require
for good reception.
A flagpole is permitted by law. If you choose to run a wire to it is
your choice.
73,
Neal N5EN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* BVARC <bvarc-boun...@bvarc.org>
<mailto:bvarc-boun...@bvarc.org> on behalf of Jeff Greer via BVARC
<bvarc@bvarc.org> <mailto:bvarc@bvarc.org>
*Sent:* Thursday, March 31, 2022, 9:16 AM
*To:* BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB <bvarc@bvarc.org>
<mailto:bvarc@bvarc.org>
*Cc:* Jeff Greer <gree...@hotmail.com> <mailto:gree...@hotmail.com>
*Subject:* Re: [BVARC] masts & towers
Well, my CC&Rs are not vague - they say explicitly no antennas unless
we're required to allow the antenna by law. Having said that, I
already have an antenna for HF. There will be one for VHF and UHF.
The question is about how to build it...
I think I've settled on doing the tetherball base. Now I just need
to figure out if it will be a push up mast, a crank up mast, a tilt
over mast, or some combination, and I need to figure out what to make
it out of... Lighter is better, I think, as it'll be less likely to
cause damage should it ever blow over (or get knocked over). I may
put this thing between my house and the neighbor's house, and I don't
want it breaking stuff. I was looking at carbon fiber telescoping
masts last night, and that may be a good option. They're pricey,
which I'm not thrilled about, but they are supposedly
stronger/stiffer than aluminum.
-j
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* Neal Naumann <n...@outlook.com> <mailto:n...@outlook.com>
*Sent:* Thursday, March 31, 2022 7:05 AM
*To:* BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB <bvarc@bvarc.org>
<mailto:bvarc@bvarc.org>
*Cc:* Jeff Greer <gree...@hotmail.com> <mailto:gree...@hotmail.com>
*Subject:* Re: masts & towers
If you attend any area Hamfest with an ARRL forum, John Stratton
N5AUS (ARRL board member and civil trial attorney) will tell you that
an HOA is no excuse for putting up an antenna. He can feed you
ammunition if there is an issue with your HOA.
My HOA has a vague statement about antennas 10 ft higher than the
highest point on my house. With that in mind and a "it's better to
ask forgiveness than permission " attitude, for the past 20 years I
have had antennas up to 20 ft in height attached yp my chimney.
This past year I got tired of dealing with my extension ladder and
put four sections of Motorola/ Rohn 35 in the ground about 6 feet.
So that's about 34 feet above ground. I recently came across a good
deal on a Hygain TH-3JRS and I also have a 4 element 2 meter beam
side mounted.
I have never received a complaint... except for grass growing in the
sidewalk cracks.
I also converted my 10 meter 5/8 wave Siro Toronado to a 30 meters
and it's mounted on a 10 ft pole, so that's also about 35' to the
top. My 12 meter diy vertical is also at about 30 feet. I'm working
on a 60 meter vertical that will use an insulated push-up pole that
will be about 43' high.
According to N5AUS, all property owners in the United States are
guaranteed the right to display Ol' Glory. That flag pole can be 33
feet tall and have coax attached.
I hate stupid rules and enjoy pushing the limits. Some people drive
the speed limit - I never have.
For those that say "don't buy a house in a HOA" - I challenge you to
purchase a (decent and reasonably priced) house in the Houston area,
in an acceptable school district, and close to work, that's not in an
HOA.
73,
Neal N5EN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* BVARC <bvarc-boun...@bvarc.org>
<mailto:bvarc-boun...@bvarc.org> on behalf of Jeff Greer via BVARC
<bvarc@bvarc.org> <mailto:bvarc@bvarc.org>
*Sent:* Wednesday, March 30, 2022, 3:02 PM
*To:* BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB <bvarc@bvarc.org>
<mailto:bvarc@bvarc.org>
*Cc:* Jeff Greer <gree...@hotmail.com> <mailto:gree...@hotmail.com>
*Subject:* [BVARC] masts & towers
Hi, BVARC!
I'm curious as to what others are doing for masts/towers. I'm in an
HOA ("no antennas") with a tiny little yard. Nobody has complained
so far about my homebrew "DX Commander" style fan vertical, which
looks like a 31' jackite pole (because that's pretty much what it is,
with some 3d-printed wire spreaders). I was holding that up w/ a 5'
piece of 3/4 copper water pipe driven halfway into the ground. Worked
for several months, but the wind finally bent the pipe. I have some
5' electrical conduit that looks a little tougher, but I may resort
to guying. The metal inside the bottom of the fiberglass pole, I
suspect, interferes with my 10m element, anyway...
I'm also wanting to put my Ed Fong DBJ-1 (which looks like a 5' PVC
pipe) up with the feedpoint 25-30'. I picked up a couple of old
tires, and I'm thinking of filling one with concrete (think
tetherball pole) and mounting a couple of pieces of angle iron in the
concrete, so I can drill holes, put some sort of mast between them,
and make a "tilt over" base/hinge for the mast. Has anybody built a
self-supporting (non-guyed) 30 foot mast out of, say, some sort of
stock from Home Depot/Lowe's? The internet has lots of stories about
using chain link fence top rail (10' sections), but most say that 2
of those (20') is all you join before it gets super wobbly. Would
love to use some sort of square tube - maybe nesting sections - but
not sure where to get 10' sections, and not sure aluminum would be
strong enough or steel would be light enough...
Anyway, that's where I am. I thought I'd float this out there to
benefit from the experience of those who have been there and done
that. Hope y'all can help me come up with something that will work
while avoiding poor choices that could cause damage or hurt somebody.
Thanks!
-Jeff, W5JEF
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