I think most of these antennas previouslymentioned need ground planes.  I have a semi-stealth set of verticals but I don't have access to the ground so I used resonant radials, mostly under my deck.  Over 200 Arrl entities worked in three years and over 100 worked on 80, 40, 30, 20 17, 15 and 10, mostly with 100 watts or less.  My biggest problem is my uncooperative neighbors tv set.

See:  http://vibrotek.com/w5dc/w5dcant.html

73, Dunc, W5DC

What portion of the US hams actually read this bulletin board and others.  The FCC doesn't require it.

Dunc, W5DC

What part of Public Service do you "hams" not understand.  We have available and use parts of the radio spectra because we, at least some of us, act in or are available to act in, the public interest in various situations.  We have a situation where short sighted hoa boards are allowed to severely impair our ability to act as may be needed.  The government doesn't allow us use the spectra because it wants us to have fun.  We aren't given use of the spectra just to have an interesting toy.

In my case, the hoa is dominated by by real estate agents whose company manages the complex.  Say "Greed, ignorance, stupidity."  It is not reasonable to expect us to provide the capability for emergency communications without the ability to practice and use this capability.  In most countries, hams are valued.

In my case, I've worked on emergency communications in hurricanes and in teaching new and prospective hams.  Locally, hams provide support for forest fire control among other public services.

Get  a grip, guys.  

Dunc, W5DC  

In many areas, there are substantial elements of monopoly of home availability.  In addition, children are precluded from having outdoor antennas based on decisions based on what their parents chose before they were born. Some hoas are absurdly rigid, even to extent of barring simple 2 meter antennas.  My hoa granted me permission to have one semi-stealth antenna but they've threatened to force removal without legitimate justification because of one neighbor's bogus complaint about something else.  Permission apparently may be revoked after three years on a whim, although their rules state nothing about retraction of permission.  Their rules also state no outside antennas of any sort; now tv antennas are excluded.   

The FCC's point, as was Homeland Security's point in an earlier bill that passed the US House of Representatives, is banning ham radio is not in the public interest for many reasons.  Maybe the FCC is finally getting around to doing its job.

Dunc, W5DC

I have a 1B which I purchased to deal with a neighbors plasma tv.  It works.  I did need get the AM broadcast band filter because of overload from two nearby broadcast stations.  It also can help to pull very weak dx stations out of the "mud".

Dunc, W5DC

Back roughly 50 years ago. stores used to give S&H green stamps as a bonus for purchases.  S&H had catalogs of "gifts" that could be purchased with these green stamps.  There's a metal folding  table on my patio purchased you kids with these green stamps by my wife almost fifty years ago.  The practice of including currency in envelopes for return postage was referred to as including green stamps.

Don't you kids know anything?

:-))
Dunc, W5DC

A PS.  TVI is not a problem.  I have a K3 and a KPA500 amp and I and my neighbors all have cable.  

Some plasma set manufacturers will repair or replace the bad sets under warranty but that doesn't help if the neighbor won't co-operate.


Dunc, W5DC

I live in a townhouse with an hoa.  They require their permission for antennas which I got for one antenna  which is a wire short vertical set including an inverted L for 80.  I can't put radials in the ground so I use a single elevated radial.  The main impediment to dxing here is interference from TV sets.  I have one neighbor with a plasma set who also has a bad attitude, part of her generally lousy personality.

http://vibrotek.com/w5dc/w5dcant.html

73, Dunc, W5DC

When you replace it, buy an LG washer.  LG seems to be aware of rfi problems and designs their products accordingly.

Dunc, W5DC

I heard him on calling several stations this morning who  couldn't hear his call.  Working split probably who have at least  doubled their contact rate.  No, I didn't work them.  My neighbor turned on her plasma set at the grey line peak.

73, Dunc, W5DC

Copperweld wire is very springy and can produce major tangles if its not handled properly.  I grew up on a farm and handled steel bailing wire and knew what to expect when I installed my current antenna two years ago.

Dunc, W5DC

You may find that a high pass filter on the cable going to the cable box disables the box controls.  I think my comcast box uses control signals around 10 MHz.

Dunc, W5DC

LG seems to put effort in making their other product like washers and dryers rfi free.

Dunc, W5DC

I replaced the Samsung monitor with an LG and the problem went away, even when increased transmit power to 500+ watts from thirty watts.
Dunc, W5DC

105 countries worked on in 13 months with 100 watts from  Colorado with a similar antenna doesn't seem like a terrible disappointment to me with 105 to 130 countries worked from on 80 through 15 which is what I worked from a townhouse with hoa.

Dunc, W5DC