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Author Topic: Ham radio friendly counties in Tennessee  (Read 842 times)

AF6D

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Ham radio friendly counties in Tennessee
« on: December 29, 2020, 01:18:28 AM »

I currently live in the mountains of Southern California 2 hours East to Los Angeles at an altitude of 6500 feet. I sit on the southernmost Ridge which means I have access visually and radio wise to all of Southern California from well east of Palm Springs, South down into Mexico, and West into Ventura County. My location is a saddle and I also see the desert side and cover 3/4 of the high desert with my 2 meter repeater. I am in an excellent location - just happens to be under two feet of snow.

Besides the snow which I actually love, I'm fed up with California. Please save the shots at me for living in California. My family brought me here as a child and after the military I came back to my family. As an adult's in his 60s now I hate it. There are not enough words to describe my hatred of this godforsaken state. I'd like to move to Tennessee preferably or either of the Carolinas. Tennessee seems to do better tax-wise which means my money will go further. I'm self-employed and I don't have a big 401k.

I don't want to fight with anybody about putting up a hundred foot Tower. Can anyone suggest a ham friendly County in Tennessee preferably or even in the Carolinas? If I were to go to the Carolinas at be drawn to the coast but I don't like hurricanes and what they do to expensive antennas. I know that hurricanes make it to Tennessee because I was stationed in Alabama and they rolled right on through and up on into. I'm not naive. But I'm tired of having to go out and brush the snow off the DirecTV dish just to watch TV. I'm tired of the taxes and the lockdowns the rest of the crap that goes with living here. Yeah, I have a great QTH! People would die to live at this altitude with the view that I have.

So where can I move to and pick up 5 to 10 acres any decent home and not get hassled about putting up a 130 foot tower?

I value your input. I've got to get out of here. The isolation and loneliness is killing me.

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NA4IT

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Re: Ham radio friendly counties in Tennessee
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2020, 03:40:04 AM »

McMinn County. Athens TN is the seat. Lots of land, close to three rivers, and short drives to the mountains.
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K1KIM

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Re: Ham radio friendly counties in Tennessee
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2020, 05:40:42 AM »

I will tell you......you are in for quite a bit of culture shock!

There are so many places you can move to. The list is endless.
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So Many Toys.......So Little Time!

K0UA

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Re: Ham radio friendly counties in Tennessee
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2020, 07:18:26 AM »

Long story short, Any of the "flyover states" like the one I live in (Missouri) there usually aren't any county regulations about putting up your 130 foot tower as long as you stay away from the big cities. Don't move into some HOA suburb, just buy some land and it is understood you can put up as big of a tower as you can afford. FAA regulations of course apply. So don't buy anywhere near an airport. Even where I live here within spitting distance of the city limits of Branson, Mo. I can put up what ever I want. There is no HOA in my suburb, and I am out of the city limits, so I can use firearms or pee off of the porch, But one has to be careful with the firearms and have a good backstop as we are pretty built up here. You are so used to living under restrictions, you don't know that in the freedom loving parts of the USA it goes without saying you can put up a tower or shoot your pistol, unless you live in one of the built up areas. So get some farm or wooded mountain land and do what you want. You have nothing to worry about.
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73  James K0UA

WA9AFM

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Re: Ham radio friendly counties in Tennessee
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2020, 07:19:12 AM »

May I offer for your consideration, Oklahoma.  Very amateur radio friendly, low cost of living, low taxes, several major military installations (presumed you are retired military), excellent schools, and two standout college football teams to cheer for (I'll grant you OSU hasn't had a great year, but they'll be back).
« Last Edit: December 29, 2020, 07:24:20 AM by WA9AFM »
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W4HRC

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Re: Ham radio friendly counties in Tennessee
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2020, 09:27:50 AM »

Contact my friend and fellow ham Mike, W1ELK at Southern Homes Realty or visit their website at https://www.thesouthernhomes.com/

73,
Reed, W4HRC
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KF5LJW

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Re: Ham radio friendly counties in Tennessee
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2020, 09:41:31 AM »

Might look at Texas. Land and housing is cheap and no state income taxes. What ever kind of climate you want is there. Just stay away from Austin the Left Coast Island. Just don's tell anyone your are a calaphonie.  ;D In Austin they might make you the mayor if you promise to shut biz down and fight to start state income taxes.
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NA4M

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Re: Ham radio friendly counties in Tennessee
« Reply #7 on: December 29, 2020, 10:07:57 AM »

Might look at Texas. Land and housing is cheap and no state income taxes.

No personal disrespect to the OP - but please fly-over Texas.  We're getting full already - especially those escaping from CA.    :D
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N4UM

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Re: Ham radio friendly counties in Tennessee
« Reply #8 on: December 29, 2020, 10:47:32 AM »

Of course, be sure to talk to an experienced real estate attorney before buying anywhere.
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AF6D

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Re: Ham radio friendly counties in Tennessee
« Reply #9 on: December 30, 2020, 05:30:53 AM »

I will tell you......you are in for quite a bit of culture shock!

There are so many places you can move to. The list is endless.

LOL. Not really. I have family in Florida. I think they should mount homes on pontoons so that after a hurricane you just have to change your zip code. ;D I have been stationed in Texas, Arkansas, Alabama and Georgia. I was TDY to both Carolina's. I WANT the change!!!! Them accepting me will be more of a concern. ;D

I'll be OK y'all. It ain't nuthin' but geography. I live in a small town isolated in the mountains, so a slow pace is what I'm used to. We even have to go to the post office to get our mail.

73
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AF6D

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Re: Ham radio friendly counties in Tennessee
« Reply #10 on: December 30, 2020, 06:55:01 AM »

I want to give a shout out to all of you! Your pleasant and non-judgemental replies prove to me that the south hasn't changed much. I AM ex-military and law enforcement. I am 100% disabled now at age 60. For the first time I had to call a snow removal company to dig me out. We got 2-3 feet of nice powder snow in one night. Just give me 5-20 acres and I'll make due

I'd love to read more ideas.

BTW, I LOVED Austin. On payday weekends we'd make the drive, hit a strip club near the college or a regular bar and the college girls loved us.  8)
« Last Edit: December 30, 2020, 06:57:56 AM by AF6D »
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NA4IT

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Re: Ham radio friendly counties in Tennessee
« Reply #11 on: December 31, 2020, 04:31:59 AM »

Contact my friend and fellow ham Mike, W1ELK at Southern Homes Realty or visit their website at https://www.thesouthernhomes.com/

73,
Reed, W4HRC

I agree. Mike and his wife both can help you! Good friends, and good people.
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KA2DRE

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Re: Ham radio friendly counties in Tennessee
« Reply #12 on: January 02, 2021, 07:09:15 AM »

    Cumberland County in TN has an active amateur radio club.  Just avoid developments with HOA's.  You can do what you wish with your property, but be aware of what that entails.  Crossville markets itself as the golf capital of TN, as it has 10 golf courses, but much of the county is rural.  Located midway between Knoxville and Nashville, the winters are mild and the summers are less sticky due to the nearly 2000' elevation of the plateau.
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W1VT

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Re: Ham radio friendly counties in Tennessee
« Reply #13 on: January 02, 2021, 07:46:26 AM »

Many hams don't have an heir who wants a tower farm so you may want to approach hams who already have towers up and inquire as to whether or not they would be willing to sell their property.  I was approached by a ham who wanted to sell his contest station but I didn't feel like making the daily commute across the bridge....
He did what he set out to do with regard to ham radio and was refocusing his attention to raising a family.

Zak W1VT
« Last Edit: January 02, 2021, 07:48:37 AM by W1VT »
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WB4MDX

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Re: Ham radio friendly counties in Tennessee
« Reply #14 on: January 25, 2021, 03:11:00 PM »

Tennessee is a long and varied state for elevation, mountains, lakes, rivers that can limit certain types of ham operations.  If you love HF operations, anywhere is great.  If you love VHF/UHF operations, there are many mountain areas.  Trying to work long distance SSB UHF in the eastern Tennessee valley Region is more challenging, but there are numerous repeaters.  Know what type of activity can help you plan.  If you have a lot of serious health issues, you may wish to live no more than 45 minutes from a larger city.  Small county ERs may not handle serious issues without air lifting you to a major city.  Stay out of flood areas!  The Cumberland plateau is good, but it gets more snow and ice. Trees are a plus if you don’t want to deal with tower maintenance.  Land is going up in value fast here.  Just don’t bring high tax ideas with you.  We welcome common sense and smiles of freedom.  Finding good home remodeling help is more difficult in the rural areas. Been here since 87 from SC. 
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