HOA residents approach their governing boards for all manners of requests, not just ham radio.
Saying that you signed a contract, blah blah blah is just plain ignorant and argumentative. If the board
has an avenue for a resident to make those requests, then what is the issue??
Forcing Federal legislation to allow antennas would seem to be counter productive and would put amateur radio in a bad light. Providing an amateur, or anyone for that matter, with the knowledge to successfully plead an argument to persuade the board members seems to be a logical and gentlemanly means to an end.
I am saying that if the ARRL intends to continue fighting for Federal preemption I think they are making a mistake and should have taken a more amical route that avoids conflicts. Certainly hams have been able to install antennas in HOAs by asking permission and making a reasoned argument and asking for a reasonable wavier that would not upset the HOA standards, as have others for other needs or desires besides ham radio.
I think telling hams to go stealth is evading the contract and breaking that covenant. It would be better to have permission to install that stealth antenna in the first place.
And I would point out that some responders on here need to read the site manager's rules regarding comments.
W1BR,
First, I saw your qrz.com page, and wow...impressive! Quite a collection, and brings back memories of ham radio of yesteryear.
Now, as a resident of three HOA/CC&R antenna restricted communities in the last 29 years, I feel I'm somewhat qualified to comment on your above post.
With all due respect, I'm sure your intentions are noble, but I believe you're a little naive in your thinking. Do you now or have you ever lived in such a community? Signing a contract (blah, blah, blah) is *not* "just plain ignorant and argumentative". You are subject to sanctions and legal remedies if you break the rules. Yes, if the language of a CC&R states something like.. "[subject] is prohibited,unless approved by the Architectural Committe", there is an avenue to plead your case for approval. And yes, there's a *possibility* that you could gain approval from an understanding and liberal HOA committee. But I'd be willing to bet that such a possibility is in the overwhelming minority. Achieving approval for putting decorative stone facing on the front of your house, or beautiful landscaping, is quite different from erecting a visible ugly metal structure or wires and cables in the backyard. As I said in a previous post, neighbors don't want to see that stuff, or have it fall on their property. And the HOA generally decides on that premise.
In all three of my communities, I've tried your suggestion, and amicably applied for "logical and gentlemanly" permission to erect a (in my opinion) nondescript vertical or dipole in the backyard, only to be denied each time. One being a nasty "CEASE and DESIST" order...before I even put it up! I'm sorry, but sometimes it's better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission.
Now understand, I fully knew the CC&R restrictions before I bought, but large antennas are not my priority in life. I happen to love where I now live, don't have a problem with all the other CC&R regulations, and I abide by them. Using stealth attic dipoles and non-visible outside ground and fence-mounted motorized screwdriver antennas, I'm able to enjoy my hobby, and the HOA and neighbors have no clue. If I'm "caught" (and it's been 19 years), I'll deal with it at such time. They issue a warning first, and you're not fined or taken to court unless you don't remedy the violation within their specified amount of time.
As far as abiding by the site manager's rules, I'm not telling people to avoid HOA communities per se. There's nothing wrong with living in one. But, again, if visible antennas are your priority, I'd advise you to look elsewhere. An HOA is powerless to grant CC&R waivers if you don't live there. Once you sign on the dotted line, you take a chance with antenna approval.
Just one person's experience.
Bob K7JQ