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Author Topic: Alpha delta - HOA Buster  (Read 1028 times)

N3HKN

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Alpha delta - HOA Buster
« on: August 26, 2022, 06:12:23 AM »

I live in a condo complex with units side-by-side. Each unit is slab basement/garage then three floors. I have an MFJ 40/20 loaded dipole in the attic. It works, but how well is an unknown.. So, experimenting with the wallet, I bought the Alpha Delta HOA Buster. Basically, coax to a transformer,  a ground rod, a radial and a connection to the rain-spout. I was wondering if anyone has had experience with the HOA Buster?

A specific question is - The thirty foot drain pipe from the gutter, drops into a plastic pipe that moves rain water "off-property". Alpha warns about interaction with the ground at the feed point, which is the vertical drain. Capacatance to ground being an issue. Therefore, the vertical drain stuck into an underground plastic pipe system "should be" low capacitance - any comments?
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WA3CUJ

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Re: Alpha delta - HOA Buster
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2022, 06:20:30 AM »

I just received my HOA Buster and will be installing in the next few days. There is a great Facebook group dedicated to raingutter antennas. You can get a lot of help there.  Link =>  https://www.facebook.com/groups/292984397532571/
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N3HKN

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Re: Alpha delta - HOA Buster
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2022, 06:44:00 AM »

Thanks for the link to the group. Just what I needed.
Dick
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AC2RY

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Re: Alpha delta - HOA Buster
« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2022, 10:03:42 AM »

I live in a condo complex with units side-by-side. Each unit is slab basement/garage then three floors. I have an MFJ 40/20 loaded dipole in the attic. It works, but how well is an unknown.. So, experimenting with the wallet, I bought the Alpha Delta HOA Buster. Basically, coax to a transformer,  a ground rod, a radial and a connection to the rain-spout. I was wondering if anyone has had experience with the HOA Buster?

A specific question is - The thirty foot drain pipe from the gutter, drops into a plastic pipe that moves rain water "off-property". Alpha warns about interaction with the ground at the feed point, which is the vertical drain. Capacatance to ground being an issue. Therefore, the vertical drain stuck into an underground plastic pipe system "should be" low capacitance - any comments?

Did you look at option to install a vertical behind your unit? That can be made rather discrete. You also have trees in the back. Is there an option to strung wire dipole between them? This can be almost completely hidden, and you only need to dig small groove for coax from your wall out (I used to have that kind of setup in the past).
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AF5CC

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Re: Alpha delta - HOA Buster
« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2022, 10:15:43 AM »

WA3CUJ, please let us know how the HOA buster antenna works once you get it going.  Come back here and post  your results.  Same for N3HKN if you decide to go that route as well.

73 John AF5CC
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KD6VXI

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Re: Alpha delta - HOA Buster
« Reply #5 on: September 02, 2022, 05:24:13 AM »

I put up a loop when I lived in a condo.  The maintenance guys asked me what the loop of wire was running around the condo.  I explained to them that it was for my christmas lights, that it gave me something to hang them from.

Cupboard rubber coated hooks screwed into the eave, the wire hanging from them.  I had it hanging INSIDE the eave, so you couldn't see it from outside.

An open wire line coming in through a window and a balanced tuner gave me 80-10 coverage.  80 was VERY sharp tuned, but the rest of the bands was fine business.

Was so glad to get out of the HOA though.

--Shane
WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI
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W1MOW

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Re: Alpha delta - HOA Buster
« Reply #6 on: September 03, 2022, 09:03:23 AM »

Just to clarify... We are talking about the "Alpha Antennas HOA Buster", which is not made by Alpha Delta. 

https://alphaantenna.com/product/base-hf-antennas-vhf-uhf/base-vertical-antennas/hf-base-antenna-gutter-for-6-through-160-meters/

Gary W1MOW
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The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt - Bertram Russell (1935)

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WA3CUJ

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Re: Alpha delta - HOA Buster
« Reply #7 on: September 04, 2022, 04:40:22 PM »

WA3CUJ, please let us know how the HOA buster antenna works once you get it going.  Come back here and post  your results.  Same for N3HKN if you decide to go that route as well.

73 John AF5CC
Well things did not go so well. Put everything together and my coax would not fit. Had to disassemble and install a 90 degree connector. Then when I checked SWR with my 7300 at 20 watts, breakers in my main breaker box started tripping. I have 8 turns of in my coax at the feedpoint. Rain is forecast for the next several days, so I may not be able to play with this until next weekend. I did listen on 40 meters for a while and the results were less than stellar!
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N3HKN

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Re: Alpha delta - HOA Buster
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2022, 06:01:18 PM »

My Buster finally arrived - long lead time.... Assembly was easy. Drilled hole is base of downspout, inserted screw and attached the "feedline" clip. Quite acceptable SWRs. I was surprised. I expected to need my large manual tuner but 7300 handled it.The feedline lies atop a bed of vines. It is about 6 inches above the actual ground. I used the shiny "silver" giant nail as the mount/ground. About 30ft of RG58.

The only oddity was the low bands had an S7 noise level. Many signals were above it. From 18m on up the noise level was closer to S2. Need more experience with it, but for now it seems usable. The shiny stuff is in the vines and the black balun is not an attraction. Want to get WSJT-x started to get a better picture.
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N3HKN

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Re: Alpha delta - HOA Buster-noise
« Reply #9 on: September 26, 2022, 11:49:35 AM »

I have had some tie to use my Rain Gutter antenna. The receive noise remains. However, my location may NOT be suitable for this antenna. There are lots of signals above the noise so that seems to say that the antenna is working as hoped but, only the "best" signals can be heard. My attic dual band loaded dipole (40 & 20) receives similar strength signals.

Conclusion - the HOA Buster antenna does work and is quite sufficient for amateur use. However, when the "3 floor drain pipe" is less that a foot from the neighbor, and parallel to our common wall, almost any noise element is going to be an issue. The antenna does work but not here.
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KK4GMU

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Re: Alpha delta - HOA Buster
« Reply #10 on: October 01, 2022, 01:13:46 PM »

A receive-only gutter antenna wok "ok" for me.  But an MLA-30 worked better - less noisy.

I doubt that a transmit "HOA Buster"-type antenna would not work in my situation.

I live in a four unit attached single story with rain gutters on portions, but attached to metal flashing that goes around all four units-probably 1000 foot perimeter or more.  I can only imagine the RF complaints I would get.
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IC-7100, RSPdx, AT-D878UVII-Plus HT, TGIF Spot

WA3SKN

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Re: Alpha delta - HOA Buster
« Reply #11 on: October 03, 2022, 11:40:52 AM »

If there are RFI issues, just lower your power!  Many QRP contacts can be made.

-Mike.
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AI5BC

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Re: Alpha delta - HOA Buster
« Reply #12 on: October 03, 2022, 11:50:35 AM »

You can tune a lawn chair with or bicycle wheel.
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KH6AQ

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Re: Alpha delta - HOA Buster
« Reply #13 on: November 09, 2022, 04:59:24 PM »

An S7 noise level in a ~3 kHz bandwidth is not unusual. S2 on 17 meters and above it good. You can check your home for RFI sources by doing the usual radio powered by battery and flipping the breakers. In my small house I located eight RFI sources.
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