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Author Topic: Buying a new home ... Ham advice  (Read 578 times)

KI7LFD

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Buying a new home ... Ham advice
« on: November 12, 2022, 09:01:47 AM »

My wife and I will be moving to the Chicago suburbs do to health reasons. We're both in our mid 70's and will be moving near our daughter. I haven't started to look, so I'm early in the game.

I'm hoping some of you might provide me some advice on what to buy and what not to buy. I certainly avoid a HOA and also determine if they have any local antenna restrictions.

What else should I look for?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Regards,
Gezzer Rich
KI7LFD
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W9RTB

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Re: Buying a new home ... Ham advice
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2022, 09:46:19 AM »

What part of the Chicago area?
Randy

W9RTB
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W1VT

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Re: Buying a new home ... Ham advice
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2022, 09:54:51 AM »

You may want to consider the feasibility of putting in a wheelchair ramp and making everything accessible.
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W1ITT

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Re: Buying a new home ... Ham advice
« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2022, 10:45:51 AM »

Before you sign a contract to purchase, go to the municipal office and speak directly with the code enforcement/ building inspector regarding towers and antennas. Laws and attitudes vary.    The clerks at the front desk probably aren't up to date on such matters.  Aside from HOAs which are legal requirements attached to your deed, some places have neighborhood associations.  While not legally binding, these nosy groups can sometimes make life miserable for those of us who don't live as they all do.
Take a receiver along and listen to the noise spectrum across your frequencies of interest.  If there's a local radio club, track down a few of the members and talk to them.  They may know of a good QTH coming up for sale before it even gets listed on the market.  I'll bet more than one ham is thinking of moving down south out of snow country.  Just hire a home inspector and a lawyer for the closing and skip the agent's commission.
And, being in my 70s myself, don't get a house with stairs.  They discriminate against people like us.
73 de Norm W1ITT
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W6MK

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Re: Buying a new home ... Ham advice
« Reply #4 on: November 12, 2022, 11:29:47 AM »

Urban neighborhoods are RF noisy. I'd consider this challenge above others: antenna space, etc.

Many houses with roof solar systems could be difficult. Underground electric distribution could be good.

Lots of space between houses could be good.
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KI7LFD

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Re: Buying a new home ... Ham advice
« Reply #5 on: November 12, 2022, 01:29:23 PM »

W9RTB : I'm guessing the Desplains area, which is close to my daughter.  Any where  within 10 mile would be fine.

Thanks for the question.

Regards,
Rich  KI7LFD
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W9RTB

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Re: Buying a new home ... Ham advice
« Reply #6 on: November 12, 2022, 02:40:35 PM »

I'm in Bartlett west of DesPlaines. Most of the burbs in the area are Ok with most type of antenna. Make sure the community you decide on has no HOA association. Even if it is a single family home. Might consider a ranch style there are many it that area. Drop me an email I am good on QRZ. Can fill you in on the market and local clubs/repeaters
Randy
W9RTB
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W6SWO

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Re: Buying a new home ... Ham advice
« Reply #7 on: November 12, 2022, 04:40:06 PM »

Stuff I'd look for: 
-  Trees or structures that I could run wire antennas to
-  Electrical panel in close proximity to intended station location
-  Easy access to moist soil for grounds close to station location
–  Single story layout to make it easier to run cables to antennas without having to climb very high on a ladder
-  Either a 240V outlet (sometimes already installed for jacuzzis or garage/workshop spaces) OR room on the power panel for a double sized breaker so that you have the option for an amplifier. You'd also want a short run to your station.
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K6AER

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Re: Buying a new home ... Ham advice
« Reply #8 on: November 12, 2022, 05:32:31 PM »

Noise Floor, Noise Floor and Noise floor.

Your outbound signal can be made up for with antenna gain, antenna height and Amplifiers, but if you can't hear then you can not work them.

I bought a 45 acre horse ranch in the New Mexico desert and I am hearing things on a dipole that I never heard on the 4 element beam at 105 feet.

Beside all the other recommendations make sure your wife is happy with the new QTH.


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N8AUC

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Re: Buying a new home ... Ham advice
« Reply #9 on: November 12, 2022, 10:02:42 PM »

Beside all the other recommendations make sure your wife is happy with the new QTH.

Now THAT is truly sage advice!
If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody gonna be happy!

73 de N8AUC
Eric
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AI5BC

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Re: Buying a new home ... Ham advice
« Reply #10 on: November 13, 2022, 10:00:20 AM »

My wife and I will be moving to the Chicago suburbs do to health reasons. We're both in our mid 70's and will be moving near our daughter.
I suggest you move in with your daughter or nursing home to take care of you. By your own admission you do not have the physical or cognitive skills to build and operate a radio station.
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KI7LFD

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Re: Buying a new home ... Ham advice
« Reply #11 on: November 13, 2022, 01:52:43 PM »

AI5BC: Thanks for the advice. We're planning to stay in an "Executive Apartment" for two or three months while we do our search. I plan to sell our home this spring and take an apartment close to my daughter.  Your right worrying about our health. If things don't look good, we'll go to plan "B".
I appreciate your suggestions.

Regards,
Rich  (KI7LFD)
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AI5BC

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Re: Buying a new home ... Ham advice
« Reply #12 on: November 14, 2022, 08:26:35 AM »

AI5BC: Thanks for the advice.
Rich, I do wish you the best and understand the challenges. Be honest with yourself, you are not going to dig trenches or piers, climbing up on a tower, roof of a house, and even an attic will be a challenge. So, limiting your choices to homes that can support that objective is not realistic.

That does not mean you cannot enjoy the hobby; it just means HF and DX is not in the cards for you. My Father-In-Law, RIP, was a ham had the same challenges. Have you considered VHF, UHF, and web based SDR HF? I assume the Chicago and surrounding area has numerous 2M and 70cm repeaters you can easily reach with an HT. For a little more reach have a local TV or OTA shop install a small mast for a VHF/UHF antenna above your electrical service entrance and use a mobile VHf/VHF radio.

If you enjoy listening to HF and SWL you do not have to wait or do anything, you are already set up and ready to go. Us the Web based SDR link below and start today. You will find they have superior antenna arrays scattered around the world and will give you hours of enjoyment. Very easy to use and you can master in an afternoon.

Good luck and best wishes.

http://websdr.org/
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K8AXW

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Re: Buying a new home ... Ham advice
« Reply #13 on: November 14, 2022, 09:32:51 AM »

A lotta good advice here.  One other thought.  Make sure there isn't a buncha yapping damn dogs around you!
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A Pessimist is Never Disappointed!

K7JQ

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Re: Buying a new home ... Ham advice
« Reply #14 on: November 14, 2022, 09:47:09 AM »

Hi Rich,

It depends on your "health reasons". If not physically debilitating, whereby you have trouble performing normal everyday activities, then by all means you can have success with HF operating (I see you're an Extra class). Apparently you're looking to buy a home, and not moving to a nursing home or your daughter's house. I wouldn't let anyone suggest you put one foot in the grave ;).

Others here have made good, logical suggestions on what/where to look for and I'm not familiar with the Chicago area, so I won't go into those. But you don't have to climb towers, roofs, trees, attics, or trench transmission lines, and still have workable antenna solutions. I'm in my late 70's, in remission from a lethal cancer, even live in an HOA with antenna restrictions, and I enjoy all the trappings of HF operating without any of the above mentioned supposed physical antenna installation "requirements".

Easy install: ground-mounted HF vertical antenna. And it doesn't have to be 20+ feet tall. For the last 15 years, I've been using a ground-mounted motorized screwdriver antenna that covers 10-80 meters without the need for an antenna tuner. It's a total of maximum 10 feet tall, with 6 feet of it a whip. Staple some non-resonant radials into the ground and you can have good results. You can also install it on a tripod, still without your feet leaving the ground. See Tarheelantennas.com, or Scorpionantennas.com for all kinds of install ideas. Personally, I've worked over 290 countries, decent contest scores, and nice ragchews on SSB, CW, and RTTY. I don't do FT8, but you can do a lot on that mode also. I do generally run higher power, but have had great success with 100 watts also.

Good luck with your research, and hope you can have fun on the bands when you find something satisfactory!

73, Bob K7JQ

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