Can you be an active Ham with a house/apartment/condo that has antenna restrictions where you have to hide or use inside antennas?
The short answer is YES YOU CAN!
I would like to share some items if any of you are in a situation that you think you can not enjoy Ham Radio because you are in restricted areas. This is a big issue for many Hams or folks that might want join in and become more involved as Ham Radio Operators. Those that might be interested but think they can not participate I think at times just disregard trying because they might have restricted issues (you don't have to have a tower/antenna farm to be involved!). There are for sure items of compromise that you will have to deal with but I have done some playing over the years just to prove to myself that yes I could operate under restricted conditions.
Here are a few items of compromise and concerns you will have to take into account when operating with restrictions (there are others..but got to keep it short).
- Antenna compromises - you will not have the strongest signal on the band for the most part (unless the band is wide open) and will most the time be working under weak signal conditions using simple antennas and low power. On HF you can use some simple antennas that work well but will have little gain factors to them....you will also want multiband capabilities......on VHF/UHF you can surely find a spot almost anywhere for a small J-pole/loop/Yagi to work a few station or hit FM repeaters in your area. There are many ways to hide an antenna.....keep it in the attic.......paint the antenna if it is outside to blend in with it's surroundings......use some HF or VHF/UHF loops and make it look like a vine or bird feeder of sorts.......use a flag pole....lots of ways to work around all this.
- RFI issues - if you have close neighbors (apartment/condo owners) you will have to understand RFI interference not only to your own electronic equipment but to others nearby. With antennas low to the ground or inside you almost are certain to run into problems if you do not run lower power...keep RFI issues in mind! Always operate in a fasion not to cause your own electronic equipment (phones,TV/VCRs/stereo,PC, etc) any problems then you can almost be certian others are having no problems either. The best way to not cause problems is have your antennas as far away from other electroinc equipment as possible and then run the lowest power possible to make some contacts yet not bother anyone (QRP at 5w is a great way to operate Ham Radio....it is a fun challenge to many that don't even have restrictions!)
- Power and mode limitations - Keep in mind that just because you might have to limit your power does NOT mean you will not make any contacts! I must say that there is a thrill to running low power and there are thousands of QRP operators ouit there Hamming it up everyday.......and YES they do make contacts! Your mode of operation makes a difference also and SSB/voice is not always doable with power limitations but when you get to weaksignal work you will want to try CW or use computer soundcard digital modes like PSK31 for example. I think you might just be amased at the number of contacts you can make on just CW and PSK31 using QRP 5w of power and simple wires on HF. On VHF depending on your location and the distance of repeaters and other operators in your area you might have no problems running lower power to make many local VHF/UHF contacts also.
Is there any advantages to operating restricted?
- You will most like learn how to operate weaksignal work and experiment more with different modes, wattage, bands, and antennas.
- Satisfaction of actually making contacts with maybe lower power and simple confined antennas
- If you do operate with antennas inside your attic or the like you will have no problems of weather related antenna issues like those with outside antennas (wind, ice, corrosion etc)
- CW and digital modes (PSK31,RTTY,HELL etc) are addicting and I think well worth learning about
- There are thousands of Hams that have this very subject in common with you and can share experiences
- Many QRP clubs to join
Just a few links on QRP or Digital....and there are hundreds!! .....links:
www.aintel.bi.ehu.es/psk31.html psk31.com/
www.qsl.net/wm2u/psk31.html www.packetradio.com/psk31.htm www.qrparci.org/ www.fix.net/~jparker/norcal.html www.qrpworld.com/ www.alltel.net/~johnshan/col_ss_052.html members.iglou.com/olyellr/qrpdxcc.htm
http://www.mtechnologies.com/pubs/qrp.htmHere are some antenna ideas that worked for me and I have had good success with them. If you are a budget minded Ham then please try the homebrew ones that are cheaper to make and if money is of no concern then the commercial ones next (but remember that homebrew can work as good or better at times and cost much less if you have a good junk box of materials). Here are a few restricted antenna ideas....I have only a few links but there are hundreds...links:
-Attic dipoles, J-poles, Beams
-Tree dipoles, J-poles, Beams
-Painted Verticals
-Painted Beams
-Wire loops
-Isoloops/MFJ loops
-Isotrons
-House siding loop
-Roof shingle loop
-Outbacker Vertical (mobile)
-Hustler Vertical loads (mobile)
Here are a few links on these items:
www.nerc.com/~jdegood/coaxtrap/ www.ai.mit.edu/~sw/html/NS1W/attic-ant.html www.rys.nl/isloop.htm http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-1786http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/581www.rayfield.net/isotron/ force12inc.com/F12-flagpole-ants-001.htm
www.sgcworld.com/Newsletter/Feb03/HiddenAntenna.html http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/stake.htmlhttp://www.cebik.com/zzdd.htmlwww.force12.de/us/zr.htm http://home.sprintmail.com/~sentek/hexpage6.htmwww.qsl.net/wrav/2mjpole.htm www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/jpole.html http://www.hamuniverse.com/loop.htmlhttp://www.eham.net/articles/4319http://xe1mex.gq.nu/antenas/yagi.html Here is one more option that the Internet Hams have thought of.....operate remotely from another Hams location with your call...it is legal and you can do it.....take a look here:
<http://www.w4mq.com/wyatt.pdf>
http://www.w4mq.com/ or for VHF/UHF:
http://www.synergenics.com/el/http://www.geocities.com/gj7jhf/ilinking.htmlThis is just a very short overview on how really easy it is to operate in restricted areas if you really want to participate in Ham Radio but have restrictions as an issue. I could go on and on as there are many groups and links on restricted/QRP issues but I just wanted to let everyone know that if you are not thinking of getting more involved in Ham Radio because you can't have a big antenna or tower then I hope this helps you take the step to participate....YOU CAN OPERATE UNDER RESTRICTED CONDITIONS (that is if you want to!).
de kb9umt Don
from my experimenting and findings there is no doubt I can and have operate under restricted condtions...also thinking of upgrading or need one on one help...join in:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hamradiohelp/