I'm taking bets

[n7wsb]

On how long it will take until I get a letter from the landlord telling me to remove this R7 off my porch.

Some tidbits,

I live on the second floor of the apartment. The landlord's husband just moved out (for good if you know what I mean)

R7 is 22' tall - it really quite tall, but it mounted nicely (thanks to some wood screws) to the porch railing.

I don't really want to move it, but if push comes to shove I will and start looking for a place that will let me keep it. I made my first contact on it - vk4ej (on 10) - wow amazing ehh - so I'm hooked http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif - this thing worked 100 times better then any portable/hidden antenna I've used used http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif.

[KA8NCR]

When I lived in an apartment, I experimented with a variety of hidden antennas.

One of the best was a simple 10 meter vertical using TV twin-lead and some junk speaker wire. #It was nearly invisible, and it had to be because antennas were strictly verboten. I'm willing to be the radials are still there.

I worked lots and lots of DX with that bugger, and next weekend I'll break out its predicesor for the 10 meter contest.

So, if they tell you to remove it, remove it. #Look for a new place and while you do, put up something they can't see and laugh while you work DX. #Just make sure it's safe and no one can touch the antenna.

[N9WOS]

Take and buy an assortment of magnet wire from rat shack
or strip if off an old transformer or something.
(The degassing coil on old tv's has tons of medium gage enameled wire.)

And some fishing line and have fun.

Measure it to length if you want to run without a tuner.
Or get the largest length possible and use a tuner.

And for transmission line?http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif?http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif?http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif???
Use speaker wire.
It comes close to 50 or 100 ohms impedance
when use as a transmission line.

String the wire from branch to branch of the available trees.
Use the fishing line for an insulator at every tie point.
If you do things right, you can have a full half wave
on 80 and no one will know.

Just keep it above normal headroom clearance.

You don't want people walking into it. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

And don't run anything over a 100W(if that much)
on the speaker wire.

.................EDIT...............

Ow ya.... use a ferrite core as a
balun at the radio to turn the coax unbalanced feed
to the speaker wire balanced feed.

[KC7HDE]

I say it will be 3 weeks before the landlord gets with the " I hate that THING " going in her mind.

[K1LCA]

Let's see here, the landlords husband moved out.

1. She will be getting lonely.
2. You want to keep antenna.
3. Maybe even a bonus rent reduction??

Cheap bottle of wine, can of Spaghetti-O's and your troubles will be over.... (till she gets mad at you anyhow...)

Cheers K1LCA

[w3sy]

I'm tracking with K1LCA on this one. She'll see the R7, knock on your door, and say, "Is that your antenna, or are you just glad to SEE me?"

[n3mvf]

Reverse psychology in this situation: Tell her the husband HATED it!

Good luck,

Greg

[n7wsb]

Ooh bad news - looks like the husband came back http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif - I only say that because they'll have more time to man the grounds. On the other hand he has a day job and keeps pretty busy and its very cold outside.

In the meantime I'm looking for a new place to live.

[K1LCA]

WSB,

Have a girl you know keep calling the managers apartment and asking for the husband.

He's back out, your back in, and your antenna stays up!

K1LCA

[n8emr]

I moved into an apartment back in the early 80's. No antenna but I had a balcony. I put up a spyder vertical.

One day the building manager asking me out the vertical and reminded me that antennas were not allowed and ask me what it was .

I said it was an electromagntic collector and emitter. She said ok and the went about her business. Not another work was said. Antenna stayed for several year until I moved into a house.

[KA7RRA]

I used to live in a apartment about 16 yrs ago. I ran a IC745 and use a random long wire for my ant...
I used to make the lights flicker when i was on. I talked to some of my neighbors and they told me that they where having TVI promblems I told them it was the hospital a block away from us. they where happy
Dave

[w8ob]

I am afraid I agree with the other fellows. A cheap bottle of ripple, a couple of cans of kippers and the lonely woman will be putty in your hands. After all remember that "hams do it with more frequency"

[VE6VPD]

I took a different approach with my condo association.

Although the rules expressly prohibit antennas, I asked for an exception based upon the fact that there were many DSS/DTV dishes up on balconies. I even told them I'd be transmitting. Further, I told them, as an owner, I'd expect that if they declined my request that they would enforce the rule.

They granted me permission... R7, R8, R5... something's a-comin' soon!

<insert big grin here>

[kg4rrm]

VE6VPD

you're lucky http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
many hoa's would have said, antenna's ruin property value. #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[k3sam]

I stopped gambling 2 years ago. Wanna bet ?

-Sam