VHF/UHF 144/222/443 Unobtrusive Antenna Question

[AD0DQ]

I apologize to all who have seen this question multiple times, but I searched through the forum for similar threads before posting.

I have two problems with setting up a base station antenna. The first problem is that we have covenants and the covenants do not allow a tower. I am not interested at this point in 6 meter and below communication, and want to focus a base station in the 2 meter, 1.25 meter and 70 cm bands. I sit at the bottom of a hill that blocks most of the signal to the north from my mobile unit, so I'm sure I need to put something up that will get at least above the top of my house.

That brings me to my second problem: my wife being a smart person is deathly afraid of lightning. She doesn't want anything up in a storm that might attract an errant bolt of lightning. I understand that antennas must be grounded and that it is necessary to have grounds pounded deeply in the ground for lightning protection, but the simplest solution would be an antenna that I could quickly lower and/or disconnect from the cable, such that it would no longer present a significant lightning hazard inside the house. I have read the sticky here about lightning and grounding, and not having an EE don't really understand it particularly well, but my general understanding is that the antenna needs to be grounded and there needs to be a lightning arrestor in between the antenna and the inside of the house. I do not wish to become a crispy critter.

I have looked at several of the Diamond antennas and I assume I could mount these on my deck in a way that if I needed to I could quickly disconnect the antenna. Most are under 5 feet, and I assume if I put some kind of swivel on them I could drop them to horizontal from vertical fairly quickly. But I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions or thoughts that might be helpful.

My thanks to everyone in advance.

[KF5FEI]

Ventenna is a good stealth 2m / 70cm that looks like a rooftop plumbing vent. Not sure they make one that covers 220 MHz though. There are a number of "after dark" HF antenna options you can use that can be stowed during the day.

[AD0DQ]

Thank you sir. I will look up the Ventenna and see what I can find on it. I appreciate your help.

[KD3NE]

When I was in an antenna restricted area I mounted a Diamond Dual Band 2m/70cm antenna on a mast.

I painted the mast to match the color of the house and the antenna to match the color of the roof to make it harder to see.

When I was not operating I layed the antenna down in the backyard, supporting the antenna end to prevent damage to radials.

I had 16 feet of mast under the antenna.

If you can visualize this ......

Base of mast had a hoe brewed pivot on it and was mounted offset to one of the posts supporting the corner of the deck.

Deck Railing had a Radio Shack 'wall mount' bracket to which I fashioned a quick release clamp.

I had a rope attached to the mast so from the deck I could raise the antenna by pulling up the rope and clamp the mast to the mount on the railing.

When I was not operating, I'd unclamp the antenna and lower it into the yard.

[AD0DQ]

I'll have to look for the wall mount bracket at Radio Shack. Your suggestions make sense.

[K8JD]

220 mHz or 1-1/4 M is an "orphan" band, not available in Japan, the radio makers ignore it even in US market targets.
I was active on 220 FM years ago when the Clegg Co. in PA was making the gear,
I helped our local club build and find a site for a repeater. Then we bought radios in quantity for a member discount.
Some companies made vertical and Yagi antennas for this band , and I had both up.
Good luck getting an antenna up, Ventennas are unity gain and you may want to get one of the white fiberglass sticks that have some gain if you are going to the trouble of roof mounting one. They are not eaasy to see if you are not looking for them.