Articles
Field notes from restricted-space installations. Specific problems, specific findings.
Stealth Coax Routing: Getting the Feedline From the Antenna to the Shack Without Anyone Noticing
How to route feedline invisibly for restricted-space ham installs: coax selection, buried yard runs, existing wall penetrations, grounding at entry, and weatherproofing every connector.
RF Grounding in an Apartment: Counterpoise, Radials, and Artificial Grounds That Work
Why apartment antennas have no earth ground and what replaces it: counterpoise wires, radials, and artificial ground tuners that cure RF in the shack.
The Renter's Ham Radio Setup: Full HF With No Drilling and No Modifications
Getting on HF from an apartment you do not own: window feedthrough panels, antennas that come down in a minute, and the lease language that keeps you clear.
Attic Ham Radio Antennas: What Actually Works Above the Drywall
The honest attic-antenna picture: which wire antennas fit between rafters, what your roof and insulation do to the signal, and how to keep RF out of the shack.
Indoor HF: Why QRP Is Probably Your Ceiling
The honest case for running QRP indoors: RF safety math, neighbor-RFI reality, and the rigs that make 5 watts work.
Magnetic Loop Antennas for Restricted Spaces: A Practical Roundup
Current magnetic loop options across price points and operating scenarios: what works, what is discontinued, and what the bandwidth trade-offs actually feel like.
The Parity Act Failed Again. Here's Your 2026 HOA Plan.
The Amateur Radio Parity Act has failed six times since 2014. A sober look at the current legal landscape and what HOA hams can realistically do in 2026.
Restricted-Space Antenna Decision Tree
Map your CC&R constraints, state law, and physical space to the realistic installation options: a step-by-step guide for HOA and apartment operators.
smallspaceham is live
Restricted-space ham radio has a dedicated site. What we cover and where to start.
Stealth Flagpole Antennas: An Honest Comparison for HOA Lots
Performance trade-offs, price ranges, and which flagpole vertical fits your HOA lot: the top multiband options designed for dual-use installs, compared honestly.