N3FTO: Real DX From an HOA on 100W & a 20' Vertical

Paul needed a stealth antenna to satisfy his HOA. What he got was a station that works the world. Last week, with 100 watts, he reached Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands — roughly 10,000 miles, from a quiet suburban lot.

See N3FTO spotted around the planet on the Reverse Beacon Network ›
The SNR figures from European and North American skimmers tell the story: this is not a compromise signal.

In His Own Words

Paul writes in…

"Really enjoyed the 10 meter contest this past weekend. No trouble at all working into Europe, Africa, and South America.

The antenna is great — better than I expected, actually. Needed a 'stealth' antenna due to HOA restrictions and it has been everything I hoped for and more. Was able to work Timor-Leste (4W) and the Solomon Islands (H44) last week with 100 watts. It works for sure.

10 meters has been excellent recently — for the last month, actually. But I've been doing well on 12, 20, and 40 as well."

N3FTO's Greyline vertical, tucked into the backyard treeline — stealth by design.

From the Bench

Why this works

Paul's results are a clean illustration of what a properly engineered vertical dipole does on a restricted lot. The low takeoff angle that makes the geometry efficient for DX is exactly what carried his 100 watts into the Western Pacific. There are no buried radials to fail, nothing for a neighbor to object to, and a single feedpoint covers the bands he wants.

The band-by-band consistency — strong on 10, solid on 12, 20, and 40 — is the other half of the story. A vertical that only shines on one band is a novelty. One that holds its own across the spectrum, from an HOA lot, is a station. Cheers to you, Paul. Have fun DXing.

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From the Field

What operators tell us

• "4-Band DXCC this summer from my HOA."
• "Holds its own vs. my taller antennas — and with no radials. It's also stealthy."
• "Since I added the Greyline, I've put over 200 additions on my DXCC Challenge account — now right at 900."
• "30 watts and a couple of hours — I worked the entire planet on FT8."
• "Got Indonesia (YB) this morning on 40m SSB with 100 watts. Just over 9,000 miles."
• "If I can hear it, I can work it. It hears very well."
• "My wife appreciates the compliments from the neighbors — it reminds her of her father's flagpole."

Keep Reading

• AF1RO works the globe on FT8 with 50W and a 20′ flagpole
• K7CWC spotted worldwide on a 24′ DX Flagpole
• What is a VDA (Vertical Dipole Antenna)?

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73,

Jon, KL2A — Greyline Performance

Sun Valley, Idaho · 435-200-4902

Ham radio is fun again.