Rob Freedman WC0R — Defense Antenna Executive, Retired

“I ran a defense antenna company for 7 years. I am very impressed with the look, quality, machining, and part fit.”

“It is a professional-grade product, and I recommend it to others.”

— Rob Freedman · WC0R · 20' DXF · Colorado HOA · Verified Owner

Rob's 20' DX Flagpole installed and operational. Old Glory waves. HOA approved.

Why This Endorsement Carries Weight

Rob spent seven years running a defense antenna company. He knows what antenna construction looks like from the inside — materials, machining tolerances, feedpoint geometry, structural engineering. When he calls a product “professional-grade,” that assessment comes from someone who specified antennas for mission-critical applications. It is not a casual compliment.

He also submitted his install report to his local Amateur Radio Club — an unsolicited technical brief to peers who would scrutinize the claims. That letter is reproduced in full below.

Getting on the Air

Rob Freedman WC0R · 10 August 2020

As a frequent participant in the LARC Hamlet Net each Tuesday evening I have learned that many participants are anxious to get on the air and upgrade their privileges to enjoy HF voice QSOs. I also have learned that many of us live in covenant-restricted homeowners associations that almost always restrict antennas to TV or satellite dishes.

I have personally been at the intersection of both of these and thought I would share my journey through these issues. The key takeaway is neither is as difficult as it first may appear.

Despite my Amateur Extra license, I consider myself a newbie. I passed the test in 2009 but really had little current experience. I had an ICOM 7000 in my 4Runner and mostly QSO'd with amateur radio work colleagues on VHF FM. The 7000 is capable of UHF/VHF and HF voice and digital modes but I had no satisfactory HF mobile antenna to effectively QSO on HF — and talk about distracted driving!

When I retired in January of this year, as many of you, I was anxious to get back on the air. I had plenty of time to do some research. ARRL publications such as “ARRL's Wire Antenna Classics” and the Radio Society of Great Britain's “Stealth Antennas” provide a rich list of home-brew low-profile antennas. Although some of these boasted superb performances, many had limitations or were hardly systems that would go unnoticed by HOA neighbors.

Some HOAs do not enforce covenants and restrictions very aggressively or at all. However, I would not count on this as a strategy, especially if you do not want to be the new cause of friction in your neighborhood. Moreover, there are family members who might have something to say about stringing wires, baluns, and feedlines all over the back yard.

The solution that would seem to work best for our neighborhood and our family would be something that did not look like an antenna because it wore a disguise. How about a flagpole that functioned as a multi-band, highly efficient, dipole antenna? After a little more research, I came across an outfit called Greyline Performance. They have designed complete antenna systems either in a strictly vertical format or with all the trappings of a flagpole.

“How about a flagpole that functioned as a multi-band, highly efficient, dipole antenna? After a little more research, I came across an outfit called Greyline Performance…”

You can get these kits from 12 feet to 28 feet, either with flag kits or just as a plain vertical. It is an off-center-fed dipole which means no radials are required for optimum performance.

We chose a 20' flagpole antenna, submitted photos to the HOA for approval regarding the design and location on our property, and got approval soon after.

Greyline recommends a solid foundation of concrete 18” in diameter and 36” deep. In the center is a PVC pipe that goes to the bottom of the hole to support the flagpole and insulate it from the ground. The directions are clear and no special tools are required.

The antenna is now installed and tested and Old Glory waves — if there's a breeze. My remaining task is to run RG-213 between the antenna and the shack. I did jury rig a spare cable and did some testing from the garage, copying beacons from Madeira, California, and Caracas on 20 meters despite marginal solar flux conditions.

“The antenna went together as advertised. The fit and finish are excellent, and I am very happy with the result.”

The no-radial OCF dipole design seemed to be a perfect match for what I needed to get back on the air, and XYL was anxious to display a flag as her folks had done during her childhood.

— Rob Freedman, WC0R · LARC Hamlet Net · August 10, 2020

PSKreporter — WC0R heard across North America, Europe, South America, and the Pacific. 20' DXF, Colorado HOA. September 11, 2020.

Rob's Reaction

“You're right: it's fun again!”

— WC0R · post-install, on-air results confirmed

HOA Approval — How Rob Did It

Rob submitted photos of the antenna design and proposed installation location to his HOA board. Approval came soon after. No variance required. No special hearing. The flagpole is a permitted structure in most CC&Rs — the antenna is inside it.

HOA Architectural Brief →    Full HOA Approval Toolkit →

The Antenna Rob Chose

Same 20' DX Flagpole. Same OCF VDA physics. Same HOA approval documentation included in every box.

See the 20' DXF → Selection Guide →

Related

• Agency and Government HF Solutions
• EmComm Brief — No-Radial HF for EOC and Agency
• KJ7CWQ — 16' DXF works 160–6M in Phoenix HOA
• “Happy XYL” in Pennsylvania — New Ham, loud signals, going for Extra
• What is a VDA? — Vertical dipole physics explained
• WW9Z — Why an engineer chooses Greyline for Real DX

Ham Radio is fun again! Pass it on… 73, The Greyline Performance Team · Sun Valley, Idaho · 435-200-4902