HOA Stealth Flagpole Antenna · 160-6M · No Radials · Made in USA
The DXF16 — Front Entry Scale. Full HF Coverage.
The DXF16 fits front entry installations, side yards, and compact suburban lots where a 20-foot pole would be too tall. Flies a full-size flag at a scale that reads as a standard residential flagpole. Full 160-6M coverage from a single feedpoint. And because it is shorter, it carries one of the highest wind ratings in the line — the right answer for exposed ground as well as tight ground.
Why a Flagpole Antenna?
Most HOA CC&Rs explicitly permit residential flagpoles. The DXF's RF function is entirely internal — no visible stubs, no loading coils, no radial wires. From the street, it is a flagpole. A handsome one. The antenna approval is already in the CC&Rs — it is called a flagpole permit.
Band Coverage
160-6M
All HF bands. One antenna.
Wind Rating (Flag Down)
115 MPH
ASCE 7-10 engineered. Flag up: 75 MPH.
Guarantee
7 Years
Free shipping USA and Canada. Made in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Flag-Down Protocol
The flag is the wind load. At 16 feet the flag-up rating is 75 MPH and the flag-down rating is 115 MPH, both per ASCE 7-10. US federal flag protocol already calls for lowering the flag when weather approaches, which is why the flag-down figure is the structural number for a storm — and it matches the bare DXV16, because with the flag stowed that is what the pole is.
Field Report — Height-Restricted HOA
A Phoenix-area operator with a 16-foot HOA height restriction runs confirmed SWR on every band from 160 through 6 meters. The VDA does not need height to load — it needs a good tuner and the right feedline. Go as tall as your lot allows. Work everything either way.
— KJ7CWQ · Phoenix, AZ · 16' DXF · Verified Owner
The Physics
Why No Radials — and Why It Works
Traditional quarter-wave verticals feed at the current maximum at the base — pushing maximum resistive loss directly through soil. Every ohm of ground resistance sits in series with your radiation resistance, stealing signal before it leaves your yard.
The Greyline VDA is a vertical dipole. Covers 160-6M from a single feedpoint with no radials. Return current flows through the lower element, not through a buried radial field — significantly reducing ground coupling. Strong performer on 20M and above, approaching half-wave on 10 meters.
The physics behind the no-radial vertical dipole is established, published work — the full reference shelf is cited below, and a deeper VDA explainer lives in the Signal Lab for further study.
Before You Install — Run a Noise Audit
The VDA's 2-inch pole footprint is the smallest ground signature of any full-HF-coverage antenna. A traditional radial field extends hundreds of feet at 160 meters — running toward every noise source on the property. The VDA goes where you choose. Grab a battery-powered AM radio, tune off any broadcast station, walk your property, and find the quietest spot. That is where the pole goes.
Full Installation GuideIn the Box
Everything You Need. Nothing You Don't.
Antenna System
- 16' DXF Flagpole VDA Radiator
- RF Choke and Precision Feedline Hardware
- Ground Sleeve Kit
- Assembly Manual and Tuning Guide
HOA and Household
- USA-Made Flag Kit Hardware
- HOA Architectural Brief
- Property Integrity Letter (XYL and HOA ready)
- 7-Year Performance Guarantee
You supply two things: coax for the run to your shack, and an external antenna tuner. Both are covered below, and both save you money in the same cart.
Structural Engineering
Built for Real Weather
Every DXF is engineered to ASCE 7-10 structural standards. The flag is the dominant wind load, which is why the two columns differ. Federal practice is to lower the flag when weather threatens, so the flag-down figure is the engineering number.
| Model | Flag Up | Flag Down | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| DXF12 | 100 MPH | 155 MPH | ASCE 7-10 |
| DXF16 | 75 MPH | 115 MPH | ASCE 7-10 |
| DXF20 | 60 MPH | 90 MPH | ASCE 7-10 |
| DXF24 | 50 MPH | 70 MPH | ASCE 7-10 |
| DXF28 | 35 MPH | 55 MPH | ASCE 7-10 |
Ratings per ASCE 7-10. Lower flag during approaching weather per US federal flag protocol. Flag-down figures match the bare DXV vertical of the same height, because with the flag stowed that is what the pole is.
Take It Further
Complete The Station
All three of these come off automatically when they ride in the same cart as the antenna. No codes.
Coax Feedline — 10% Off
The antenna is only as good as the line feeding it, and a tired run can eat half your power on the high bands — which is where a 16-footer does its best work. Genuine Times Microwave and Andrew Heliax, cut to length, terminated and weatherproofed. Check your run on the Loss Calculator.
See The Coax LineTilt-Up Base — $25 Off
Lower the whole antenna to waist height alone, in minutes — change the flag, check the hardware, add the whip, or lay it down before a storm. No ladder, no second person, for the life of the antenna.
View Tilt BaseRT-100 Remote Tuner — $25 Off
Weatherproof remote ATU at the feedpoint, powered over the coax, one-button tuning 160-6M. A wide-range ATU is required either way; a desktop tuner works too.
View The RT-1009' DX Whip
Adds nine feet of aperture, paying most on 40 and 80 where a 16-footer is electrically shortest. If your HOA caps the pole but not what sits on top of it, this is how you get the low bands back. The flag and the whip fly together.
View WhipNo flag needed? The DXV16 delivers identical VDA performance without flagpole hardware, and holds the 115 MPH rating with nothing to lower.
160-6M, One Pole
The 16' DXF covers 160 meters through 6 meters with no radials in a compact footprint, and holds one of the highest wind ratings in the line. Adding the 9' DX Whip extends the upper radiator on every band the antenna covers. Modeled gain figures for this height are stated on the aperture page with their reference and band.
HOA and XYL Approved
We've Done the Hard Part for You
Every DXF ships with an HOA Architectural Brief and Property Integrity Letter. A decade of field experience, and a simple design truth: the HOA sees a flagpole, because that is what it is.
For Your HOA Board
Architectural brief, wind ratings, approval letter — ready to print and submit.
HOA Approval ToolkitFor Your XYL and Neighbors
Appearance, safety, property values — addressed directly. Hand it over, let it do the work.
Neighbor and XYL FAQFeed System Note
The DXF is a balanced VDA — tuner and RF choke must maintain a floating balanced feed. See the Tuner and Balun Configuration Guide, and the Feedline System Kits page for the full run from feedpoint to shack.
Construction — 6061-T6 Aircraft Aluminum
Outside: 2" OD, full length — uniform profile top to bottom. Clean. Sleek. Invisible as an antenna. Inside: wall graduates where the physics demands it — 0.125" lower 30% where base bending stress peaks, 0.065" upper 70% where reducing mass at height lowers dynamic wind loads. Zero plastic. All-metal, stainless hardware throughout.
At 16 feet, the Greyline VDA presents 2.67 square feet of wind surface — height times outer diameter. A design using a larger diameter at the same height presents proportionally more. Wind force scales with projected area linearly and with velocity squared. More mass at height also increases dynamic fatigue loading on every oscillation cycle. Material where the physics demands it, not where it adds weight without benefit.
Every Greyline wind rating is derived from ASCE 7-10 structural engineering values — actual geometry, actual math, published methodology. A wind rating without a cited standard is a guess dressed as a spec. Ask any antenna maker which standard they used. If they cannot cite one, you have your answer.
Specs and Shipping
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Height | 16 feet |
| Band Coverage | 160-6M (all HF + 6M) |
| Design | VDA — Vertical Dipole Antenna, OCF |
| Power Handling | Legal limit — constrained only by ATU rating |
| Radials Required | None |
| Material | 6061-T6 Aircraft-Grade Aluminum + Fiberglass |
| Projected Wind Area | 2.67 square feet |
| Wind Rating (Flag Up) | 75 MPH — ASCE 7-10 |
| Wind Rating (Flag Down) | 115 MPH — ASCE 7-10 |
| Shipping | Free — USA and Canada. International rates at checkout. |
| Made In | Sun Valley, Idaho — USA |
| Guarantee | 7-Year Performance Guarantee |
Common Questions
Before You Order — Answered.
What is the current lead time and availability?
Each antenna is hand-built to order in Sun Valley. Current lead time is always posted on the Order Status page. Call 435-200-4902 for a specific ship date.
My HOA caps pole height. Can I still get the low bands?
Often, yes. Many covenants specify a maximum flagpole height and say nothing about what sits on top of it. The 9' DX Whip threads into the truck at the top and adds nine feet of radiator, paying most on 40 and 80 where a 16-footer is electrically shortest. Read your covenant, and call us if you want a second pair of eyes on the wording: 435-200-4902.
What coax should I run, and how long?
Measure radio to feedpoint and add about 15 percent for routing, entry, and a service loop at each end. A 50-foot straight-line run usually wants a 70-foot assembly. A short cable is a long day.
For grade: LMR-400 class is the sweet spot at HF, under 0.7 dB per 100 feet. LMR-600 halves that on longer or buried runs. Run your own numbers on the Feedline Loss Calculator, then see the assembled runs — 10% off when coax rides with an antenna.
What is included — do I need to source anything separately?
Everything to assemble and mount is in the box. You supply coax and an ATU. That is it.
VDA Radiator (your chosen height)
RF Choke and Precision Feedline Hardware
Ground Sleeve Kit — in-ground, tower, roof, deck, dock compatible
Assembly Manual and Tuning Guide
7-Year Performance Guarantee
DXF Flagpole models also include: USA-made flag kit hardware, HOA Architectural Brief, and Property Integrity Letter.
Do I need an ATU — will my radio's internal tuner work?
Yes, an external ATU is required. The VDA presents variable impedance across its operating range — that is how it covers 160-6M from a single feedpoint with no traps and no radials. Most internal tuners will not handle the full impedance range on every band.
An external ATU lives in one of two places, and both are right depending on your run. For a short feedline run, a desktop ATU at the radio is the simpler path. For a longer run, a weatherproof remote ATU at the antenna base keeps the match close to the feedpoint; the LDG RT-100 is a low-cost 125W fit for that job, and $25 comes off it automatically when it rides in the same cart as the antenna.
Note that all ATUs carry a reduced power rating for digital modes (FT8, Winlink, JS8Call) due to 100% duty cycle heat loading. The antenna handles the full legal limit on every band — the tuner is the only ceiling, and higher-power options are on the tuner shelf.
How difficult is installation? How long does it take?
Most operators are on the air in under an hour. Dig a post hole, build the antenna sections (15-30 min), drop it in, run coax, connect the ATU. All stainless hardware comes pre-fastened — no loose hardware to lose in the grass.
Assembly documents at Setup and Manuals. Questions during install? Call 435-200-4902.
What does the 7-Year Guarantee cover?
Seven years of performance coverage. If it fails under normal operating conditions, we make it right. A customer's antenna fell in a severe ice storm — we sent a replacement immediately. Full terms at 7-Year Warranty Policy.
Every Greyline design decision traces back to named, published antenna physics — Zavrel W7SX, Kraus W8JK, Severns N6LF on ground systems, Maxwell W2DU on transmission lines, Lewallen W7EL on modeling. Not opinions. Cited works.
The full shelf lives under The Signal Lab · The Shelf We Read From in the menu, open to everyone.
Ready?
The DXF16 Ships Free in the USA and Canada.
Scroll up and add it to your cart — or call and talk it through with us first. We enjoy talking radio, and we would rather you order the right height than the nearest one.
435-200-4902
More aperture, or a tighter lot: see the full DX Flagpole line
Ham Radio is fun again! Pass it on... 73, The Greyline Performance Team · Sun Valley, Idaho · 435-200-4902