In August 2023, we bought a city house after living on a small hobby ranch for 20+ years.
In a POA neighborhood.
With a no outdoor antennas policy.
Yes, I’m aware this is not a ham smart move. But there are other things in life. Having a nice home that will hold value and not have junk trade joe move in next door has value. A year+ in, my shack it not truly back online yet. I’ve got an attic installed dipole. It’s less than optimal, but I do hear people over the noise. I’ve talked on a couple of nets successfully. I’m working toward making it better, but new home, new lifestyle, TBH, I just haven’t made much time to pursue the hobby.
2025 (remember when that was a sci-fi date???) is here. One of my goals this year is to get more active in radio again. I got a 2m/70cm Yaesu FTM-6000R for Christmas. Antenna in the works. This’ll get me connected to at least the local repeaters our the TARC SuperLink repeater network.
It seems, until I can spring one of those Stealth Flagpole antennas (extra large of course) and afford to install it properly, I seem to be somewhat off of an ideal home shack. Looking at Mag Loop as a possible attic solution to get on at least 20m and do some POTA hunting.
My big goal this year is work toward a portable HF rig, so I can go do my first POTA activation.