Thousand Oaks, California is one of those wealthy snobby communities, where everyone is into everyone else's business. Case in point: One guy had an umbrella in plane site for years, without a word being said. Then word got out it was really a satellite dish disguised as an umbrella. Suddenly that perfectly acceptable umbrella became an instant eyesore to the very neighbors, who use to sit under it sipping tea during the summer. Without question, every neighbor wanted the former umbrella out! The Mayor even admitted he didn't have a problem with it when it was an umbrella, but as a satellite dish he decided it brought blight to the neighborhood. He along with the other pinhead council ordered the dish out; I'm sure the fact they were all in the tank for the cable company had nothing to do with their decision!
The AM station is gone because the city would not allow them to relocate the towers, that had to be move for development. The FM had to place the transmitter shack underground at great expense, and would only allow a 40ft blue flagpole to mount the antenna on. Prior to that, the transmitter shack was burned to the ground from a brush fire, because the city would not allow them to clear the brush away from the building.
CCR's control everything, including the display of flags; a major no no! Flagpoles are out of the question, as are swing sets, jungle gyms, or anything else your neighbor may be offended by. One guy was put in jail for storing firewood in his backyard, another had to replace curtains because a neighbor did not like the color.
Trying to set up a broadcast facility in such an area can be a nightmare, you are pretty much limited to the attic, vent pipe or rain gutters for AM. I have used rain gutters, and antennas disguised vent pipes, with pretty good results. FM antennas are allot easier to hide, or place in the attic; and still get decent results.
One Westlake Village, FM station was located in a single story condo in the very uptight community! Despite the tight CCR rules, they were still able to place the antenna. They were fortunate that the attic had plenty of vertical space, with plenty of headroom. The vertical antenna was mounted in the center of the building, and cable run down through a heater closet, and into a 2 watt transmitter. Despite the poor antenna location, the station could be herd with ease five miles away on the average radio. One advantage to the attic location: It was very hard for the typical busy body engineer to track down and harass. The station stayed on the air for years without complaint, gaining a very large and loyal audience. Unfortunately station finally went silent after the condo was sold.
Sometimes you have to raise the power a bit, to make up for the short comings of the antenna and location.
Steve
www.outlawradio.us
