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Old 7th May 2021, 5:55 pm   #21
Radio Wrangler
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

The licence today has nothing whatsoever to do with planning permissions.

For the latest info and to double check that nothing has changed you'll need to go searching on Ofcom's website. Most of what you're looking for will be in the wireless telegraphy act (as amended). The 'as amended' bit means you have to read through all the amendments to see what got changed and when. It's some time since I was involved in these things so I might be out of date in some respects. Hunting it all down is going to be a lot of work, so only start if you really are keen. So, no, I don't have any links. When I looked it was all paper.

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Old 7th May 2021, 6:03 pm   #22
ms660
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Radio licence was got rid of c1971.

Lawrence.
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Old 7th May 2021, 6:05 pm   #23
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

I don't know if this is defining, but according to "Radio Engineer's Pocket Book" 12th Ed
1958 (Newnes, editor F J Camm) "the maximum length of aerial, inclusive of lead-in, permitted by the Postmaster General is 150 feet"
Perhaps initially a length was specified to limit any radiation on the carrier frequency for
a TRF/Reaction receiver, or local osciliator radiation for a superhet.
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Old 7th May 2021, 6:09 pm   #24
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Quote:
"Normal domestic TV and radio aerials do not need planning permission".
I had a read and..."there will be no more than four antennas on the building overall", is a semi one building? Both of my "real" (i.e. not telly, DAB of FM) aerials are not on the house but down the garden.

Back to the 100 foot argument, these rules say "the size of any antenna is not more than 130 centimetres (an awful unit) in any linear dimension" well short (pun intended) of 100 feet! And a bit less than a good VHF/FM beam. If there is still a 100' limit anything over 1.3m would need planning permission.

I just put up what I like and hope, it has worked so far. Of course I make them as invisible as possible (camo paint etc.) to placate the missus and not annoy the neighbours. In the USA there are vigorously policed rules about aerials, a lot of amateurs there use a flag pole (you can't be to patriotic).
 
Old 7th May 2021, 7:14 pm   #25
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Yes there was - in the immediate post-WWI era - a limitation on antenna-length imposed by the Postmaster General and his licensing-bods.

This was back in the early history of broadcasting [back when the BBC was a commercial company rather than a Government-controlled monopoly] and when there were separate 'receiving' and 'experimental' radio-licenses; these restrictions never applied to licensed radio-amateurs!

All long since lost in time, like tears in rain.
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Old 7th May 2021, 7:47 pm   #26
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

A copy of a 1923 receiving license which states the combined height and length of an external aerial shall not exceed 100 feet.

https://i.servimg.com/u/f74/14/04/16/83/20180610.jpg

https://i.servimg.com/u/f74/14/04/16/83/20180612.jpg
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Old 7th May 2021, 10:27 pm   #27
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

An exemption from the need for a licence to listen to telephony from authorised broadcast and amateur stations was granted in 1971, under Statutory Instrument 1970-548.

see here:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/...9700548_en.pdf

Section 3: "Exemption from Licence"

Last edited by m0cemdave; 7th May 2021 at 10:33 pm.
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Old 7th May 2021, 11:05 pm   #28
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

In case anyone hasn't erected their aerial yet, here's the way to do it, with acknowledgement to the Cable Accessories Co. Ltd. of Tipton, manufacturers of the Revophone crystal set.

Paul
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Old 8th May 2021, 11:29 am   #29
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

I wish I'd seen that before I erected the aerial at my parents house back in the 60s!! But it was fun getting the wire over the roof with the help of a friend, a tennis ball and a long piece of string. The wire must have been over the 100ft limit but I think I got away with it.

The instruction book for the radio it was connected to said it needed an external aerial of between 60 to 80 feet, but living 8 miles from the Droitwich transmitter I could get away with a piece of wire a couple of feet long.

Keith
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Old 8th May 2021, 4:42 pm   #30
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Here's Bulgin's late 1930's solution. Presumably the silhouettes at the top of the page depict some of the contemporary "unsightly" long wire aerial configurations.
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Old 8th May 2021, 8:41 pm   #31
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Do take note, there is an fortuitous lack of L/M/S wave crap-o-transmitters (aka switched mode power supplies). I do like the low loss insulators in a position where anything, metal, coal, old bones, pram wheels etc. wouldn't matter a bit.
 
Old 8th May 2021, 8:43 pm   #32
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

On topic, if I am allowed a 100' aerial may I erect a 99 foot vertical?
 
Old 8th May 2021, 8:47 pm   #33
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Quote:
Originally Posted by merlinmaxwell View Post
Do take note, there is an fortuitous lack of L/M/S wave crap-o-transmitters (aka switched mode power supplies). I do like the low loss insulators in a position where anything, metal, coal, old bones, pram wheels etc. wouldn't matter a bit.
Yes but Wireless was the big thing a bit like Audiophoolery today you showed your good taste and wealth with the bits visible to the neighbours

Cheers

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Old 8th May 2021, 11:09 pm   #34
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

There was no end of snake-oil enhanced aerial stuff in the past. Designed to appeal to the eye of the layman. There's nothing new under the sun.

David
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Old 9th May 2021, 9:01 am   #35
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Were there any sort of "aerial length" inspectors who prowled the streets seeking out transgressors? They would need extremely high pairs of step ladders and very long tape measures!
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Old 9th May 2021, 10:34 am   #36
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Quote:
Originally Posted by merlinmaxwell View Post
On topic, if I am allowed a 100' aerial may I erect a 99 foot vertical?
Might be subject to planning/aviation rules/regs.....check with your local authority....get a decision in writing.

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Old 9th May 2021, 12:19 pm   #37
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Thank you for all your replies.
I had thought that it may be something to do with OTT National Security but it appears to be more of the G.P.O. exercising its authority. It would be nice if they had provided their reasoning.

Chris
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Old 9th May 2021, 2:04 pm   #38
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

It's the XYL's washing line officer. Honest.
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Old 9th May 2021, 2:29 pm   #39
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Look out! There's an aerial length detector van coming down the street!

David
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Old 9th May 2021, 2:31 pm   #40
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Quote:
Originally Posted by Radio Wrangler View Post
Look out! There's an aerial length detector van coming down the street!

David
There's a joke there but I better not submit it.

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