SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/ham-power-line-distance

What is the minimum safe distance from a power line when installing an antenna?

Far enough that a falling antenna stays 10 feet from the wires.

  1. Half a wavelength at the operating frequency
  2. If it falls, it stays 10 feet from the wires ✔
  3. The height of the power line

Why: Plan so that if the antenna falls, no part of it can come within 10 feet of power lines. Contact with power lines can be deadly.

Huh, didn't know that: Never attach an antenna to a utility pole.

The dad joke
Why did the antenna keep its distance? It did not want any shocking news.
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Sources

  1. NCVEC 2026-2030 Technician Question Pool (Element 2), errata Feb 19, 2026 https://www.ncvec.org/downloads/2026-2030%20Technician%20Pool%20and%20Syllabus%20Public%20Release%20Feb%2019%202026.pdf

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