Ignorance from those outside the radio hobby

So I know quite a few Hams/CBers must have encountered plenty of ignorance or issues from other people from outside the radio hobby and it can get annoying after a while.

I went portable yesterday with a handheld and I was approached by a dog walker and he shouted "that's illegal what you are doing" you could be interfering with the emergency services" So I explained that I am a Ham radio operator and that I'm licensed and legal and there was nothing to be concerned about however I don't think he believed me and he walked off.

On the way home, a police van seemed to follow me but nobody got out to talk to me and that was the end of that.

I've also been having issues with my neighbors because when I put up an antenna a few years ago, I got a letter from the council that there had been complaints about me being up to "illegal activities" at no point did any neighbor knock on my door and ask me what I was doing or spoke to me in anyway.

The council said I'm not allowed any antennas at all but from what I understand as long as I haven't got a permanent antenna outside that is fixed to the building then I should be OK as long as I take it down when I'm not home. I normally put something up on Fridays and leave it up over the weekends and then take it down Mondays... it is a bit of a hassle.

I've been doing a lot of radio recently and a neighbor under me keeps banging up on her ceiling every time I have the radio on and I have seen her taking photos on my 2 meter dipole when that has been out so I'm expecting another letter or something over the next few weeks if I get anything at all that is... I'll have to wait and see. I just got to make sure that I have a copy of my license on display with my radio stuff just encase I get a visit from the police or something.

I do worry about getting visited by police because they are just as clueless as others are about what the Ham Radio hobby is. I don't want the police taking my stuff or anything. 

There is a lot of ignorance around this hobby. I do have a good mind to design a nice enticing leaflet about what the Ham Radio hobby is and then have 100's of copies made then post them everywhere because a lot of people have no idea that such a hobby exists and its a real shame. Its a wonderful hobby in so many ways.

People know what fishing is. People know what metal detecting is. I could go on but you mention Ham Radio... whats Ham Radio? this is the problem. 

If more people knew about this hobby I don't think there would be so much ignorance and lack of understanding about, and people like myself would be able to have an antenna or two outside without drama.

I do understand that ignorance can be a strong word but I can't think of a nicer way to put things... in order to understand things I do have to put myself there shoes to get an idea...

I'm sure there are more of us who have had our fair share of it.

good afternoon, sounds like you are having trouble with neighbors the police council cant ask to see your radio the only offcom no one else can so dont worry to much
regards
dave

Hi there,

(My apologies but you still haven't given a name that the rest of the CT community can address you by.)

Unfortunately radio enthusiasts altogether number in the few (about 0.1-0.2% of the population in the UK and similar numbers in the rest of the world) so we're a rare bunch on the face of it. It's hardly surprising then that some view us with a little suspicion....."Ham Radio what?...Oh, you mean like CB?" for those that may have even a little inkling to what we do.

Then again I've met a fair few rum-looking characters myself within the radio interest world over the years who seem even stranger or defensive when you talk to them off air unless they realise you're a radio enthusiast too!

Everyone's different....and that's what makes the word the wonderful place it is.

Just that some can't seem to handle such things as 'difference' and often retort with 'indifference' at best whereas others will react with apparent suspicion. 

No point 'educating' anyone either unless they genuinely seem happily interested in what you're doing.


I've had my moments facing a lack of understanding for the radio hobby, hence why my antennas are firmly hidden away in my loft space to avert suspicious eyes. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm disabled I would have taken my interests to the 'fields' instead operating portable but even that can open a whole new can-of-worms.

But it doesn't matter to me in the end, I sit happily self fulfilled that my logs fill up with radio contacts from those rare few who's numbers vastly swell when you reach out into the world with your radio signals.

I don't feign to understand others interests that don't appeal to me and I give that same respect back to others as regards my own interests. 

Makes for much happier thoughts. We are what we are.  


All the best,
Victor

Well said Dave.

Funny thing is I have never had anyone ever ask me about the antennas or radio.
Going back a few years our nextdoor neighbour once offered for me to put any wires
in his garden if I needed but I declined.
All my antennas are covered by the 4year rule having been up before April 2024.

I was stopped by the police one morning on the way to work.
It was up a narrow country lane and this lone cop was going way to fast
when he meet me coming the other way on my bike.
When he caught up with me he noticed by dualband handie and had no real idea
what it was and proceeded to accuse me of listening to the police.
I told him where to go and went on my way.

BTW
If your getting complaints make sure your EMF compliance is up to date just in case you get a visit.

Ivy Mike wrote:

BTW
If your getting complaints make sure your EMF compliance is up to date just in case you get a visit.

Just in case anyone needs to calculate their EMF, here's a link...

https://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/emf/index.html#/

Deb

Hello All,

Unfortunately, it is the times we live in, where by people feel entitled to stick their nose into other people's business and make unsolicited and sanctimonious comments. Maybe, social media has had an influence?

Ignorance is the right word and they also have an inability to listen to anything you will say, as they have already made their minds up.

I have had a few negative encounters whilst pursuing this hobby over the years. I am not licensed, so I cannot reasonably take the stance that what I am doing is legal. However, by the same token, nor am I bothered. These people will not have the first idea whom to report you to. All they see, is you doing something different and apparently it offends them?! Plus, nowadays the authorities do not have the time, money or resources to investigate these claims.

Just for the record,  I don't tx on ham frequencies and never have. It would be disrespectful to all the licensed ops.

I would encourage people to continue enjoying the hobby and do their best to ignore these interfering busy bodies.

Best 73s, John.

I think the important thing is not to let it put you off. If you know you are doing nothing wrong just try to ignore the ignorant ones (I know that it much easier said than done).

I regularly walk around with a dark side radio just to listen to air and, shortwave radio and CB radio chatter furthest pick up for that was South Carolina and using a big extendable CB whip antenna. The radio is a modded Quansheng with dual antenna points. My experience with using it has been mixed, people looking concerned and one very shifty character thinking I was security and I reassured him I wasn't interested in him and only on shortwave broadcasts he went off to his own pursuits. My work colleagues all have been fascinated by it, although one guy thought I had a fancy new vaping device when I first got it out under the smoking hut. Lol. Another guy returning to our goods yard in his van thought I had a fishing rod out! But many have wanted to see what we could pick and my neighbours seem to be okay with my temporary pole antenna set up and like you it will go up and down as needed.

Good luck with your hobby and do what you want do and don't worry about the opinions of others.

VanRougeT4 wrote:

Ivy Mike wrote:

BTW
If your getting complaints make sure your EMF compliance is up to date just in case you get a visit.

Just in case anyone needs to calculate their EMF, here's a link...



Deb

 Very helpful information and link guys I have entered my specs and saved a copy for easy reference.

VanRougeT4 wrote:

Ivy Mike wrote:

BTW
If your getting complaints make sure your EMF compliance is up to date just in case you get a visit.

Just in case anyone needs to calculate their EMF, here's a link...

https://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/emf/index.html#/

Deb

Also RSGB has an excellent calculator and loads of info re EMF exposure.

https://rsgb.org/main/technical/emc/emf-exposure/

It all looks a bit intimidating but their web app is nice and easy to use and
allows a lot more parameters to be entered.

Good news so far, I have left the 2 meter dipole up for 2 weeks now and heard nothing. I will leave it up over Christmas and New Years although I do need to take it down to water proof it a bit more as the rain makes the SWR go right up when water gets into it. So far so good.

The only problem I've had is being wiped out on HF by some kinda RF blocker that gives me full scale signal of white noise right across the HF bands where I'm unable to hear incoming stations and also makes CB unusable. My CB/HF antenna is indoors tho.

This 'HF blocker' may be broadband on telegraph poles if they exist around your house/area.

I have a good HAM friend nearby who is well respected in this field as he started up one of the mobile phone networks we use and came from lecturing at universities in RF and microwave tech early days.

He suffers very bad HF interference and demonstrated an RF sniffer he built for my own use, and in his location you may as well point it down the WC as he proved telegraph broadband can give horrendous noise. If however you mean no noise and no activity then it'll be your set up.

I have to add my twopenneth into this discusion that I am finding really interesting. I see all the situations many are in over antennas and gardens which must be a nightmare for those involved.  I have to say that living in Ireland as I do there are very few of these problems, I have lived in two houses in the past including this one and never had an issue with anyone about antenna in the garden no matter what height or configuration. To be fair the general attitude here is live and let live. Happy New Year to you all.

Hi Michael, I do hope you're keeping well.  

It's nice to hear about the much more relaxed way of life in Ireland. Here it is very much dependent on how people view themselves usually pushed by some fairytale social media standing.

One of our neighbours is a lovely lady who we've known for a long time and is getting on in years nowadays. She has always had a relaxed live and let live attitude and we're great friends. The other side unfortunately has stripped away a two foot wide length from our front garden with a new fence and wall not long after they moved in!! They have even stripped away half of a tree standing on another's property as it was 'over-hanging' their property 'fence-line' and the ridiculous look of it shows the pettiness of it all. Hence why my antennas are firmly hidden in the loft as even my washing-line long wire had stares and fingers pointed at it. I'd love a massive antenna array......just to peeve them off.  


Happy New Year to you also Michael.

73,
Victor

Victor, You need a Sigma 4 on your chimney

If I had my way I'd have a dirty big Momo-Penta-10 multiband Yagi up on the roof Rich!    

There was a day when everyone had all sorts of metal cr*p stuck on their roof lines for their tele-visual delight and our antennas didn't stick out like sore thumbs. Heck, I get pointy fingers at my bit of wire line nowadays and yet out the front there's a massive wooden pole with multiple wires running from houses to that BT b*gger!


Of course in the old days people could only whinge over the neighbours fence to anyone that would listen to them......nowadays they have social media.

I generally stay well away from social media... I have facebook to talk to some family members in private messages but other than that I don't do it.

The good thing is more people are coming back to CB I have noticed.

I was working on some Tait PMR transceivers and I was asked "what are you doing with all those old obsolete car phones" .... Obsolete car phones? they are transceivers I said... I'm converting them to use for Ham radio bands and I got the most strange look.

Its not the first time I've heard transceivers being called phones. Technically I suppose they are very similar being a communication device. I get the impression that people think why have a radio when you have a smartphone... some people will never understand, others don't want to understand & there are some that take an interest and buy a PMR446 radio which can lead to them taking there Foundation.

I enjoy doing SOTA and POTA. I was doing some QSOs from Dunstable Downs - I did get some strange looks, but nothing more than that.

A couple of years ago I was standing outside a primary school at 6.30am with my 11m handheld. A delivery guy did ask what I was doing - I told him and that seemed to satisfy him.

I have an EF wire antenna at home in my yard. I have told a neighbour what it is - she did not seem to be concerned. It is quite near a couple of her solar panels. I think I may be getting occasional HF interference from them, but seeing that she is a good neighbour and the interference is only occasional, I am not going to ask her to change her solar panel set-up. There is a Dutch saying - "it is better to have a good neighbour than a distant friend".