[PaQSO] Rover setups

[Ralph Matheny K8RYU]

Was sorry to read that WU3U had such troubles with finding a place to setup.

I've been coming up to PA for about 10 years or so, with a wide variety of
contraptions mounted on my vehicle for antenna use and have had very little 
trouble.  My first year some farmer called the state police, when the officer
showed up and I explained, he looked the situation over and said that I was 
"not breaking any law", that I looked like some sort of tourist, and that 
Pennsylvania liked "tourists" and away he went.

Another year I encountered a game warden, who was something of a jerk, but
all he did was insist that I move to a parking lot.

This year--in Fayette--after we got setup a lady came storming from a farmhouse
shaking her fist, complaining that "whatever we were doing is was messing up 
her electricity" and she wanted it stopped!  Turns out she had some "touch lamps"
that flickered with the keying of the radio.  My helper explained the situation,
her husband came out and calmed her down, and all was well.

Up in JUN we setup at a campground, have been there for several years and the 
owners more or less expect us.  At the motel in FRA we setup in the parking lot,
they usually come out and check to be sure we are guests, but then go away.

Some tips that might help....setup on public land, along the road on the right-
of-way but out of traffic; church yards and graveyards are good; shopping malls
probably not good because of noise and, face it----we all know what it takes to 
make a mall cop.  

I always have either a helper or a detailed written description of what I am
doing printed up to hand to a policeman or interested party.  I usually operate
while they read it. It also has detailed identification information which might
make some folks feel safer. 

Not sure what the score is.....as usual missed a sweep by one, and of course 
I operated there (ADA) but didn't hear anybody else.  It's about 700 miles of
driving but PAQP is truly a good time.

73

de K8RYU