[PaQSO] Rover Operations

[morsenut at aol.com]

Hi K8RYU,.

I don't think that any sort of rover operation, whereby one operates for a long period of time in a 
vehicle with a big antenna on it - would work here in the Greater Philadelphia Metro unless
one has express, written permission from someone in authority in each and every spot
from which operations are planned.

Now think of that for a minute.  7 or 8 locations.  7 or 8 different governments, bodies,
 boards, police departments.

This would amount to scouting locations, contacting whomever is the authority in each
one, trying to make them understand what Ham Radio is, who you are, what you're 
planning to do, on and on - and then hoping that the permission you have secured makes
it down to the beat cops.

I have done this for one location when I mounted a Field Day mobile class effort.  

That was enough work.  I cannot imagine what it would be like to go through all that red tape 6, 7, or
8 times.

But frankly, given how things are around here, I think that is the only solution - at least my
experiences in this year's PAQP has so led me to believe.

Short of this and you will be interrupted - at the least,  if not outright kicked out of place after
place, over and over again.

I found that this has gotten a lot worse since I was active some years ago.  The police
are a lot more aggressive, people call the police at the drop of a hat.

Frankly, the way they treat you makes me feel creepy - the assume you are doing 
something wrong and they are out to prove it - no matter what the facts are. I hate
having to prove that I am not a criminal.

The problem is that the area here is so over-developed commercially that it is often hard
to tell where public and private areas begin and end.  Sometimes there are roads built
by shopping malls and the like that are connected to a public road.  

 Where does one begin and the other end?

And even if you do find a public area, such areas are often places like parks and 
recreations areas with parking areas - they leave you and your setup in plain
view of people - people who sometimes are unnerved at the sight of a vehicle 
with a large HF antenna on it.

The latter types call the police.  And now you are in a situation.  You know you are 
legally parked there - but the police want you out of there because people are
offended at the sight of your vehicle.

Often too, the public areas are closed after sundown.

But, his is the kind of culture we have here.  Call the cops, make a Federal case of
everything, call your lawyer.

Since I do almost all my hamming stationary mobile, I have dealt with the police many
times.

Most of the time, no amount of paperwork or whatever will satisfy them.  

If they have people complaining about you - no matter if you are legally parked somewhere on
public land, they will make you leave because your mobile ham radio shack 
constitutes some sort of public nuisance in their mind.

So for me at least, and as far as rover operations are concerned in this area, (the rural
areas are different I think) this year was the first and last for me because I want to
enjoy the contest and not have to deal with all this BS.

73,

Tim
WU3U


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