[Rover] Rover 'visibility"

[Rodney J J Johnson]

Jacob,
  The local law and citizenry are just doing their duty, in reporting and
checking on "strange occurrences".
   Rovers are a very visible part of Ham Radio.  Use it to the advantage
of the hobby.
   When you go on a Roving opeation, think of how many people see you and
who wonder, "What he heck is all that stuff?"
   People drive down the road every day and pass lots of ham radio towers
and probably don't even notice them, but your rover rig WILL BE NOTICED.
   Make up a couple of printed signs indicating the nature of the
operation.  Name it Amateur Radio Communications,  Emergency
Communications Drill,  Radio Propagation Experiment,  or even Bear
Tracking.  Make it anything  you feel appropriate, but make some
information available to anyone who is interested enough to look a bit
closer.  Some ARES units have magnetic door signs available.
   If you can provide a web site on the sign, like one of your own or the
ARRL; and maybe a bit of personalized info like a callsign or e-mail
address (callsign@ARRL.net if a ARRL member),  then you have done the
hobby a service, and provided some credibility to your operation, before
the first question has been asked.
   I've never met a policeman who was particularly concerned once he
found out what we were doing.  I've  been pulled over with flashing
lights on a couple of occasions; I think more out of curiosity than
anything else.  Once was in Wyoming, on a Saturday morning.   I was in my
motorhome with some loops on it. The officer was a Ham, and he was just
curious, and then invited me to lunch with a few locals. 
 I  have been asked to move a couple of times, by persons who probably
did not have the authority, but were concerned about something I was
doing.  I readily moved and went on with my operation. 
   The Ham license plate seems to help too.  I was riding with Jim W7DHC
one time, when we were stopped for "exceeding the posted limit".   We
were not "Rover Equipped" ie: no mobile antenna farm, but were going out
to help extract a Rover ( I won't mention any names 'here') who as too
far into the woods and deep snow  during a spring Sprint.
   The officer recognized the plate as that of a Ham operator, and when
Jim explained our operation, we were let off the hook.   KB7DQH was very
happy to see us arrive at his frozen mudhole-OOPS, sorry Erik :>)
  So use the curiosity to the advantage of both you and the hobby.  You
will likely enjoy it more, and maybe even convert someone else to a
Rover. 
   
   
Rod Johnson  WE7X (ex KA7YOU) Grid CN97AL - near Issaquah, Wa


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