[SixClub] Grid expeditions/activations A SUGGESTION on how to handle such questions.

[Zeb Palmer - KD7EVS]

What happened to you is crazy.=20

I'm a communications specialist for the Government, and have had to use =
that
pull in the past when stringing dipoles through the trees in some =
national
parks. Sometimes it was too simple to say I was doing government work =
than
to explain to this know-it-all summer intern that I was a ham op. But =
for a
handheld... that's nuts!=20

I don't mind telling people I'm a ham radio op, but a couple times that =
I've
been stopped and questioned, it was obvious the idiot doing the =
questioning
didn't like me being there. A flash of the ID and they left me alone, =
aside
from one occasion when the guy accused me of having a fake ID. To which =
I
offered to talk with his regional supervisor (knowing the name always =
helps)
to clear things up... (Which they don't want).=20

Most of the folks that you'll have problems with are summer interns or
otherwise temporary people. That goes for Forest Service, BLM and =
National
Park Service, etc. The people who haven't been in the government for =
very
long tend to be on a power trip half the time. But usually lack the
authority to direct traffic. (Seriously).=20

If you take the time to explain what you're doing 90% of the time you'll =
be
left alone. (Mention disaster communications training and show your FCC
license) The other 10% takes a little practice (see my suggestion =
below). Be
nice, be polite... but unless they are a law enforcement officer (as
distinguished by a gun) most of the time they don't have the authority =
to
tell you to stop. If they do tell you to stop, kindly ask for their =
name,
title and supervisor's name and telephone number, might even ask kind of
sarcastically (I've never had a problem here, how long have you worked
here?). Do it kindly though. i.e. "I'll stop for now since you think =
this is
an issue, but this really does need to be cleared up. I'd like to talk =
to
your supervisor so we don't have and more problems... I don't recall =
ever
seeing you here before when I've operated here in the past, how long =
have
you worked here?" =20

If they don't want to give you this information it's a good sign they're =
an
idiot. If they really have the authority (or think they do) they'll =
gladly
give you their supervisor's number. You can also ask to see the law that
prohibits amateur radio activity in that area or ask them to tell you =
which
section it is under. (There isn't one) "I don't remember seeing an anti =
ham
radio clause in the laws for this park when I looked, can you tell me =
which
section the rule you are referring to is under, I think I've got a copy =
of
them in my truck, you can point it out to me"=20
=20

As for this instance, seems like you handled it correctly.=20
You might also consider sending a letter to the secretary of the =
Department
of Interior, if you have not received a response from the NPS. It'll =
never
get to her, but it will get read and probably some response, if not =
deferred
to the National Park Service via official mail.=20

Gale A. Norton
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240

I will note that the permit the rangers (if they were rangers and not
interns) were probably talking about is a group permit. That's usually =
the
permit required, and the one they were referring that the last 'group' =
of
hams required. On forest service land a permit is required at 45-75 =
people
depending on the forest and similar on blm land.   In National Parks the
limit is much lower, and can require a permit for any group 'assembly.'  =
A
DXpedition of any size with typical equipment will almost certainly trip =
the
requirement for a permit in a park.  =20


Now, the catch to all of this... If the area is a higher security area, =
all
bets are off. Monuments, or places where security is more of a concern; =
if
an officer doesn't like the way you look or smell, you'd better have =
written
authorization to be there.


NOW FOR MY SUGGESTION; most potential problems can be handled with some
regard to how you answer their questions.=20

When asked "What the heck are you doing?"=20

Instead of "I'm an amateur radio operator, I'm going to talk to a few
buddies of mine who are waiting on me to call them"

Consider an answer like the following. (And don't use the word amateur =
until
after your initial response. If you use the word amateur, they'll think
pirate broadcast or such).=20

"I'm a Ham Radio Operator Licensed and operating under the authority of =
the
Federal Communications Commission; we're constantly doing Disaster =
drills
and testing our emergency communications capability to remote or =
disaster
prone areas. I've brought one of my portable radios that we can use when
normal communications fail during a disaster. My operations here today =
are a
test to see what type of communications we can expect from this location =
in
such a disaster. It tests my skills in communicating in less than ideal
conditions. It tests my equipment running off of batteries and makeshift
antennas, and it tests other ham radio operators around the world in =
their
ability to communicate with locations during such emergencies."=20

While you're reciting something to that effect you should have pulled =
out
your wallet and have handed the asking party you're license. So they =
have
tangible evidence to back up you're statements. Now, at no point in that
paragraph did you lie? That paragraph is the point right? Not just to =
rack
up grids... right? ;)

At this point, they'll either run scared ;) or they'll not know what to =
say
and leave you alone ;) or best of all, they'll be so intrigued they'll =
want
to know more about amateur radio.=20

If you're not totally set up and talking to people yet, say; "I'm not =
quite
ready yet, but if you want to come back in a little while I can show you
what it's all about and maybe even let you talk on it if you're =
interested."


Or if you are operating already.

Tune around the band a bit to see what you can hear and let the asking =
party
hear other stations tell them where the stations are, let them hear you =
talk
to someone and then preferably let them talk to someone. Not only will =
you
have answered the "what the heck are you doing here" question. But =
you'll
have gained a friend of amateur radio and possibly a future ham.=20

As we all know, Six meters isn=92t the best band to show off ham radio. =
Not
that there is a best band. But if the band is open, it's great. But =
tuning
around and letting the person hear static from around the globe is less =
than
ideal.=20

Also mention to them how long you'll be there. (a few hours) (camped =
over
night) (the weekend) When talking around the water cooler, they may get
someone else interested in what you are doing and they may drop back by =
to
see how it's going or to show off their new friend to another employee.
(I've had this happen). If they do drop back by, give them an update of =
the
places you have communicated and reiterate that during an emergency =
those
places would be likely places with which you could relay emergency
information.=20

Anyways, enough of my blabbering.=20


73
Zeb

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