[UK-CONTEST] Portable operation

[Dave Sergeant]

On 4 Dec 2002 at 17:47, STEPHEN C J BUNTING wrote:

> I was QRV last night calling CQ when I got a knock on the car window. In a
> built up area this is to be expected and I usually get the normal questions
> and try to push the hobby a bit. Not last night.

It is always a good idea, certainly if you are going to use a 
particular site regularly or for a major contest, to obtain written 
permission to use that site. In theory every bit of land in the 
country has an owner, in your case it probably is the local council. 
Having a piece of paper in your hands to show any enquirers is always 
a good idea.

I use a local park for some of my own hf contests. For NFD we 
obtained with no problem a letter of permission, and in any case we 
needed vehicular access which required us to be given a key. When I 
used it for the low power contest, a much lower key affair,  I 
decided formal permission was not required - in the event a local 
teenager larking about rode his bike straight through one of the 
antenna guys, fortunately no harm was done (very sorry mister...), 
but it could have had nasty consequencies. In general putting on such 
stations normally generates positive interest in the hobby and it is 
rare to get any friction. It would seem in your case obtaining 
permission is the way to go in the future - and if possible putting 
the station further from the road to make it less visible (difficult 
if you want to actually operate from the car).

As regards radiation dangers, in this day and age the public is very 
edgy on perceived dangers from any sort of transmitter. As you may 
know, the USA and other countries have now produced guidlines and 
safety limits for amateur stations which must be used where there is 
public access. Your 150W on 144/432 is probably in the grey area 
where radiation becomes significant. It may be worthwhile you doing 
the field strength sums according to the USA rules and having them 
available to show in the case of questions - showing that you have 
thought about it must impress, even though some will refuse to accept 
anything. I think this was discussed in a recent QST, though I am 
sure you will find the figures on the ARRL web site.

73s Dave G3YMC

dsergeant at iee.org
dsergeant at btinternet.com
http://www.dsergeant.btinternet.co.uk