We tend to get a bit of tunnel-vision when it comes to Ham radio. After all, we’re really into the hobby. But that doesn’t always mean everybody else is.
In my nearly four decades as a Ham, I’ve had several run-ins with neighbors who didn’t always appreciate the hobby as much as I did. Interference from my transmissions at bad times (like when a very important Illinois college basketball game was on TV during ARRL Sweepstakes), folks who found towers to be an eyesore, and other encounters haven’t always ended well. But there are some definite positive ways you can interact with your neighbors and deal with potential issues if they should arise.
- Be a Good Neighbor. It seems like fewer people take the time to get to know their neighbors as in decades past. Get to know yours. Find out who they are and what makes them tick. If things go well, have a cookout or offer to help them with home projects. Being neighborly is not only a good thing to do for your community, it can help make dealing with issues such as Ham radio antennas more palatable. It’s more difficult to be combative with someone once you get to know them.
- Demonstrate the Hobby. Many people fear what they don’t understand. Find ways to demonstrate Ham radio to your neighbors. Let them see your gear and ask as many questions as they like. Invite them to your club’s Field Day effort. Showing how you can help your neighborhood and community can put you in a better position with your neighbors.
My current neighbor has an IT background and was curious why I kept leaving my house with a hand-held VHF/UHF Yagi. When I explained I was talking to other Hams via satellite in a nearby field, his interest was piqued, so I invited him to watch me operate a satellite pass from that nearby field. I don’t expect he’s going to want to get licensed anytime soon, but he’s now open to the idea of me using a tree in his yard to support one end of an 80-meter dipole.
- Showcase the Value. I have another neighbor who is an elderly woman. Her uncle was a Ham when he was growing up, so she understood why I was attaching a mast to the side of my house with VHF Yagis. When we had a big hailstorm roll through in July, we lost power for almost 24 hours. She knocked on my door during the outage and asked if I’d heard any updates on the radio. Naturally, I’d been monitoring the local repeater and relayed what info I had, and she was grateful. Another idea: Get your club involved with your local government and offer to help with any communications needs they may have, such as logistical communications for parades or community events. Position yourself as an asset to the community, not a liability.
- If Problems Arise, Listen. None of us want to interfere with a neighbor’s TV, stereo, or other electronics. Not all of us are able to live out in the country with no neighbors, however. If you’re putting a station together, make sure all of your construction is above board and executed with the proper permits. Think carefully about the impact your antenna or tower installation may have on your neighbors.
Should you get a knock on your door about interference, listen attentively to what your neighbors have to say. Try not to have a knee-jerk reaction and blame the interference immediately on their poor-quality consumer electronics, even if that is likely the reason. If you’re on decent terms with them, see if they would be willing to conduct some tests to help isolate the issue. Ask for help from more experienced local club members if you need it, or reach out to the ARRL Laboratory; ARRL has a wealth of informationon RF interference and how to tackle RFI issues. Regardless, be as polite as possible without taking ownership of the issue immediately and listen to what your neighbors say.
Factor in other considerations as well. Can you enjoy being on the air with lower power or at different times of the day, even temporarily, to help mitigate interference issues? Being willing to compromise in the interest of good neighborly relations can go a long way.
Your non-Ham neighbors probably just want to live their lives, much like you do. Being friendly and welcoming without being creepy or nosey can help foster good relations with your neighbors, even in issues that have nothing to do with your radio hobby. In today’s world, we all need a little more kindness; let’s all do our part to help promote good relations in our community as well as with our favorite hobby.
What do you do to foster good relationships with your non-Ham neighbors? Leave a comment below or drop me a line via email [mailto:kx9x@yahoo.com] or on Twitter at @SeanKutzko!
