Conquering fears of operating amateur radio in public

Some amateurs give, as their reason for not operating portable or in public, the looks and reactions of other people. This is even though they're doing nothing wrong. In this video I address these concerns and give some tips on overcoming the fear of transmitting in public.
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[@akt67]

I just dont like people invading my space, I have ptsd and get a bit paranoid/grumpy.

[@mostlypostie1]

No QRP no QRP!!! Hahaha Who looks silly now. :)

[@Paul_VK3HN]

Noise levels in the suburbs are getting worse. Wireless electric car chargers are the next wave of EMF polluters. Portable in public places is the new normal! 73 Peter.

[@VK3ZPF]

Great video Peter. I've been working portable for many years and still have some fears when operating in a new area. I like the card idea and I'll be making up some with those details soon.

[@noisyaudio]

What about fear or making you're first contact? Great videos Peter.

[@OldF1000]

I don't kow if this will help but you will be in very good company with many hams I remember my first cw contact like it was yesterday I was a reck HI HI Just push thru it get easier 73 N8qju

[@INTHEMIX74]

its just bad enough having antennas all over you car ,i have 4 antennas codan 9350,8 foot whip, 2/70m antenna and uhf cb...and the stupid comments i get at the traffic light..."you trying to get to mars with them things".."why do you need all them antennas on your car"...get quite annoying

[@dictare]

Tell them you're spying for the government.

[@ak5sd]

I was doing a SOTA activation once and was using my Alexloop antenna. Somebody asked me if i was doing research of some kind. I said no and explained what I was doing. I don't know if they were embarrassed or what, but then they made a snide remark like "are you trying to talk to aliens?". I've had positive experiences from the public as well, like the one couple that was so fascinated by what i was doing that they sat there and watched me do an entire SOTA activation. All in all, however, I much prefer summits without other people traffic.

[@porkyfedwell]

Just go out in the middle of the woods with a camouflage suit on. Believe me, no one will bother you.

[@133Gordini]

This is a great subject that lots of Hams worry about. Well done on bring this up mate. Keep up the good work..73

[@wadepatton2433]

As some of my first Ham experiences were Field Day operations and Hamfests and I've long operated mobile HF with big goofy antennae. I have never had problems whipping out my radio right in front of people and making a contact or receiving a call. Every once in a great while you might even find someone who is interested.

[@roneymonte]

Everybody always ask If i'm fishing! 73

[@JxH]

Peter, when I see some of your videos, I can only imagine how long you'd last in 'a certain' country (another jurisdiction where I believe you also have a license) before getting stopped, questioned, lightly tasered, dragged away, etc. Low odds on any particular day, but keep it up for a month, and you'd eventually being filing a lawsuit and learning all about 'Qualified Immunity'.

[@pbthevlogs5561]

Thanks for the QRP day today (03/02/2018) Check my vlog :kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmXWpGiwgrdpjq8

[@realjohnboxall]

FEAR - False Evidence Appearing Real. Another great video, thank you.

[@cejaybee]

Nothing too exciting with Radio, but one time while Geocaching I had a ?drunk feral come up thinking I was a terrorist (..his turn to be the National Hero -_-) from walking around a dog park holding /electronic devices/... Sheesh, the then-girlfriend and I were dressed up like ASIO, not Al-Qaeda.

[@OldF1000]

I have sine I use it reads Amateur Radio Operator Eccentric but harmless Ask me about my hobby 73 But this is after being in the hobby for 30 plus years ; )

[@neira.francisco]

Too geeky perhaps? Oh Mhz! That's me

[@MarkPentler]

SOTA activations are where I fall foul of this psychological block

[@MarkPentler]

Also large sections of this are very close to the kinds of help you get in actual therapy. Just logicing things out in your head sometimes is enough

[@TheMajkla]

Hi, I am not a ham radio operator but I get the same experience often on shortwave DX'peditions. Funny comments like "he wants to talk to Martians with that long wire " or "He's an amateur radio operator" as if it was something weird. Similar goes for niche hobbies such as magnet fishing and metal detecting. I wonder how were you guys treated during the Cold War times with its spies paranoia.

[@laser31415]

Replace 'spy' with 'terrorist' and nothing much seems to have changed.

[@bill-2018]

Just laugh along with them. It's funny how people viewed amateur radio when I said I did it, then came CB and suddenly everybody wanted to do radio and became experts overnight. In that case I studied for and took the radio amateur's exam, I could have just become a CB'er. Somebody once asked if I did CB to which I replied, no, I do proper radio. I never told anybody at school I did shortwave listening because I know what their reaction would be. Ahh, the one valve H.A.C. kit built when I was 13 and had several years. The coils are now used in my wavemeter.

[@bill-2018]

This comment from Bill, G4GHB.

[@IvanPassos]

very good

[@bill-2018]

You've done some good videos, Peter. Years ago I was on a hilltop operating our 70 MHz band on a.m. using a Pye Bantam when another hiker came up and asked what it was. He was interested and stayed about ten minutes while I talked to a station several miles away. He said he was impressed. I like doing public demonstrations, our local agricultural show a few times, Manchester Museum of Science and Industry twice and a school twice. C'mon people, get out and do it, it's good fun. Bill, G4GHB.

[@jeromegrzelak8236]

Take a picture on your i phone or a hard copy good viedo peter 73 kg6mn

[@sebastianbunblauskis6212]

Nice video, Peter. 73 DE LU5WYT

[@TimScrimshaw1]

Lovely!

[@bahathir_]

Most important thing is, do not disturb surrounding. Sometimes we tend to speak louder which may annoying to others. Also, surrounding also may disturbing or annoying us during QSO or operating CW... Thank you, BAhathir, 9W2GNU, 73.

[@jeromegrzelak8236]

Hey Peter did u get the ubitx yet

[@vk3ye]

Not yet.

[@filthylucreonyoutube]

Six years later, and here in the USA you could go portable outdoors shirtless and no one would notice. No one will lift their faces off their phones long enough to see you.