How to set up a ham radio tower in a residential neighborhood.

The first step, of course, is to simply set it up and leave it there for a month or so with not so much as an antenna or lead-in attached to it. This will give you a chance to listen to all of the neighbors that are jerks to call the various authorities and complain of all of the interference you are not causing and permits them to cut their own throats.

It also helps to shut down you rigs during the month so as to make sure they can't play the angle of "That damned tower is going to make things worse".

A month or six weeks is ample time for them to flap their traps and call the various city agencies and register their complaints and it is pretty likely they will as they really have nothing against ham radio itself. They just want the tower down because they think it is destroying the view or is an eyesore. A month or six weeks is ample time for them to cut their own throats and have the municipality see them for what they are.

As for the eyesore complains, paint a bunch of rocks white and encircle the base and put a pretty flower on all four sides. You can then say you have landscaped it tastefully. If they do not buy that, simply get an old bathtub and half bury it facing the tower and put a Virgin Mary statue in it with a spotlight shining down on her 24/7.

Tell them it is a religions shrine

It is necessary now make sure you have a friend or two that will testify that you have not even attached an antenna to the tower because it is likely that one of these idioits is going to call you a liar and you want to have a leg to stand on.

Of course, if you are lucky enough to have a fellow ham on the local police department that has been through this there is another tack to try.

Have him take any complaints from the neighbors and maybe you can get a scenario like this to take place:

"Officer, that man is causing interference to my TV with his radio station."

"Yes, Sir. When did this interference take place?"

"Last night."

"Funny. He was in jail last night. How could he have been on the air?"

"Uh...uh...Well... Well...Uh...Whatwasheinjailfor?"

"There was a brawl it the club last night and he put four Penn State football players in the hospital. We released him this morning as it was determined that he didn't start anything. He sure finished it, though!"

"Oh, FOUR Penn State football players? In the hospital?"

"Yeah. Multiple broken bones. It took six of us to wrestle him into the car. You really don't want to get the guy mad at you."

"Uh...uh...I guess the interference came from someone else..."

"Must have."

You are now free to install your antennas and lead ins and go on the air.

In the event you don't have a police officer, you can try plan 2.

Get a couple of big olive complexioned guys and put them in suits and rent or borrow a limo and have the pair visit the complainer.

"Mistah Piccolo is da bawsses FAVORITE nephew and da boss is glad to see him innerested in ham radio so he stays outta trouble. By da way, what sized cement shoes do you wear?"

There is another angle that can be played, too.

You act concerned and look thoughtful and listen carefully.

After they have voiced their concerns, you reply thoughtfully with, "I was afraid of that. Now I'm going to have to add another fifty feet to the tower to cut down on the interference that I am not causing."

All it takes is a little imagination.



my other blog is: http://officerpiccolo.blogspot.com/ http://piccolosbutler.blogspot.com/