Every time.

[johnk]

I set up next to some railroad tracks across from our city hall/police station so we could listen the train communications coming down the line.... apparently our law enforcement gets suspicious about directional antennas pointing their general direction... "Yes, sir. Ham radio. Want to try?" They like playing with radios around here luckily.

[DrewMiokovic]

I was doing POTA in Boulder Co last year, I had a lady storm up to me after I slung my dipole up a tree and screamed at me, "what exactly is this?!?!?!" "what are you doing?!?!" I said, "I'm trying to contact my home planet because I need to catch a ride home" She said, "well I'm calling the park ranger". LOL

[Wingrider]

In my case, they called the HOA, not the cops. Unfortunately for them, I had already received approval from the HOA. I am approved for multiple antennas, including vertical, Yaggi-Uda, EFHW, OCF, and a satellite tracking antenna, as long as they stay below 30 feet. They do not need to be hidden by the house.

[LanceSheppard]

😂😂😂 dude I've got one for you, my friend and I was set up for field day 2022 on the blue ridge parkway, people would ask what are yall doin? And joke talking to aliens.
Me with not cracking a smile: no we are a rapid deployment detachment and we are tracking Russian hypersonic warheads launched 10 mins ago.
My friend adds in non scripted: we have 20 minutes until impact
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
🤷🏻‍♂️

[jasonjasper]

I swear every time and I mean EVERY TIME I do POTA I get the "Are you talking to aliens?!?" Especially if they hear FT8 coming out the speaker 😂

[walteredwards]

It all depends on which neighborhood I set up in. It runs the gambit from derision and ridicule to outright fascination and joy

[thebugg]

Im at the point where i need to negotiate with my wife if i put up another wire above our tiny home..she can only see 2, but theres more.

[KQLNZ]

I am 13 years old and i take a HT to school every day (Motorola XPR7550e) everyone calls it a "walkie Talkie" and i continue to tell them it is not a walkie talkie it is a wide band transiver or a Radio and a "walkie talkie" commonly Transmits on FRS (Family Radio service) and they don't have a detachable antenna. They just look at me and go Huh. Also I hate the bus drivers using the repeater channel to talk to a bus 5 yards away. And not using the Simplex channel. Also just passed my Tech exam!

[teacupanimates]

everytime i talk about radios or look up radios in school im called “old school guy” or “i have a phone for talking to people” O_O

[javabeanz]

I see the all important Hydroflask has a prominent place ;0) I remember a few times we had cops show up while we were out trsnsmitter hunting on CB radios, most of the time, cops shugged and went back on patrol.

[Only_Hams]

Luckily I'm in Ohio which is the epicenter of ham radio in America 😆

[Rockymtprep]

My side job in construction is so great on account of I have my ht setup for the local repeaters and the company channel and the boss does not care at all

[haxboi]

Don't forget the stares you get too

[threeforkcreekoutdoors]

Called the cops for what, lol, them to tell her we're completely legal

[Aeronate]

I’ve actually have had the cops called on me while calling CQ in my truck on 20ms

[alphawolf]

Oh, yes, the HOA Karen in its natural habitat.

[eahwt]

this happens to me all the time in the park LOl

[Cadet_Sunny]

I was scanning gmrs
Frequency’s in a car
during a school event and my
Friend looked
Over my shoulder and said. You a Alien hunter or
Something?

[kimoclyde]

Why does it seem to always be females who "call the cops"? 🤔

[rickgruber]

My reply to You talking to Aliens? "Well if the person I'm talking to on the other end of the conversation is by chance an undocumented citizen of this country then you are right...I'm talking to an alien". That usually shuts them up.

Is that a CB?
"No what I'm using is far beyond your comprehension level when compared to what you refer to as a "CB" it's like comparing Tijuana to Beverly Hills".