Subject: Legal Advice Re: TVI
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 19:24:54 -0500
From: Michael & Andrea Hiltner the.hiltner.family@sympatico.ca
To: vhf@w6yx.stanford.edu
19 January 1998
Fellow Radio Amateurs;
Scope:
~~~~~~
I would like to receive your input on this topic of Television Interferance (TVI).
Radio Station Equipment:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Radio:
o Yaesu FT221R (8.5w RMS)
o Yaesu FT736R (25w RMS)
Amplifier:
o Mirage B310G (100w)
Antenna:
o Cushcraft 17B2 (35' - 40')
Prepreation:
~~~~~~~~~~~~
My QTH is in a rural area of Ontario, location the Quinte Island in FN13gx (The best 8.5 acres of real estate
in Canada!). Prior to setting my Amateur Radio Station on my property, I inquired with the local town
hall for Hillier Township, asking if there were any restrictions for antenna height, and transmitting output power.
The clerk at the town hall said to me that there were no restrictions in the township for Amateur Radio.
Problem:
~~~~~~~~
I have 2 neighbours in the immediate area. East and west of my my QTH. The neighbour to my east is
roughly 150' - 200' away, and to the west my neighbour is about 250'. I have yet to hear a complaint from my
nearest neighbour. The problem resides with the neighbour to the west of me.
Ever since I made note that I was a Radio Amateur to him, I receive a phone call from him when I transmit
with an output of 100w in the arc of 180 deg - 270 deg! Our roadway runs NW - SE.
This neighbour to the west also complains that I'm interfering with his portable telephone. He says he hears
me clear as a whistle... I doubt that personnaly!
Solution:
~~~~~~~~~
I have gathered information regarding TVI from the WWW and printed the information out and hand
delivered it to him to help him understand all avenues we can take. I also sent him information regarding his
portable phone to get in touch with the manufacturer to discuss further action he could take. ie: chokes, filters etc.
I have purchased both neighbours the Radio Shack Pass Band Filter for TVI. Asking them to install it inline
to their TV antennas.
This past summer, after receiving advice from other prominent Radio Amateurs in the local area (Elmers), I
spent $200+ to have scafolding erected on my property so I could ensure that my SWR was as best as I
could have. To my dismay, the SWR was at its peek prior to errecting the 17B2 in August.
Safety:
~~~~~~~
Of course my neighbour never has had any remorse for me putting my life in danger when I had the platforms
errected. Yes there were many occasions that I nearly lost my life! Do NOT attempt to errect 2 horizontal
partitions of scafolding going up 7 or 8 sections! Its just too stupid! Good neighbour relations or not! I will
NEVER do that for ANYONE again! He wants his TV signal to be as good as cable!
Present Situation:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
During the recent QSO Party, of which most of the time I spent was to the east for the guys in the affected Ice
Storm area, take a guess who calls my house MULTIPLE times that weekend HARRASSING me and my family?...
Yes you got that right, the neighbour to my west!
He has threatened me with legal action MULTIPLE times, and to each, I reply, please go ahead. I would
rather him take it to the authorities vice him harrassing me over the telephone each and every time I key the
mike from south to west!
I wish not to be dictated to from a neighbour who wishes to have my out going signal amplified by 60db. I
am only running 1/5th of the legal limit I am allowed for by my class of licence.
This particular neighbour has a strong influance in our community, and will make life for me as difficult or as
pleasurable for our family as he wishes to do so! I will not be bullied by threats by someone who
hold a high stature within our community! I am a small pee-on at work, being a Cpl in the Air Force, but the buck
stops there. No one with their head in the clouds has the right to dictate my presence in my community.
I would like to purchase the Mirage B5016G or simillar amplifier in the future, once funds dictate such a
valued purchase. As well I have a dream of having 4 17B2's in array! Once again a financial dream.
Observation:
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The neighbour to my west has since told me (AFTER I risked my life on that scafolding!) that he has 2 Pre-
Amps inline for his TV reseption! I was floored! I asked him when he had them installed? He replied when he
moved on the property! (5yrs ago. We have only been here for 1 3/4yrs) I was FLOORED! I risked my life to
help him out with this problem only to find that he kept such important information from me all this time!
No Thanks! It was calculated that he is amplifying all incomming signals by 60db!!! So for the 100w output that I
transmit with he must be absorbing and amplifing it to well over 3,000w!
I consider myself to be an "Active" member to my community with my Amateur Radio station, as humble as it
is. I am not rich by no means of the word, for if I was, I would have the best VHF antenna farm that
money could buy! (I like the photo of 42 17B2's (I think) in array for EME work I saw either in a magazine or
from a WebSite.) I have the property, just lack the antennas! I have the capabilities to operate
70cm, 2m and 6m, but can only afford to run the 2m band. (maybe someone could offer some advice to aquire a
few 17B2's to help my situation here ...). I enjoy Week Signal work. I enjoy QSLing everyone too, just
got VE2QQ/3's address, and have since sent him his QSL. This QSO occured during the September VHF Contest.
A contest I later found out that in my catagory; Single Op / Single Band, I was Canada's Top Operator for
operating 2m! My score then was 3,960, and this past weekend I accumulated an overall score of 4,278! I have
only been on SSB for 6 months, and I treasure my September 1997 VHF QSO Pin! I am also a member of the
Trenton ARC, as well as the Rochester VHF Group. I would like to become an member of the RAC and ARRL as
well as AmSat. In the future, I wish to operate the satallites. I would also like to become a member of the
NEWSG. Thats a great group of Amateurs!
I'm sure he would be the first to ask for assistance of me, if the Storm that took the east went as far as to our
west, taking down telephone poles, and hydro lines. The situation would no doubt be slightly different. We had
the Ice, but not the extensive dammage on this side of our island. Amateurs to the east took care of a majority of
the communications and that is still in effect for some of the more rural areas of our Province!
This is one of the major reasons I became a Radio Amateur Operator. We have Sprints and Contests to
ensure we have our Radio Stations primed for just the situation. Just like the gentlemen I made contacts with
during this past weekend! Those guys are Radio Amateurs who were prepaired for the WORST action Mother
Nature could set upon them!
Recomondations:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would like to receive as much input and advice (legal or otherwise) on this subject (both pro & con). It
would be truely appreciated if we had para-legals, baristors, lawers amoungst us who could share their advice.
I would like to present to my neighbour, authorities, and others that I have done the best I could from my
viewpoint. Your support in this matter will be extreemly welcomed. We need Radio Amateurs in
communities everywhere! We worked hard for our licences so we can support our communities, local & abroad.
I thank you in advance. Whew... I'm HOT right now!
73, and may your neighbours not cause you as much greef, as I encounter.
VE3VRQ, Michael
FN13gx
--
From: Michael, Andrea, Michael II & Brandon Hiltner
E-Mail: the.hiltner.family@sympatico.ca
URL: http://www3.sympatico.ca/the.hiltner.family/
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