Amateur Radio in the UK was featured in a primetime UK show on Channel 5 on Thursday 27th October 2016.
For episode 8 of the 5th series of “The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door“, radio amateur Armando Martins M0PAM from Herne Bay, Kent was featured.
Issues of his battles with neighbours and planning officials have been documented in the local press, but the story got an airing on mainstream UK TV. Here’s the promotional blurb released about the episode:
“Documentary about Britain’s feuding neighbours. Armando is passionate about his amateur radio, but the neighbours claim the 30ft mast is affecting their health.”
Watch on Demand: THE NIGHTMARE NEIGHBOUR NEXT DOOR – Series 5, Episode 8
Misrepresented?
It’s pretty clear that most radio amateurs strongly feel that they were misrepresented in this show, and the lack of accurate information has done a disservice to the hobby.
Mr Martins’ neighbours, not happy with the large antenna being erected in their retirement complex, blamed the HF antenna for causing TV interference (disproved by Ofcom), and creating health issues. Although the narrator states that there’s “no scientific eveidence to prove the link”
RSGB Statement
The following statement appeared on the RSGB site, in response to the programme:
“We work hard to build relationships with the media and often provide facts and help when programmes and articles featuring amateur radio are being prepared.
Unfortunately, the RSGB was not invited to be part of Channel 5’s “Nightmare Neighbour Next Door” programme or to verify any facts. We have, of course, contacted Channel 5 about our concerns and have highlighted the positive aspects of amateur radio. We have also offered our expertise and input for future programmes where amateur radio is mentioned.
Our volunteers spend a lot of time helping radio amateurs with planning applications. It is by putting forward facts during those processes that we can help to dispel myths about amateur radio and any impact on the public or environment.”
Feel strongly that the hobby was mis-represented? Ofcom Broadcast Complaints (Thanks to Trevor for the link)
Tweets from viewers
We picked up the following tweets that were sent out as the programming was airing:
- @Ali_the_geek Poor Martin it’s his hobby you old gits !!
- @ladypopss Let’s petition for Martin to get his antenna back!!!
- @redliz Sorry pal a 40 ft mast in a postage stamp garden in a sheltered housing development is ridiculous
- @Al_1690 Leave poor old Martin alone with his mast, the snobbery in this country is unreal
- @CharlieTweeets Awe,poor Martin,he wasn’t doing anything wrong. Bless him.
- @jordcoxx Justice for Martin
- @Bunny_mcdougal I feel sorry for Martin. He just wants to do his radio bless him.
- @strong_views Felt sorry for the poor old chap with the Radio… Very unfair
- @Hillustrate “I’m a Christian”…b*****ks! Poor Fella, he’s not doing any harm, all the oldies are just a group of bullies!
- @Pawyza Cancer from radio signals LOL. I genuinely think the OAP residents were just a bunch of racist bigots!! Poor old chap
- @RuRu_mb20 Can we set up a petition for Marty boy @jaejcunningham Ok, i found it an eye sore, but I wouldn’t have kicked off about it they did, that was just vindictiveness
- @smnhndmch Can’t believe the council sided with the moaning old biddies, bloody disgrace 75 year old man doing no harm to anyone
- @johnshorror So the lovely man has to take down his aerial (which looks fine) because a stupid bint thinks it’s giving her cancer?
- @CharlieTweeets I really feel sorry for Martin.Being accused of killing ppl. The old biddies are vile.
- @JeremiahBoogle Short-wave radio does not interfere with digital TV and, astonishingly, doesn’t cause cancer. Feel for you Martin!
- @Dale_Houghton1 Leave the man alone your all being bullys
- @AndyGibsonTV I am uber impressed with Martin’s radio systems. – I’d be in geek heaven in his house.
Links to the press coverage from 2014:
- http://www.kentonline.co.uk/herne-bay/news/radio-enthusiast-denies-90ft-mast-21621/
- http://hbm2015.com/radio-ham-loses-his-baffle-to-keep-30ft-mast/
Anyone with half a brain of common sense would not put up a tower like that in an old peoples complex
we would all like a tower like that but we have to be realistic about it and put up the best we can that keeps everyone happy idiot deserves all he got to my mind lets hope we all don’t start getting letters dropping through our letterboxes from the council as a result of this idiots actions
some mothers do have em lol
Not sure who’s side your on with comments like that……In Fact that is a Modest size antenna….
are you on the right side “OM”
let me put my Comment into perspective as i dont seem to be able to edit it ” as far as Proper HF beams Go its quite a modest size” compare with a Monoband Yagi or full size Tri-bander !. I know Several hams who have up larger antennas in relatively small plots of land.
Would you put that up in your garden without planning permission ?
I agree with Dave – Common-sense in the Ham community is a rare commodity. On the face of it, that aerial isn’t as big as some HF yagis get. However, Armando happened to install THAT particular aerial in THAT particular location. We do not have a God-given right to “enjoy our hobby” (at the expense of other people’s happiness). Common-sense should be exercised when putting-up a particular aerial. For example, a Hexbeam isn’t a particularly “large” aerial in the grand scheme of things – however, my garden is only 2cm wider than one so it would loom over both neighbour’s gardens somewhat. In the same vein, a 2ele 40m beam on a 60ft tower among 5acres of land may look “pretty”.
That said, programmes like this do not have the best interests of their participants at heart. The programme was purely an entertainment one and the production team were more interested in “entertainment value” and creating a “buzz” about its content. Use words like “radio” and “mast” next to a word like “cancer” and you’ve got a winner (in TV terms, at least). Why do you think many phone masts are deliberately concealed?
I wonder if he’d have had this problem had he stuck to an End-Fed/Doublet.
i thought the response i posted was related to the size of the antenna and mast not about planning permission….that’s a Different Subject….. but as you mentioned it !! i bet you or anyone’s Neighbors would not think twice about building an Extension on their property with or without your Approval if it so suited them…..something to consider when one is so worried about ones Neighbors !
I think that as long as the mast was in the confines of his garden then why should a load of nosey ******ds ruin his enjoyment, a for cancer, what a load of ******ks, you’ve more chance of getting cancer from the neighbourhood cat than that antenna, and it also shows that Canterbury city planning are load of spineless ****ers when it comes to matters they know nothing about.
If we want to keep our hobby then we have to try and get on with our neighbours. I can see why some people wouldn’t’ want to look out to this and they have as much right to enjoy thier environment as this man does to his enjoy his hobby. I fail to see why this needed to get out of hand. This doesn’t do the hobby any good. The man is selfish in my opinion and a compromise position would have been far better. Who knows he could have invited people in to see what it was all about and made some new friends.
For goodness sake them blaming HF signals that are harmless on cancer. If only they knew that the digital signals from their own mobiles and the mobile phone masts are a million times more harmful to their health then an analog HF antenna that is 33ft up in the air.
Ignorance is bliss I am afraid, That’s the trouble with a lot of people that have too much time on their hands and are not smart enough to do some serious research but then I am sure they have looked into it and have found that it is harmless and out of frustration want his mast down as they don’t like the look of it so blame it on everything they can anything to give them a case against the poor guy.
I am sure that they would not have any problems if some of the neighbours wanted motorhomes or some noisy cockerels that sound at dawn everyday.
Oh the good old days when I was active on HF and the bang on the front door . First of all you need to get planning permission because the first thing they will hit you with is ” Do you have planning permission ” As sooner or later your get a visit from the local planning authority . Its all very straight forward and I am sure your local club or the RSGB have all the information . I might also add it does not matter if your neighbours object all this your local council will take into consideration . But just putting up a mast without any of the above is asking for problems .
As for your TVI and BCI problems I bought in bulk 100 large ferrite rings and about 20 AKD high pass filters .Then went door to door with my 2m hand held ” In the shack my audio came out on the 2m base and that in turn operating the VOX on the HF radio . Once you have done all the above your then ready for the visit from the DTI inspector because sooner are later they will visit you . At this point you can show them all the receipts of the filters and the effort you have put in to resolve the matter .
As for black crispy children yes I had all this when I installed my 9 x Tonna and sooner after I installed my 5 Ele HF beam found that to small and bought a KLM 34XA . Even 30 years on I still get the odd complaint on how it looks but all the correct paper work is in place even then they tried to get me on my dish but I had planning permission .
Correct me if I’m wrong, and I have been wrong once before :-)
Is it not in our licence conditions that we must surrender our equipment and/or services if the emergency services need us/or kit ?
If so, does the council know this and could that info be used to bias a decision made at council level.
I was thinking that it could come from the perspective of ‘the operator bought with his own money his equipment knowing that it may aid the community when called to do so by local authority in national disaster times’
I know it’s a long shot but a long shot is better than a short surrender.
I just hope my neighbor hasn’t seen it, we don’t do getting on !
Victory or VHF-halla
Just watched it. What a complete load of media nonsense.
Either just dumb people living together or the old biddies thought that up to supplement their meagre pensions.
Agree it has done damage to the hobby and we should complain to C5 either as a group or individually.
The scientologists would have their lawyers on something like this straight away.
People can register their complaints about the programme with the broadcast regulator Ofcom using an easy to complete online form which is available at
https://ofcomforms.secure.force.com/formentry/SitesFormCSLEStandardsComplaints
73 Trevor M5AKA
Miserable old bastards …his mast wasnt hurting anybody …it wouldnt bother me ..i had a nieghbour once before with a bigger mast that that was ….live and let live you old gits .
Hi. Christopher fancett. G20831. I. Will go. On. 145.725. On. Monday at. 800pm. I have. Green. Badge. For. 9. Years. On. Short. Wave. Radio on. HF. Thankyou. From. Christopher fancett. G208331
Mind you, he didn’t do himself any favours by being confrontational. I think with a bit of diplomacy he may have had a different result.
Hi all I am the one on this saga and for all of those people are calling me names which I do not appreciated I would like to mention something here and if any one like to see I am here to show.
I DO HAVE WRITEN PERMISSION FORM CANTERBURY CITY COUNCIL TO PUT UP MY ANTENNA AND THE ANTENNA WAS UP FOR 18 MONTHS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM ONLY ARRISED WHEN I ASK NEXT DOOR TO CLEAR THE PASSAGE WHICH IS COMMUNAL TO BOTH OF US TO CLEAR TEH ASSULT COURSE HAS I HAD TO USE IT TO TAKE MY BIN IN AND OUT, AND HAS FOR THAT STUPID FAT WOMAN WHICH THINK SHE OWNS THE PLACE I CAN ONLY SAY f***** AND GO AND PLAY BINGO AND FOR THOSE WHO DONT KNOW THE FACTS THEY SHOULD NO CRITICISE WITHOUT KNOWING THE FACTS
This has been commented on based by facts presented to us by channel 5 after watching the program as with all tv programs they never tell the real truth only what they think the public want to see thanks for posting your account of what really happened
David
I would like to ask the guy that post here or some else the fact he say he can help me I do believe he is a solicitor some where in Wales. If he can read this I would like him to email me with is address and land line so I can speak with him.
My address and email is OK in QRZ.com
Martins
Olando how are getting on with this problem.
We are all thinking of you.
Are you still working from your vehicle outside your home?.
TIP- I use to have my radio equipment Rig PSU and tuner in my office and a long coax to my
vehicle outside. Its a lot warmer inside the building and saves on vehicle battery….
I’m having the same issue as this gentleman but my HF antenna is a 24 ft vertical that’s stood freestanding for 6 years without complaint
But now wanted to be taken down I’ll lose the use of 20 to 10m bands and being house bound ham radio is my life its like someone taking a disabled persons wheelchair of them its just sickening that councils and housing associations can do this
I’m a foundation licence holder and limited to 10 watts RF
G1PHL
I got really angry with the programme… it was a simple case of uneducated selfish bias vs someone with a hobby that was legal and officially permitted with no health hazards ever proven to people at ground level… it was a conforming ham being bullied by someone, yes I mean someONE not an educated group whos argument was what THEY knew to be truth, even though they made up the argument.
I’ve been here 34yrs and an amateur for 40… I’ve NEVER had a complaint or an enquiry to ofcom… UNTIL I put up an HF colinear through my loft window… 30yrs NO enquiries then IMMEDIATE complaint as I must be a danger to health and interfering with everything.. internet, phones, computers tv etc…. none of which had a problem with my experimental indoor antennas that were much more likely to cause problems but didn’t.
what they couldn’t see gave no problems.. EVE