here was despair, excite-ment, equipment failure, sig-tions!), mud, ra - PDF document

ÒT here was despair, excite-ment, equipment failure, sig-tions!), mud, rain, sun, four-letter wordsThatÕs what Joshua Mesilane,VK3XJM, wrote just after participating A Different Kind of Contest Foxhunting isnÕt like other on-the-aircontests. There are no mandatory timeperiods, no universal rules, and no logÕs just a weekend to set asideÕt even have to haveham licenses, because they will be Whether you call it foxhunting, T-hunting, radio-orienteering, or somethingelse, CQÕs Foxhunting Weekend is the ideal time to experience it. Foxhunting Weekend BY JOE MOELL,* K ¯ OV *ARRL ARDF Coordinator, PO Box 2508,Fullerton, CA 92837 At the 2012 Dayton Hamvention¨foxhunt there were two dozen tiny 2-meter trans- 50¥CQ ¥June 2013Visit Our Web Site ment. However, there are no restric-tions on bands, modes, or frequenciesThe Victorian Foxhunting Champion-ships, described above by VK3XJM,could be called Òextreme foxhunting.ÓThe fun started a half hour after noonwith a mobile hunt on the 1.2-GHz band,2That would be plenty for most state-side foxhunters, but these Aussies wereHaving worked up a good appetitethrough the afternoon, it was time for a for the 2011 Hamvention¨foxhunt. (Photo by Bob Frey, WA6EZV) www.cq-amateur-radio.comJune 2013¥CQ ¥51 The Buddipole™ Portable Dipole ts in your travel bag and assembles in minutes. The Buddipole is more than an antenna, it’s a versatile system for launching your signal. Optimized for transmit power and proven for DX work, the Buddipole is the secret weapon used by HF portable operators all over the world.WHAT IS THE BUDDIPOLE?� Multi-band design works 9 bands (40 meters thru 2 meters) with one set of adjustable coils!� Rated from QRP to 250 watts PEP� Modular Design – create dozens of different antennas with interchangeable parts� Rotatable/Directional� Lightweight, rugged components� Rotating Arm Kit allows users to instantly change antenna congurations� Used by Emergency Services Groups throughout the world Please call or write for free brochure! 3028 SE 59th Ct. #600 Hillsboro, OR 97123info@buddipole.comtel: (503) 591 8001 fax: (503) 214 6802 SEE YOU AT DAYTON BOOTHS 16 AND 17 IN THE MAIN ARENA! NEW RIGID SERIES ADJUSTABLE WHIP ANTENNASThese combine the ruggedness of our military-grade shockcord elements with the adjustability of a telescopic antenna to provide a truly no-compromise eld antenna. Available in multiple congurations.BUDDIPOLE FEATURESwww.buddipole.comSee our videoswww.youtube.com/buddipole it wasnÕt. Eventually we went towardwhere the fox suggested and nobodyelse had been. We ended up being sec- There hasnÕt been a statesideFoxhunting Weekend event of thatÒfree for allÓ hunts where eachteam hides one or more unattendedÕs signals forTiny VHF and UHF transmitters on cir-cuit boards smaller than a stick of3Thats what was used thisyear for the Ski Country Amateur Radio ¯ G,concealed a tiny transmitter inside a ten-nis ball in tall grass. Phil Krichbaum, ¯ KE, was first to properly identify it.According to Bob, ÒThe large number ofdogs at the picnic led to some tense Reports from Canada ÒThe foxhunting bug is now alive againamong the VE4Õs of Winnipeg.Ó So wroteMay 13. From the top of a toboggan hill,Õs signal to thesuburb of Transcona, where they even-A full radio-orienteering coursebrought out both beginners and experts Where is the transmitter? Inside thistennis ball! Bob Cutter, KI ¯ G, made thisrolling fox for the Ski Country AmateurRadio Club picnic and foxhunt. (Photocourtesy KI ¯ G) Radio foxhunting is a wonderful activity for Scouts and youth. Bob Frey, WA6EZV,of Jacksonville (standing at rear) helped these five Florida Scouts build measur-WA6EZV) As interest in ARDF spread throughEurope three decades ago, a committee ofIARU was formed to write standardized rulesÕt have to compete againstAt national and world championships,there are separate hunts during separateCompetitors receive a detailed color ori-enteering map of the forest just before theyown RDF gear. Scoring is done first by num-There is no Òmass startÓ in championshipARDF. Each person is timed individuallyÕt allowed. Hunters are notpermitted to give clues to one another onARDF World Championships take placeevery even-numbered year in a country that Joe Moell, K ¯ OVARRL ARDF Coordinator Radio Foxhunting with International Rules 52¥CQ ¥June 2013Visit Our Web Site who learned the sport in Europe andhas won national championships inHerzegovina as well as theformer Yugoslavia. Winner was GrantFor five years, Neil Robin, WA7NBF,of Port Angeles, Washington has orga-Õs hunt requiredboth vehicular and on-foot hunting skills. WA7NBF published a map of the areaof Silverdale, a Navy town with two sub-Õs parked vehicle. From there,they would hunt on foot for two moreFoxhunting brought extra fun to theannual Summer Family Outing of theAfter that, it was time for everyone tosearch for the four 2-meter transmittersÒAll agreed that it was not aseasy as it looked, and it was a lot more ÒIn Chicago,Ó says Mike Brost,WA9FTS, Òit is Foxhunting Weekendevery weekend. There is no seasonalÓ The 2012 Foxhunting Weekendevent on 146.985 MHz was typical forLevand, AA9CC, the winner, used theWA9FTS is Editor and CirculationManager of Chicago Foxhunting News Opportunities in 2013 As in Chicago, transmitter hunts takeplace year-round where I live in sunny,4CQs Foxhunting Weekend kicks off the www.cq-amateur-radio.comJune 2013¥CQ ¥53 www.daysaver.comsales@daysaver.com Custom orReady-MadeCoaxial Assemblies We take great pride in our work! Custom orReady-MadeCoaxial Assemblies Visit us on-line for cableselection and great prices See these fine and loyal dealerssince 1989 for our high qualityproducts Ð AES & HRO Since1989 USAMade Outstanding Transmit AudioIs Our Specialty WW22IIHHYY TTeecchhnnoollooggiieess Add the legendary W2IHY 8 Band Equalizer And Noise Gate to yourshack and get ready for great audio reports! From smooth rag-cheweffective signal. Universal Interface lets you use most any microphonewith any radio including classics. I-K-Y selector for plug-n-play withpopular brand micro-phones. Switched outputs for 2 radios.Headphone Monitor. RFI protection. 8 Band EQ W2IHY 8 Band EQ &Noise Gate Thousands EQplusBy W2IHY Premium AudioProcessing Did you turn on an amplifier? Your signal is loud and squeaky-clean.EQplus users hear that report all the time. Compressor/LimiterLED Bar Graph. Front panel controls. Universal Interface matches mostall mics, all radios. I-K-Y mic selector. Switched outputs for 3 radios. Products purchased from W2IHY include 30 Day Money Back Guarantee and 3 Year Parts/Labor Warranty. Top-rated Product Quality, Technical Support and Customer Service. 845-889-4253email: julius@w2ihy.com order online atwww.w2ihy.com W2IHY Technologies Inc. 19 Vanessa LaneStaatsburg, NY 12580 Awesome AudioDemonstrationswww.w2ihy.com son. If my mail is any indication, itÕs going to be a great year,with more activity than ever. Besides lots of local hunts, thereIf you are attending the Dayton Hamvention¨, donÕt missthe annual Foxhunting Forum at 11 AM on Friday, May 17 inÕs Hamvention¨hunt was organized by BobFrey, WA6EZV; Dick Arnett, WB4SUV; Brian DeYoung, ARRL Handbook was the prizefor winner Matt Sanderson, KC9SEM, who found 20 trans-mitters within the one-hour time limit. Transmitter hunting is also an annual tradition at the AESSuperfest in Milwaukee. In 2012, Paul Gruettner, WB9ODQ, ARRLHandbook f or his efforts. SEA-PAC 2013, the ARRL Northwestern DivisionConvention in Seaside, Oregon5will be a good place to learnabout international-rules on-foot foxhunting. Dale Hunt,WB6BYU, will give a Ògetting startedÓ presentation on thatFoxhunting is often a part of other annual get-togetherssuch as the Duke City Hamfest and the Huntsville Hamfest.hunts. If not, volunteer to put one on! In southern California,At this event last year, I put out five transmitters on one 2-meter frequency in an international-rules course plus four transmitters for beginners on four separate 2-meterThe high point of 2013 for fans of international-style fox-tailing will be the Thirteenth USA ARDF Championships inÕs ARDF champi-Hosting these championships will be Joseph Huberman,K5JGH, and Ruth Bromer, WB4QZG. Setting courses and ¯ I,and Nadia Scharlau, who was ARDF Team USAÕs firstWorld Championship medal winner back in 2006. The option-al training, sprints, and foxoring events will be October 9ÐÐUSAs national Championships are open to anyone whocan run or walk through the forest for 5 to 10 kilometers whileÕs elite radio-orienteers6K5JGH and WB4QZG were among the men and womenfrom nine states and Canada who traveled to the Mt. Laguna Karla Leach, KC7BLA, of Bozeman, Montana and RuthBromer, WB4QZG, of Raleigh, North Carolina proudly show2013. (Photo by Joseph Huberman, K5JGH) Bob Cooley, KF6VSE, of Pleasanton, California broughthome four medals from his trip to Serbia for the 2012 ARDFMoell, K ¯ OV) 54¥CQ ¥June 2013Visit Our Web Site Johnston, KE6HTS, was General Chairfor these Championships, which tookÕs7These championships were a quali-fying event for ARDF Team USA, whichÕs eighth appearance at8 Ready, Set, Go! Its time to start talking up foxhuntingaround your club and in your repeatert impose rules or offer prizes forÕs up to youIf your club has always had one kindof hunt on Foxhunting Weekend, whyÑno need for any regu-Foxhunting teaches an importantskillthe ability to find the source of sig-Õs fun!Õt let the excitement of theEvery member of your club is a poten-tial participant in Foxhunting Weekend.Afterwards, write up the results andsend them to me. The list of information9We need details of date,location, hiders, and winners. ReadersTake lots of photos for your clubnewsletter and please send some to mefor a follow-up article. Although digital  7 printsmight be usable. A camera of at leastfour megapixels will provide detailedI am eager to read your reports of2013 Foxhunting Weekend activities The 80-meter band is excellent for foxhunting, especially for beginners. Equipmentis small and easy to carry. Confusing signal reflections from buildings and hillst exist on that band. Joseph Huberman, K5JGH, of Raleigh, North CarolinaChampionships in his state during October. (Photo by Joe Moell, K ¯ OV) Notes 1. http://www.homingin.com/equipment2. Imagine putting RDF equipment for all those bands in and on your car. You can seewhat their loaded vehicles look like in a whimsical video at: http://www.youtube.3. http://www.homingin.com/boxes(http://www.mcrca.org) 5. http://www.seapac.org www.cq-amateur-radio.comJune 2013¥CQ ¥55