SPARC Fox Hunt Background Why do a fox hunt? Some IARU Rules… SPARC Event June 5, 2013

Background Fox hunt is a common name for hunting a hidden radio transmitter – Transmitter hunt, T-hunt – Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) – Foxoring ARDF: regional and international hunts following IARU rules (80m and 2m) Local hunts add additional bands with rules by the sponsoring club (50, 223, 440, and 1200 MHz) – May be on-foot, mobile, bicycle, cross country skiing, etc. Ham license not required to participate in the hunt 2

Why do a Fox Hunt? Activity for New/Existing Technicians New way to use those VHF/UHF handhelds Learn and use some new antenna types Improve radio skills – Finding sources of RFI – Amateur radio self-policing – Search and rescue – Wildlife tracking 3

IARU ARDF Events & Rules Conducted on 80m (CW) and 2m (AM) – Two separate days (training event the day prior) – On foot, starting every 5 minutes – Five transmitters plus a finish beacon on each band 400 meter separation Individual competition by age group Transmitter – Transmit for 60 seconds on five-minute interval – 80m: five watts max – 2m: one watt max 4

IARU ARDF Events & Rules Map showing start and finish points Transmitters are marked by an orange/white flag (no more than 4 meters from antenna) Control Card or Electronic Registration – Verify that the transmitter was found Most transmitters in shortest time wins Doping is not allowed! 5

What Does it Look Like? 6 Transmitter Flag Punches

SPARC Event Conduct an on-foot transmitter hunt Has the feel of a national or international ARDF event – Scaled down – Simple rules, but still challenging – Use gear that many of us already have 7

SPARC Event Transmitters will be placed in the wooded area of Claude Moore Park Map showing general location of transmitters Two hidden transmitters – One on 2m and one on 70cm – Marked with orange/white flag Finish Beacon Teams of no more than two hams – Staggered 5 minute starts Read the code name off of each transmitter Shortest time to find both foxes wins 8

Equipment Needed Dual Band HT or handheld scanner – FM reception on 2m and 70cm Some type of directional antenna – Tape-measure Yagi – Loop Attenuator – Step – Offset 9

Some Sources for More Info General Information – Rules, building antennas, attenuators, strategy, and links to many other sites – Numerous articles in QST and CQ VHF – See Jan 2013 QST on making a 2m Loop Antenna Arrow Antennas (handheld antennas and attenuators) Elk Antennas (dual band log-periodic) 10