Kevin Paetzold, K1KWP writes:
The Minuteman Repeater Association and the Quannapowitt Radio Association have scheduled a joint hidden transmitter fox hunt on Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
– The fox will be a stationary ham radio operator in a vehicle transmitting on 146.19 MHz PL 146.2. This is the input frequency of the MMRA Weston repeater (146.79 PL 146.2).
– The fox will be located within 10 miles of the Weston repeater which is at North 42deg 22.8′ West 071deg 19.2.
– The signal from the fox must be strong enough so the fox can be understood on the repeater output.
– The fox will transmit for at least 30 seconds of every five minutes during the fox hunt. The fox hunt begins at
10:00AM and ends when either there are no more hunters who have not found the fox or noon.
– The fox must continue to transmit on the hunt frequency throughout the hunt. However, hunters are prohibited from
transmitting once they have located the fox.
– The fox must not be on private property. In order to be found the fox must not require driving on private roads.
– Cooperation among the hunters is encouraged. Sharing initial direction bearings and signal strength
observations is necessary to allow some localization (for example the town where the fox in located) so that finding
the fox within the time limits is more likely.
– Home stations are also encouraged to participate and share their readings. As the hunt progresses, information
sharing is less valuable.
– Information is generally shared via the 2M repeater used for the hunt (in this case 146.79 MHz PL 146.2). Many
hunters use 70-cm to talk and to hear what others are saying as their 2-Meter radio may be dedicated to RDF on
the repeater input frequency.
The MMRA 70cm HUB1 repeater in Marlboro will be linked to during the hunt. Hunters therefore may transmit on either
2-meters or on 70-cm to join in the conversation. HUB1 repeater output is 449.925 PL 88.5 and the input is
444.925 PL 88.5.
As the hunters approach the fox conversations often shifts to 446.0 MHz FM simplex.
– We plan to have lunch at a restaurant near the fox location after the hunt. Lunch location will be a
consensus decision of those hunters who have found the fox.
– Ham radio operators who do not have equipment or who would like to gain experience from riding with an experienced
fox hunter are invited to ride along.
It is expected that each hunter will start from separate locations (as determined by the hunter).
Contact k1kwp@mmra.org (Kevin) and n1be@mmra.org (Bob) to coordinate ride alongs if needed. Those hunters who have room and are willing to accommodate riders are also asked contact K1KWP and N1BE.
This information is also posted at: http://www.mmra.org/foxhunts.