Foxhunting

The KD1D  RF Fox  is out for one last hunt before hibernation.  

The KD1D Fox operates on 146.565 MHz FM with an output power of about 50 milliwatts and is currently located somewhere in Littleton.  It can be heard in the area  on Route 119 /2A between Route 110 (Littleton Common) and Route 27 (where the rail trail crosses).  If you’re not familiar with the area, check out the expandable map on

https://littletonconservationtrust.org/trail-guide/

Clues:   A small three-leaved plant and one of the Disney chipmunks.

73 and good hunting de KD1D Alan

The trail may be a bit wet in spots.  Boots are advised.

The KD1D Fox decided it would be a good day to test our direction-finding skills.

As usual, the Fox is transmitting on 146.565 MHz FM at about 50 mW, with a 20-30 second message repeating every 60 seconds.

The transmitter is somewhere in the vicinity of the Stone Arch  Trail in Westford, MA.. For additional information and a map of the area, check out:

https://westfordconservationtrust.org/tws_holding/stone-arch-trail/

For additional guidance, email me at kd1d@arrl.net

73 and good hunting from KD1D, Alan

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the Waltham ARA list and NEMassFoxHunters list at 4:45 PM on November 5, 2021:

Yes, the K1MJC Fox is out yet again!

Well, I checked the weather and decided to take a chance it’s looking OK, perhaps maybe a bit chilly and some clouds Sunday afternoon.

The fox is in somewhere in an area within the City limits of Waltham, MA. 

I’ve decided to up my game, and placed in such a way so as to limit your   Prospects   in finding it!

As usual, it will be retrieved before Sundown Sunday.

One of The maps on this page would prove useful!

https://walthamlandtrust.org/trail-guides/

Happy hunting!

Fox Hunt #3 of 2021 This hunt will include 2 Foxes. The first Fox will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM and the second at 10:02:30 on 146.430 MHz FM

When:
Saturday, October 23, 2021
10:00am to 3:00pm
(UTC-04:00) America/New York

Where:
The Foxes will be located within a 10-mile radius of the center of the Veteran’s Memorial bridge connecting Fall River and Somerset on US Route 6 (41.7266508, -71.1516237).

Organizer: Skip Denault and Jay Hodkinson Skip – kb1cnb@bcra.club and Jay – kb1nyt@bcra.club. Check-ins will begin at 9:45 am on the BCRA repeater, 145.150 MHz PL 123. Chat and help on the repeater also.

View Event

Description:

NOTICE NEW DETAILS BELOW WITH A NEW CHALLENGE!

Communications with “Fox Control” can all be done over the BCRA repeater, including checking in when you have found the fox. You may also speak with us in the control vehicle using physical distancing if you wish.

The here will be TWO foxes – one manned by KB1CNB, Skip, and one by KB1NYT, Jay. When you find one of the foxes, you will get a hint to help you find the second (if you want!).

Check-ins will begin at 9:45 am on the BCRA repeater, 145.150 MHz PL 123. Chat and help on the repeater also.

The first Fox will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM and the second at 10:02:30 on 146.430 MHz FM with a 5-watt signal and both will transmit 1 minute of tone followed by Morse Code ID and 4 minutes of silence. As the hunt progresses we may increase the transmission times – that will be announced on the BCRA repeater. The hunt will last until 3:00 pm or until all checked-in participants have found the transmitters, whichever comes first.

The Foxes will be located within a 10-mile radius of the center of the Veteran’s Memorial bridge connecting Fall River and Somerset on US Route 6 (41.7266508, -71.1516237).

The first Fox (in my vehicle, a blue/grey Jeep Commander marked BCRA) will be in a public place and will be manned at all times. When you have found the fox your time and order of arrival will be recorded and a personalized certificate will be emailed to each participant.

Participants are encouraged to work in teams and are asked to drive carefully and observe all applicable guidelines, both from the FCC and the state & local governments. Since participants are receiving only (except for radio check-ins) an amateur radio license is not required.

Email questions to Skip at kb1cnb@bcra.club or text to 774-644-3469. After the hunt, your comments, impressions, and suggestions will be welcome!

Join us and have some good amateur radio fun!

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the Waltham ARA list and NEMassFoxHunters list at 2:40 PM on October 8, 2021:

Yes, the K1MJC Fox is out yet again!

Got out of work early, so it’s out early.

Well, I checked the weather and decided to take a chance it’s looking OK, perhaps maybe some sprinkles Sunday afternoon.

The fox is in somewhere in a conservation area within the city limits of Waltham, MA.

I don’t want to give away the  store, but it is within one I have placed it before!

As usual, it will be retrieved before sundown Sunday; if raining, sometime Monday. Maybe the batteries will last until at least Monday morning.

One of the maps on this page would prove useful!

https://walthamlandtrust.org/trail-guides/

Happy hunting!

Mike C. K1MJC 73

p.s. — If the clue is way too vague, I can usually be found on the Waltham UHF repeater,  input 444.0750, output 449.0750, tone in 88.5, tone out , none.

The KD1D Fox is on the air: 146.565 MHz FM, transmitting for about 20-30 seconds every 60 seconds

You may be able to hear it from the Westford Town Common (Boston Road and Main Street), but you may have better luck taking a bearing from the park near the top of Parkhurst Drive.

The approximate location is One of the Conservation Lands listed at:
https://westfordconservationtrust.org/trust-land/

73 and Happy Hunting from Alan, KD1D

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the Waltham ARA list and NEMassFoxHunters list at 5:33 PM on September 24, 2021:

Yes, the K1MJC Fox is out yet again! I watched the weather and decided to take a chance.

The fox is in somewhere in a conservation area, and for all those eager Beavers you might be able to locate it before Sundown today.

As usual, it will be retrieved before Sundown Sunday.

One of The maps on this page would prove useful! https://walthamlandtrust.org/trail-guides/

Happy hunting!

Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 12:05 PM on September 4, 2021:

Hello Fox Hunters,

The KB1OIQ 2m 146.565 MHz fox is on the loose in the town of Westford.

The clue:  Peace be with you

Enjoy the nearby bench and the view as your reward for finding the fox.

There is no log book.  Take a photo if you wish, and email it to me…..or not, as you choose.  🙂

Have fun, and 73,

Andy

George, K1IG, suggested setting up a Fox at a residence or public building, that would simulate an interfering or unlicensed transmitter (that wasn’t hidden in the woods in a tick nest, for example).  

As of 6:00 pm EDT, the KD1D Fox is in such a location in Westford.  If you take some initial readings from Hildreth Hills (Monadnock Drive and surroundings), you should get a hint of where it might be.  (It can also be heard from Kimball’s, but it might be best to save that for a reward at the end of your quest).

As usual, the KD1D Fox operates on 146.565 MHz FM with a message that repeats every 60 seconds

There is no logbook and hunters should avoid going on private property.  Be aware of your surroundings, especially traffic. To log your find, just send an email  with the (suspected) street address and/ or a( small) photo to kd1d@arrl.net.
Happy Hunting!

73 de KD1D

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 2:32 PM on September 3, 2021:

Yes, the K1MJC fox is out yet again!

Here are two clues:

As you know, there are not very many “prospect”-ive places in my home city of Waltham to hide the fox.

Wow, after all this hard work of finding a location for the fox and putting it there I think I’ll need to replenish my energy by going to the corner store and picking up:

 “A candy bar introduced in 1936, consisting of peanut butter crunch layers enrobed in chocolate. “ Mmmmm!

P.S. – There are only three entrances to this area; only two are active at this time due to construction concerns. The fox is close to only one of the entrances of the location in question. 

One of the maps on this page would prove useful!

https://walthamlandtrust.org/trail-guides/

Happy hunting!

73‘s Mike C.  K1MJC

Forgot to mention, the K1MJC Fox is transmitting on 146.565 just in case some were wondering.

I’ll have to brush up on my Map & Compass skills for the KD1D Fox!

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 4:40 PM on August 27, 2021:

The K1MJC fox is out…!

It is located in a conservation area within the city of Waltham Massachusetts.

Frequency: 146.565

Here are the clues:

The name of the conservation area may be considered another polite name for a person who is a “hoarder“!

There are two entrances, one is a “paine“, but I would not want to … “school“ …  you on the better entrance!

Here is a link to some good conservation maps of the area, it is one of these map’s you need:

https://walthamlandtrust.org/trail-guides/

Happy hunting.

K1MJC Mike C. 73s

Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 9:51 AM on August 15, 2021:

Hello Fox Hunters,

The KB1OIQ 2m fox is on the loose!  146.565 MHz

Here are clues for getting close to it:

– Start at the Jack Walsh field

Then, do one of these things, either:

1) Seek the Koalas.

…or…

2) Seek the little bears, then the polar bears, but ignore the bear cubs.

Have fun and 73,

Andy

Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:

Hi everybody,

<…>

There is a 2m fox on the loose in Westford.  It can be heard on 146.565 MHz near my home QTH (info good on QRZ).

The clue:  The name of the conservation land has these initials (not necessarily in the correct order):  PMC

There are two entrances: one is very well marked with parking for 3-4 cars. The other entrance has a small signpost, with on-street parking nearby.

I forgot to put out the logbook.  Take a photo if you wish and send it to me.

It is still damp in the woods, and annoying flying insects are somewhat abundant.

Have fun and 73!

Andy

John Salmi, KB1MGI, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on Jun 19, 2021 at 1:20 PM:

Barry Fox, W1HFN, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on June 17, 2021 at 1:50 PM:

The W1HFN fox is out, 146.565 MHz with a 20 second voice ID every minute. 

Location clues:  what was the name given to the ALL CAPS typewriter used by professional CW ops?  

And if you elevated one to higher than average terrain, where would it be?  Major hint:  Littleton.

Good luck,
Barry –  W1HFN

The  KD1D Fox is out and about Friday JUNE 11, 2021, operating on 146.565 MHz FM and is expected to be transmitting through Sunday, at least.  

It is located on LITTLETON Conservation land and can be heard from Great Road (Rt. 119) between Lake Nagog and Littleton Common.

The logbook is hidden nearby and should be easy to find.  Enter your Callsign, Name, and Time & Date found or email me a (small) photo at the address below.

A cryptic clue  (for those who enjoy these things) is “Happy Herder.”  Email me at kd1d@arrl.net if you need additional hints.
73 and Happy Hunting from  Alan, KD1D