a field organization of the National Association for Amateur Radio®
Barry Fox, W1HFN, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on June 4, 2021 at 1:11 PM
My father was a 30 year vet of the Army and I (knowing better) joined the Air Force. If that is not enough of a hint, email me for more. Standard 146.565 MHz TX with a voice ID every 40 seconds or so. There is a log to sign nearby. Good luck to all!
73,
Barry, W1HFN
p.s. — I forgot to mention–it’s in the Westford area.
I placed the KD1D Fox out this morning. As usual, it transmits a 30 second message every 60 seconds on 146.565 MHz FM.
It is located in Westford Conservation land named after an aquatic mammal once highly prized for making men’s hats.
The Fox can be heard along Concord Rd somewhere between the 99 Restaurant and the railroad crossing at Forge Village. A good place to take a bearing might be near the Robinson School or the old cemetery at the corner of Concord Rd and Country Rd (Interesting, but useless fact – Country Rd used to be called Cemetery Rd, but that tended to “spook” the real estate folks, so it was changed.)
Happy Hunting and 73 de KD1D
From https://bcra.club/bcrawprel/fox-hunting/:
The next BCRA Fox Hunt has been scheduled on Saturday, May 22, 2021.
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.
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 Fox will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM with a 5 watt signal and will transmit 1 minute of tone followed by Morse Code ID and 4 minutes of silence. The hunt will last until 2:00 pm or until all checked in participants have found the transmitter, whichever comes first.
The Fox will be located within a 10 mile radius of the intersection of President Avenue (Rt. 6) and North Main Street in Fall River. ( Latitude 41.7159 Longitude -71.1510 )
The 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!
The fox is out as of 9:30 this morning. It is on the regular 146.565 MHz frequency transmitting every five minutes. Sending an * within five seconds of the end of transmission will halve the cycle time if you’re in range.
It was a beautiful morning for a walk, the trees and lilacs are in bloom and the turtles are sun bathing. But if you were thinking about a picnic lunch you are a few years too late. Since everyone found the intersection of Gould Road and Westford Road [in Westford, MA] last time it’s not a bad place to start.
Stan KD1LE
The KD1D Fox is out and about as of 0900 EDT on Friday May 7. The transmitter is on 146.565 MHz FM and begins a 30-second message every 60 seconds.
Begin your search near the intersection of North Street and Groton Road (Rt, 40), and you should be able to locate it easily on nearby Westford Conservation Land. For maps and guides, check out https://
Just one clue this time: Herpetology and Horses – mind your step!
If you need additional help locating the trail, email me at kd1d@arrl.net.
73 and Happy Hunting de KD1D, Alan
One has an obvious name referring to a trail. The other is on a road named after a particularly large State.
Another access point is at the end of a road named after what grapes grow on and a mini river, often thought of as “babbling.”
This entry way is graced with “No Trespassing” and “Private Property” signs, but if you walk to the left of the gate, you will actually be on Town land. Just be sure to park up the street. I mention this alternate entry for those wishing to avoid a long walk.
If you need additional clues, email me at my callsign @arrl.org
The Fox has a new voice message. It contains some unwarranted braggadocio, which I will change next time. Meanwhile, enjoy the area!
Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on NEMassFoxHunters list on April 23, 2021 at 1:43 PM:
The KD1D Fox is out for its first run of the spring operating on 146.565 MHz (FM) with a 30 second transmission at one-minute intervals.
To find it, try heading out of the Westford Common Area in the direction of the Westford Knight and an educational institution that may remind you of the leader of a monastery. You should start hearing the signal within a 1/4 mile or less.
More clues will be available upon request.
If you find it, be sure to sign the logbook and record the time and date or send a photo to my callsign at arrl.net.
The audio seems to be down a bit and it may transmit a few “clicks” between messages. I hope to iron out these minor problems next time around.
Happy hunting and 73 DE KD1D (Alan)
From the NUWC mailing list:
Fox hunting is the sport of using a directional antenna to locate a hidden transmitter. We are going to embark on a series to build our own fox hunting antennas in person, and complete a live fox-hunt on campus. For our build session, all needed materials will be provided, and the workshop will last about an hour. Get ready to measure some PVC, cut some tape measures, and leave with your very own Yagi antenna. We will hold a discussion and introduction to fox hunting and then build our own antennas. The date to do the fox hunting and test out your antennas is currently TBD. We will keep you updated after the date.
Again we will be meeting Thursday 4/15/21 at 16:00 PM
Barry Fox, W1HFN, deployed his hidden transmitter in Northeast Massachusetts on April 7. His fox transmits on 146.565 with a 20-second voice ID every minute.
Barry decided to make it a real puzzler. The only clue he gave for a location was: GC1AV7V.
“It should be easy enough in this computer age, but if you get stuck, email me.”
On April 12, Barry wrote, “Retrieved the fox today. The finders were: Bob, W1FDR; George, K1IG; and Eliot, W1MJ.” He adds, “Watch this spot for more fox hunt adventures!”
Nick Mollo, KC1DKY, writes:
The Bristol County Repeater Association (a.k.a. Fall River Amateur Radio Club) held a fox hunt on Saturday, November 21, 2020.
Here’s the recap – First, we couldn’t have asked for better weather! No one found the fox, but WA1LBK’s team was really close and KC1NDQ was closing in also. The fox was in the parking lot, with permission, of Lexi-Lu’s Place (great blueberry pancakes!) at the intersection of American Legion Highway (Rte. 177) and Forge Road in Westport, about .5 miles south of route 6. the coordinates are 41.6347 and -71.6547 or approximately 7.493 miles SW of the center of the designated search area.
KC1LMY used the strategy of getting a bearing and locating all the Dunkin’ shops along that line – not a bad idea, but the last I heard there were more than 35 Dunkies in Fall River alone!
We are planning more hunts – you can check the Fox Hunt page at bcra.club or email KB1CNB@arrl.net to be added to the fox hunt email list.
The [Bristol County Repeater Association] will be holding its “First (in a while)” BCRA Fox Hunt on Saturday, November 21, 2020.
Check-ins starting at 9:45 am on the BCRA repeater, 145.150 MHz PL 123. Chat and help on the repeater also.
The Fox will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM with a 5-watt signal and will transmit one minute of tone followed by Morse Code ID and four minutes of silence. The hunt will last until 2:00 pm or until all checked in participants have found the transmitter, whichever comes first.
The Fox will be located within a 10 mile radius of the intersection of President Avenue (Rt. 6) and North Main Street in Fall River. ( Latitude 41.7159 Longitude -71.1510 ) The Fox 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!
Skip Denault, KB1CNB, writes on the BCRA club list on October 26, 2020 at 3:20 PM:
The [Bristol County Repeater Association] has acquired a fox hunt transmitter and we are planning to have a fox (hidden transmitter) hunt in the near future. The fox is currently on the air and we would like to see if you can hear it. It is on 146.565 MHz and is transmitting a 15 second beacon tone and CW ID every ten minutes “on the 4’s” (2:04; 2:14; 2:24 etc) it is located at latitude 41.7152679 and longitude -71.1486613. If you hear it, send me an email at KB1CNB at arrl.net with the time and location (address or long./lat.). It will be running until 5:00 pm Tuesday, October 27.
Thanks for your help – Info on the hunt will be out soon!
Skip, KB1CNB
As of noon Friday [October 23, 2020], the KD1D Fox is on the air at a Westford Conservation Trust Site. It will remain there through Monday.
The Site is the Veterans Memorial Complex in the Graniteville section of town. There is an excellent write up of the area at: https://
Some Hints:
– The site can be approached from at least two directions. Although one might be tempted to follow a Beacon, greater success may come from finding the Field of Diamonds. You will know you are near the Field when you see many foxes cavorting. Do not be deceived – our Fox is not among them.
– When you come to the table, you will know you are on the right path.
– Like life itself, the trail has several ups and downs. The wise seeker will carry a staff or hiking stick.
– The hunter must traverse a road made difficult by the presence of many fallen ancients.
– Beware the fortress. It is deceitful.
Happy Hunting!
73 de KD1D
Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on the NEMass Fox Hunters List on October 9, 2020:
The KD1D Fox transmitter went on the air again in Westford MA at 1530 EDT on Friday 9 October 2020.
It will transmit a voice message on 146.565 MHz for approximately 30 seconds which will repeat at 60 second intervals. I expect the Fox to be operating through the weekend until at least Tuesday afternoon. For additional information on our club’s Fox Hunting activities, please visit: http://www.wb1gof.org/
Some clues:
– It is located on conservation land in the northeast section of town and can be heard from Route 40 (Groton Road).
– You may park at a public playground (with a porta-potty) near the trail entrance.
-The Conservation area has a name similar to that of Tarzan’s family of origin.
– The name is also a compound word consisting of “neither black nor white” and a hard natural object.
Once you find the trail, the Fox will not be far away, but it may be difficult to see.
If you’re unfamiliar with the area, drop me an email at my callsign @arrl.net and I will help you zero in on the location before you go hunting.
Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on NEMass fox hunters list:
* All the 2-meter FM foxes belonging to PART of Westford members transmit on 146.565 MHz.
* Currently the KD1D and W1HFN foxes use the Squawkbox module, which typically transmits a short (e.g. 30 second) voice message and repeats once per minute. The low power output of about 50 mW allows more than one Squawkbox to be on the air if they are far enough apart. Often, I have one operating in Westford and W1HFN has one operating in Littleton simultaneously.
* Other two-meter fox boxes operated by our club members (including KB1MGI) use the Byonics module which sends a series of tones for a fixed period (e.g. 30 minutes) when activated by the hunter sending a DTMF ‘2’ for two seconds.
* Occasionally, Andy Stuart, KB1OIQ, puts out an 80-meter Fox operating around 3.6 MHz.
[KB1OIQ: It is supposed to be the color burst frequency. This fox is really a Cricket 80A CW transceiver driven by an Arduino. Yes, it is a bit overkill but I had fun making it. It consumes too much power, so when it is out, it is usually only for a day or two. It has a built-in real time clock so it only transmits during the daylight hours (approximately). I also occasionally put out a 2m fox, which is a Byonics MicroFox, transmitting about 15 mW. This fox transmits 24×7 for several days until I retrieve it. I have also been accused of hiding a fox inside of a plastic owl, up on a tree branch. Fox hunters claim to have heard the CW message, “I am most wise.”]* The operators usually post frequency and activation information, when they announce the hunt. I’ve gotten a bit lazy on that score and will try to mend my ways!
* Similarly, we usually announce the location (usually conservation, recreation or other public area), although lately I have been providing only clues to add a challenge.
* Some of the foxes use an HT transmitting 1 or 2 watts, in which case, we usually just announce the town it is in to practice long-distance direction finding similar to what we would need to track down a repeater troll.
It’s great to have fox hunters from outside the Westford area participating! I will try to take that into consideration when doling out clues in the future.
73 and Happy Hunting!
Alan KD1D
Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on the NEMass Fox Hunters List at 7:51 PM on October 2, 2020:
I set the fox loose again Friday afternoon around 5:00 pm in Westford. It should run all weekend and into Monday.
Some clues:
It is neither ingenuous nor ingenious to say that it is an area named after something that is igneous.
It is in an area with a small rocky stream.
It should be an easy non-strenuous hunt once you locate the general area.
73 and happy hunting!
Alan KD1D
Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on the NEMass Fox Hunters List at 3:36 PM on September 25, 2020:
The Fox attempted to go out last week, but was seized by a fever* and went home.
Newly energized, the Fox is on the air as of 1445 EDT on Friday September 25, 2020. I expect to bring him home again on Monday morning 9/28.
CLUES:
– The Fox’s new den is on Westford Conservation Trust Land. (Check them out – they have great maps!)
– The initials of the site remind me of what broke Ralphie’s glasses in “A Christmas Story.”
– One of the parking areas bears the surname of the lead guitarist for a band whose first name is the same as a “luxury” model Cadillac (1976-1996) and whose last name is a computer famous for not being a PC.
– The same parking area also bears the name of a famous residence in the UK and the trail is located between two local residences, numbered 15 and 17.
– An alternate parking area is at 180° + the part of the candle that you light (and from which light emanates) + a symmetrical round 2 dimensional shape.
– You should be able to hear the signal from Rt. 225
Send me a private email to kd1d@arrl.net for additional hints.
Happy hunting and 73 de KD1D
*(The fever was caused by the point of the security eye screw puncturing the insulation on the power cord from the battery to the SqwalkBox module. Considerable magic smoke was emitted from the power circuit, but the transmitter survived. The screw now has a blunt end and the power cord has a 1/2 amp fuse.)
Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on the NEMass Fox Hunters List at 8:07 PM on September 4, 2020:
The KD1D Fox is out again after a brief vacation. It is transmitting on 146.565 MHz, approximately 30 seconds on and 30 seconds off.
Some clues:
1. It is near one of the numbered routes in Westford – specifically the 2nd highest numbered route passing through town.
2. It is on Westford Conservation Land.
3. The first name of the site is the same as the surname of an Irish nationalist leader who inspired the rising of 1803,
4. The second name is the last name of former President Richard Nixon’s secretary.
5. Parking is not immediately adjacent to the site. Fox hunters can park at another nearby wild life area or a nearby residential street.
Happy hunting!
73 de KD1D