Bristol County RA Fox Hunt, Fall River Vicinity, September 23, 2023

Bristol Co. RA club bannerWhen:
Saturday, September 23, 2023
10:00am to 1:00pm
(UTC-04:00) America/New Yorkhttps://bcra.club/bcrawprel/fox-hunting/

Where:
5-mile radius of a location of 120 President AVE, Fall River, MA.

Organizer: Skip Denault kb1cnb@bcra.club 774-644-3469

View Event

Description:
When:
9/23/2023
10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Where:
5-mile radius from 120 President AVE Fall River, MA. Check back for more details!

BCRA fox hunt map

Organizer: Skip Denault kb1cnb@bcra.club 774-644-3469

The radius is only 5 miles from the center point.

* Time: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm  — Check-in starts at 9:45 am on the BCRA repeater, 145.150 MHz PL 123
* Location: The Foxes will be within a 5-mile radius of a location of 120 President AVE, Fall River, MA.

* Fox1 will activate at 10:00 a.m. on 146.565 MHz FM 
* Fox2 will activate at 10:02:30 a.m. on 146.430 MHz FM

Double Fox Hunt On the Air in Belmont, September 1, 2023

Eliot Mayer, W1MJ, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 11:01 AM on September 3, 2023:

Due to technical difficulties, the double fox hunt in Beverly has been terminated early.

This was Mike’s first deployment of this new fox design, and it is likely that the low-battery cutoff setting was too high for his battery.  My fox became intermittent, apparently due to a bad cable going to the radio (or, hopefully not, a bad jack in the radio). 

We will address these issues and try again.  For now, go find the W1MWS fox in North Chelmsford.

 

Eliot Mayer, W1MJ, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 6:00 PM on September 1, 2023:

K1MJC and I have both put foxes on the air in the Rock Meadow Conservation Area in Belmont, MA for the holiday weekend. 

Map and directions from Google Maps:  https://goo.gl/maps/6sYA2FXTKBXSdJXv7

Both foxes transmit once per minute between the hours of 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily.  They will be on the air until 5:00 PM on Monday, Labor Day.

The K1MJC fox is on 147.54 MHz, and has a log book to sign when you find it  

The W1MJ fox is in 147.57 MHz, and has no log book; please email your report to fox@w1mj.com.

73 DE W1MJ

W1HFN Fox is Out, Littleton, August 24, 2023

Barry Fox, W1HFN, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 6:04 PM on August 24, 2023:

Finally got a chance to deploy my fox.  Too much rain this summer.  My favorite spot, Hartwell Family Memorial Preserve in Littleton.  Freq 146.565 MHz with a 20 second voice ID every minute.  Please sign the log when found.  I doubled up the battery, so should run until at least next week.

73,
Barry, W1HFN

W1MJ “Fox 2” On the Air, Waltham, July 30, 2023

Eliot Mayer, W1MJ, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on July 30, 2023 at 10:09 AM:

The updated W1MJ fox is on the air from Beaver Brook Reservation North in Waltham, MA. It makes a transmission on 147.54 MHz every 60 seconds between the hours of 8:00 AM and 8:00PM daily.

Parking is available at Rock Meadow on Mill St in Belmont and at Elsie Turner Field in Waltham.

This second-generation fox is still running a Baofeng UV-5R at full power (4 watts), but has a few new features:

It conserves battery power by only transmitting during scheduled daytime hours (above).
It periodically announces its battery voltage, and will stop transmitting if the battery goes too low.
The messages start to repeat every 20 minutes (vs. 10 minutes in original fox)

I plan to retrieve the fox after 5 PM on Wednesday (August 2).

73,

Eliot, W1MJ

KD1D Fox On The Air in Acton, July 21, 2023

Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on July 21, 2023 at 6:40 PM:

The KD1D Fox is OTA in Acton,  Massachusetts, on conservation land in the vicinity of where the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail crosses Route 2A.
More information on the area can be found at:

https://trails.actonma.gov/nashoba-brook/

Another clue:  parking for the site is off a road named after the commanding officer of the Acton Minuteman on April 19, 1775 (The shot heard round the world).

As before, this Fox operates at about 50 milliwatts into a quarter wave antenna with a ground plane built into its case.  It repeats a 25 second voice message once every minute,  Barring unforeseen circumstances, this Fox will be operating onsite until mid-afternoon on Monday, July 24.

The KD1D Fox will be transmitting on 146.565 MHz FM.

BCRA Club Fox Hunt, July 15, 2023

Bristol Co. RA club bannerWhen:
Saturday, July 15, 2023
10:00am to 2:00pm
(UTC-04:00) America/New York

Where:
The Foxes will be within a 5-mile radius of a location of 120 President AVE, Fall River MA.

Organizer: Skip Denault kb1cnb@bcra.club 774-644-3469

View Event

Description:
The next BCRA Fox Hunt has been scheduled!

Saturday, July 15, 2023

When:
7/15/2023
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Where:
5-mile radius from 120 President AVE Fall River MA.

Radius map of BCRA Fox Hunt

Organizer: Skip Denault kb1cnb@bcra.club 774-644-3469

The radius is only 5 miles from the center point.

* Time: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm — Check-in starts at 9:45 am on the BCRA repeater, 145.150 MHz PL 123

* Location: The Foxes will be within a 5-mile radius of a location of 120 President AVE, Fall River MA.

* Fox1 will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM

Fox2 will activate at 10:02:30 am on 146.430 MHz FM.

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.

There will be TWO foxes – one manned by KB1CNB, Skip, and the second manned by N1KJS, Kevin’s Blue Toyota pickup, MA reg S196.

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 Fox1 will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM, and Fox2 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. The hunt will last until 2:00 pm or until all checked-in participants have found the transmitters, whichever comes first.

The Fox1 (in Skip’s vehicle, a blue/grey Jeep Commander marked BCRA) will be in a public place and 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.

The Fox2 (in Kevin’s vehicle, Blue Toyota Picket, MA reg S196 has a BCRA sign) will be in a public place and will be manned. When you find the fox, Kevin will record the time and your call sign and report that to Skip.

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!

K1MJC Fox is Out, Belmont, May 26, 2023

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 2:05 PM on May 26, 2023:

Yes, the K1MJC Fox is out ….

I put it out today, Friday afternoon, and it will be picked up in the afternoon Monday. 

The Fox is in somewhere in an area within the Rock Meadow  conservation area in Belmont. 

It’s a 15 milliwatt Fox transmitting on 146.565 MHz. 

Also, there is a logbook you can sign in with if you wish.

There are a few places to enter Rock Meadow on either Concord Avenue or Mill Street; the parking area for Rock Meadow is off of Mill Street.

One of The maps on this page would prove useful!

Trail Guides

Happy hunting!

Mike C , K1MJC, …… 73!

K1MJC Fox is Out, Waltham, May 5, 2023

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 4:06 PM on May 5, 2023:

Yes, the K1MJC Fox is out ….

And I guess great minds think alike… Alan just put his out as well. Ha ha!

I put it out today, Friday, and it will be picked up late afternoon Sunday.

The fox is in somewhere in an area in Waltham it’s been before (seems to be predictable that way), it’s a 15 Milliwatt fox transmitting on 146.565 MHz. 

One of The maps on this page would prove useful!

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

Mike C , K1MJC, …… 73!

KD1D Fox On The Air in Westford, May 5, 2023

Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on May 5, 2023 at 4:00 PM:

The KD1D Fox is OTA in the  Beaver Brook Conservation Area in Westford, MA, as of 3:00 pm on Friday, May 5. See:
https://westfordconservationtrust.org/tws_holding/beaver-brook/ for a map and more details.

From Route 225 (Concord Rd), you can park on street near #15 Buckingham Drive and enter the trail between  #15 and #17.

Or, from Route 119 in Littleton, you can take Beaver Brook Road, to Butterfield Rd. to  Southwick Circle.  Park at the end of Southwick Circle. The trail begins next to the gate.

Be aware that Beaver Brook Road, which usually connects Rt. 225 to Rt. 219, is currently not a through road due to bridge construction. 

The KD1D Fox operates on 146.565 MHz with approximately 50 milliwatts output. 

It transmits a voice message lasting about 25-30 seconds once every 60 seconds.

There is a zip lock with a pocket-sized logbook next to the transmitter,  Please enter your First Name, callsign, date and time for bragging rights.

If you have any questions, you may contact me here or at  kd1d@arrl.net .

73 and Happy Hunting de Alan, KD1D

Fox Deployed, North Chelmsford, March 5, 2023

Tim Miranda, W1MWS, writes on  NEMassFoxHunters at 12:59 PM on March 5, 2023:
 
Finally got my first fox transmitter. It’s somewhere in the Bill Edge Deep Brook Conservation Land, 124 Dunstable Road, North Chelmsford MA. You can hear it from the parking lot on 146.565 MHz, transmitting every 35 seconds or so. It should last through Friday.
 
Tim Miranda
W1MWS – EMA ARES ADEC
(978) 331-0930

Fox Hunting of a Different Kind

Mike Cormier, K1MJC, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list:

This morning, as I often do, when, listening to various things with my RTL-SDR, I sometimes go to the “SondeHub Tracker” website to see if there are any weather balloons I might be able to hear using my RTL-SDR.

This morning, I was surprised to see a balloon tracking north eastward over Millis, MA, and heading directly overhead where I live in Waltham MA.

I decided to zoom in on it, and follow it, and to my surprise, it had it landing somewhere in Lexington MA.

As it descended and got closer to the ground, I zoomed in on that area and realized it was just a short drive from where I lived. So I decided to get my 70 cm meter Yagi, jump in the car and head in that direction more precisely Pretty close to the location. It predicted it would be on the ground.

To my surprise, when I got in the area, I could hear the Radio-Sonde loud and clear, and I proceeded to an address that I had put in my GPS, got out of the car with the Yagi in one corner of the parking lot, (it was the horseshoe type, which will go behind the building and come out to the street on the other side of the property) and discovered that it was more towards the street.

Looking in the trees and over the roof of the building, I couldn’t see it, but the signal was strong. Having gotten that far and figuring it could be on the flat roof of the building and it being cold and drizzly outside I decided to head home.

To my surprise, on the way out of the driveway, what do I see? An orange parachute laying across the lane, I immediately jumped out of the car, went around to the front of the building, and there hanging on a string was the Radio-Sonde. Seeing nobody was around, I tugged the Radio-Sonde down out of the bush, wrapped it up and jumped in my car. (I hope nobody will be upset with me for grabbing the Radio-Sonde).

Radio-sonde
Radio-sonde

After I got in the car, I noticed it was an on off switch, turned it off, read the label, and this particular Radio-Sonde requests that you do not send it back to the national weather service.

Well, I have a parachute and Radio-Sonde what to do with it? I don’t know, perhaps, just keep it as a souvenir, and toss the plastic parachute, which I cannot seem to find any kind of use for.

All in all, a fun and interesting new kind of hunt for me!

73 Mike K1MJC

Fox Hunt in Carlisle, November 26, 2022

John Salmi, KB1MGI, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on November 26, 2022 at 12:26 PM:

I placed my 146.565 transmitter in Carlisle at the Towle Farm off Route 225.

To activate the transmitters press DTMF tone 2. The tones will transmit for 30 second on 30 seconds off for 15 minutes. Then press DTMF to 2 again to start transmitting again.

See attached Map

I will leave the Fox Out until next Wednesday.

John KB1MGI

Map of Carlisle

KD1D Fox Active, Westford, Last Run of 2022

Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list on November 18, 2022 at 3:24 PM:

The KD1D Fox is now (Friday, November 18, 2022  3:00 pm EST) on the air in Westford, MA in the vicinity of the Stone Arch Bridge Trail.
For maps and a trail description, see:   https://westfordconservationtrust.org/tws_holding/stone-arch-trail/

The Fox transmits on 146.565 MHz FM with a 20 second message repeated every 60 seconds.  It is hidden, but can be found with good direction-finding skills and a sharp eye.  There is a logbook in which you can record your find.  Please enter your first name, call sign, time. and date found.  WX is expected to be good through Monday noon (Nov 21)  when I will retrieve the Fox and bring it home for a few months rest (and perhaps some devious modifications).  You can also report your find to kd1d@arrl.net.

Good Hunting and 73 de KD1D, Alan

KB1OIQ Fox Deployment, Westford, November 6, 2022

Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list at 10:23 AM on November 6, 2022:

The KB1OIQ 2m fox (146.565 MHz) has been deployed in the Cider Mill Pond conservation area in Westford.  Note that one entrance has parking for perhaps three cars, but there are other entrances which can be found on a map.

I’ll leave the fox out for a couple of days.  Enjoy fox hunting with this great weather!

73,

Andy

Bristol County Repeater Association Fox Hunt, Dartmouth, November 5, 2022

Where:
5 mile radius from The intersection of US Route 6 and Reed Road, Dartmouth, MA (823 State Road (41.6384678, -71.0361075)
Organizer: Skip Denault, kb1cnb@bcra.club, 774-644-3469

* Time: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm — check-in starts at 9:45 am on the BCRA repeater, 145.150 MHz PL 123

* Fox1 will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM
* Fox2 will activate at 10:02:30 on 146.430 MHz FM

$10 Dunkies Card to the first team to reach each fox!

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.

There will be TWO foxes – one manned by KB1CNB, Skip, and one by N1KJS, Kevin. When you find one of the foxes, you can 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 Fox1 will activate at 10:00 am on 146.565 MHz FM, and Fox2 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 2:00 pm or until all checked-in participants have found the transmitters, whichever comes first.

The Fox1 (in Skip’s vehicle, a blue/grey Jeep Commander marked BCRA) will be in a public place and 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.

The Fox2 (in Kevin’s vehicle, a blue Toyota Tacoma marked BCRA) will be in a public place and be manned at all times. When you have found the fox, your time and order of arrival will be recorded.

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!