Foxhunting

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

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

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

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.

When:
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.

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!

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!

Tim Miranda W1MWS, writes on the NEMassFoxHunters list  on May 6, 2023 at 12:12 PM:

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/

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

Tim Miranda, W1MWS, writes on NEMassFoxHunters List on April 3, 2023:

My fox on 146.565 MHz is running in South Chelmsford in the Thanksgiving Forest Reservation: 38-50 Janet Rd, Chelmsford, MA 01824

Should run for a few days, I’ll check it end of the week and put a new battery in, if needed.

Tim Miranda
W1MWS – EMA ARES ADEC