Tag: #foxhunting

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.

Tom Charbonneau, NZ1X writes on the QRA mailing list:

The next [Quannapowitt Radio Assocation] fox hunt will be held Thursday night, March 27, starting at 7:00 PM from the Senior Center in Reading. Alex Svirsky, N1PRW, will be in place as the fox at that time using his new foxbox transmitting on 146.565 MHz. We will talk with the fox as necessary on the 145.290 repeater in North Andover. This should be more enjoyable than previous hunts because the foxbox will automatically transmit periodically (and fairly frequently), and we won’t have to keep making requests for the fox to start yapping so we can get a fix on him.

Hope to see you there,
Tom, NZ1X

Tom Charbonneau, NZ1X writes on the QRA mailing list:

[The Quannapowitt Radio Assocation] will have a 2 meter fox hunt on next Wednesday, October 10, starting from the Senior Center in Reading at 7:00 PM. It usually takes about 15 minutes to line people up in cars, so that we should get rolling by 7:15. That means that if you arrive later than that time the parking lot may be empty, so please try to get there by 7:00.

(If you don’t have a radio and/or directional antenna, you’ll want to go in a car with someone who does.)

We will use the frequency of 146.500 as usual (simplex of course). A compass and a map of the area will help. My cell phone number is 781-258-0625 if you need to call me. Also, I’ll be monitoring the 145.290 repeater prior to the fox hunt.

Tom Charbonneau, NZ1X writes on the QRA list:

[The Quannapowitt Radio Assocation] will have another 2-meter fox hunt on Thursday, July 26 at 7:00 PM, starting from the Senior Center in downtown Reading (where QRA has its monthly meetings). Tom Cefalo, W1EX, has volunteered to be the fox for this hunt. We will be using a frequency of 146.500 MHz. Hope to see you all there.

The Quannapowitt Radio Assocation will hold a 2-meter fox hunt on June 21, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Participants are invited to meet in the parking lot of the Reading Senior Center, 49 Pleasant Street, Reading, MA.

“Even if you do not have a directional antenna, you can still participate and have a good time,” writes QRA’s Tom Charbonneau, NZ1X. “Some of us have built a popular 3-element tape measure beam that stows easily in the trunk or back seat and can take a beating. It costs less than $10 to build and works well. I urge you all to build one.”

According to Charbonneau, QRA plans to hold fox hunts on a regular basis.

[See also: QRA Members Go On A Fox Hunt–And A Fabulous Feast!]

Members and guests of the Quannapowitt Radio Assocation participated in a radio direction-finding “fox hunt” and also, were treated to an exceptional meal at the home of Tom Charbonneau, NZ1X on May 29, 2007.

According to QRA’s Bob Reiser, AA1M, he and Ron Draper, WA1QZK hid on a hill near the Stoneham-Reading town line near Route 28. “There was a small problem with the leads on the power supply in the repeater Ron set up, but this was bypassed and the hunt began.”

According to Reiser, the “foxes” were first found by WA1RHN, then a bit later by N1PRW and KB1OZS. All participants finally surrounded the target by 9:45 p.m.

“This was the first fox hunt held by the members of QRA in quite a while,” reports AA1M. “Everyone had a great time and Tom, NZ1X mentioned that maybe next time we will do it on a weekend day so all the participants can get home at a reasonable time.”

–Thanks, QRA News, June 2007