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—— Transmitter Hunting ——

Two Ways to Hunt Hidden Transmitters at HamCon 2011

The Fullerton Radio Club is presenting two opportunities to win prizes while doing radio direction finding during the convention.

On Friday evening 9/9, there will be a mobile T-hunt starting from a location near the convention hotel at 7 PM. It will be scored by elapsed time. The first finders will win the prize. Anyone may hunt, but only convention badge holders are eligible to win the prize. For the exact starting point, call the hider (Scott Bovitz N6MI) on the hunt frequency (146.565 MHz simplex) after 6 PM on Friday.

Then on Sunday 9/11, there will be an all-on-foot two-meter transmitter hunting session at Angel's Gate Park in San Pedro. A ham radio license is not required and there is no age limit. This is primarily a hunt for individuals, but teams of two persons are OK. Only one set of RDF equipment is allowed per team. Visually-challenged persons are invited to participate, but are urged to pair up with a sighted person on the course.

This on-foot hunt is intended to be a suitable challenge to both beginner and experienced transmitter hunters. There will be prizes for the best hunters, but only convention badge holders are eligible to win them. Bring your receivers, scanners, directional antennas, attenuators, and other equipment suitable for on-foot RDF.

If you don't have RDF equipment, plan to attend the workshop for building two-meter measuring-tape yagis and offset attenuators that will take place before the Sunday transmitter hunt. Kits for these items will b e ready for you if you register in advance. Also available is an assembled and tested assembly that includes the power switch, BNC connector, housing and battery, ready to install as the tape measure beam is built.

The building session starts at 12:30 PM and check-in for the transmitter hunt begins at the same time. Please be prompt. As soon as everyone has their equipment ready and is checked in, we will explain the special rules of this hunt and then the hunt will begin. We expect the hunt start to be around 1:30 PM. If you arrive after the rules have been explained, you may not be allowed to hunt for prizes.

For more information about this hunt, including directions to Angel's Gate park, go to http://www.homingin.com/joemoell/angelmap11.html

You can also get more information and register for the on-foot hunt at the Fullerton Radio Club and Hospital Disaster Support Communications System table at the convention hotel during exhibit hours Friday or Saturday.

For lots of information about how to do transmitter hunting and direction finding, visit www.homingin.com.

73,

Joe Moell K0OV