Fox Hunting

Live Fox Hunt, Bedford NH, August 27, 2023

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Eric Pfeifer, N1JUR, writes on the Granite State ARA mailing list: 
 
Join us for the Live Fox Hunt on August 27th from 6 pm to 8 pm. We will gather at the Lower Parking Lot at Bedford High School at 5:30/5:45 pm to review the rules, frequency, and gear check. Participants who wish to team up can do so at that time. The Fox will have 15 minutes to hide before the event starts, which will run for 90 minutes. We will announce the end of the game on the repeater and meet back at the Bedford HS Parking lot. If you’re interested, we can head to Axels in Merrimack or Inside Scoop in Bedford for celebratory ice cream or to drown your sorrow.
 
If you’re interested in joining but don’t have any equipment, I can connect you with people who can help you get set up. 
 
Usually, all you need is a 2m HT, and if you make your own, you’ll need a Tape Measure Yagi or a store-bought Satellite/fox hunt Antenna. You likely won’t require an attenuator since the “fox” will be in a vehicle and easy to locate. If this event goes well, we might continue it into the fall months before winter. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Feel free to share this with others too.

Fox Hunt, Wallingford CT, June 18, 2023

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Dave Tipping, NZ1J, writes on the ctfoxhunter list:
 
We’ll have a live Fox Hunt on Sunday from 9:30am until 11:00am.  The Fox will be hidden somewhere in Wallingford.
 
We’ll be using these three frequencies:  

There will be a 1 watt signal continuously on 146.565MHz.  It will make a short beep every three seconds and will ID in Morse Code every minute.

The 10mW transmitter is on 147.475MHz and will beep every three seconds and will ID in Morse Code every minute.
The 1mW transmitter is on 146.315MHz and beeps every three seconds and ID as W1NRG in Morse Code every minute.  Expect a range of only about 1/10 mile on this transmitter.

 
There is no central starting location.  And, there will be no check-ins prior to the hunt.  Hunters should be at a location of their own choosing and listening on 146.565 at 9:30.  
 
There may be a two second long test of the 146.565 transmitter at 9:25.
 
Other Fox Hunters can be contacted on the W1NRG repeater 147.360 with PL 162.2  Hunters with an extra radio available might do well to monitor 147.360 throughout the hunt.
Good luck.

Dave NZ1J

Memorial Day Fox Hunt, Preston CT, May 29, 2023

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Mark Noe, KE1IU, writes on the ctfoxhunter list:

[Southeastern CT Amateur Radio Society] will be sponsoring a Memorial Day fox hunt on Monday, May 29 at 1 PM. This will be an on-foot fox hunt. Meet at Preston Community Park: 13 Route 117, Preston, CT 06365. This park is located between Route 2A and Route 117. Your foxes will be Mark KE1IU and Dave K1DCT. We will have 4 foxes running with the potential to add a couple more. The frequencies for the four that will be hidden are listed below. I will send a followup e-mail with information on additional foxes. Talk in on 146.730 (- offset, PL 156.7)

I will be bringing my tape measure Yagi and offset attenuator. We will happily help beginners, and if you do not have equipment there will be some available for you to borrow. The weather forecast for Monday is partly cloudy and 76 F – perfect for fox hunting. I look forward to seeing you there!

Fox chart

 

CQ Foxhunting Weekend, May 13-14, 2023

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Joe Moell, KØOV, writes:

The annual CQ Foxhunting Weekend is coming Saturday and Sunday, May 13-14.  If your club hasn’t had its spring transmitter hunt, now is the time to plan it.  We’re not picky about the actual date—any weekend in the spring is fine—but it’s time to get the ball rolling.

There have been some changes at CQ Magazine in recent months, but it’s still being published.  You can read more information about Foxhunting Weekend, including results, stories and photos from last year, in the February 2023 issue.  There’s also lots of foxhunting information at www.homingin.com, including news of the USA ARDF Championships.

I look forward to receiving your Foxhunting Weekend reports and photos.  It will help spread the word about the fun of transmitter hunting, both mobile and on foot.

73,
Joe Moell K0OV
CQ Foxhunting Weekend Moderator
www.homingin.com

 

Hidden Fox, Enfield CT Vicinity, April 20, 2023

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Rod Bungard, N1RUU, writes on the ctfoxhunter list on April 20, 2023 at 4:28 PM:

After a long winter break, Fox #5 PL 123.0 is out in the wild. The fox is running 1.5 watts into a 18-inch antenna and is on 146.550 MHz (PL 123.0).

To activate, key your transmitter, ID and then send a DTMF “1.” If the FoxBox can hear you and you can hear it, you will hear its very distinctive sound. It will transmit for 30 seconds, ID and then go back to sleep. You can make it transmit as often as necessary to find it.

Once someone has been able to bring it up and hear it, please report that information to the other fox hunters. Feel free to reply to the group. Do not reveal its location, just a location (and direction if possible) from which you are able to hear it. This then becomes a starting point for the other fox hunters to use.

You do not actually have to touch the box to claim finding it. If you hunt the Fox please log to this group even if you don’t find it.

Located in the Enfield area.

Port City ARC Fox Hunt, Portsmouth NH Vicinity, April 15, 2023

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Port City ARC logoNeil Collesidis, AA1SB, writes on the Port City ARC (NH) mailing list:

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Fox Hunt this Saturday, April 15, 2023 10am local.

I figure I’ll go somewhere within a certain radius—say, 7 miles?—from the W1WQM clubhouse and turn on the fox beacon at 10 AM.

I’ll use the simplex frequency of 146.445. (Unless someone says “NO! You shouldn’t use that! Use xxx.xxx!”)

Sound reasonable? I’ll also monitor the club repeater to see who is participating and who is left looking for me. 

If it ends up being quick, we can do a second round. 

72,

Neil AA1SB/fox

Fox Hunt, Colchester CT, April 8, 2023

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Mark Noe, KE1IU, writes on the ctfoxhunter list:

A foxhunt is a high-tech game of hide and seek where you use direction finding equipment to locate hidden transmitters. SECARS will be hosting a foxhunt on Saturday, April 8 at noon – at Zagray Farm – 544 Amston Rd., Colchester, CT. This foxhunt will have several transmitters hidden around the field at varying levels of difficulty to enable beginners and challenge experienced foxhunters. This will be an on-foot foxhunt. For those who have never tried foxhunting before, there will be experienced hunters to help you. You do not need to bring gear if you do not have it – we have extra equipment that we can loan you and show you how to use. Transmitters will be hidden in accessible areas – minimal to no bushwhacking will be required. Transmitter frequencies and other parameters are listed below.

If you have any questions, please contact Mark KE1IU at KE1IUMark@gmail.com.

Many thanks,

-Mark

 
Fox  Owner  Frequency (MHz)  3rd Harmonic (MHz)  Input PL  DTMF Activation  Power  Information
 C  K1DCT 147.455 442.365  CS  –  81 mW  3 sec. ON / 3 sec. OFF or ON 100%
 H  KE1IU 146.335 439.005  CS  –  1 mW  Tx ON 100% – 300 ft range + CW ID
 I  KE1IU 145.910 437.73  CS  –  25 mW  Tx ON 100% – 1 mile range
 J  KE1IU 146.585 439.755  CS  –  0.5 W  Tx ON one min; 5 seconds off – 2 mile range – CW ID
 K  KE1IU 146.565 439.695  CS  –  1 W  Tx ON one min – 5 seconds off – 2 mile range – CW ID
 L  K1DCT 147.420 442.26  CS 1 1 W  

Fox Box 2 Deployed in the Manchester CT Vicinity, April 3, 2023

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Gregory J Vinci, N1ZXL, writes on the ctfoxhunter list on Apr 3, 2023 at 2:13 PM:

Greetings Fox hunters,

Fox #2 PL 100.0

At its new location, the fox is running the usual 1 watt into a 18-inch antenna. Since there is no starting place for finding the hidden transmitter, all you can do is while going about your travels, periodically try to activate the hidden transmitter. Your first try may be from home. You do this by going on the 2-meter simplex frequency of 146.550 MHz (PL 100.0 MHz), key your transmitter, ID and then send a DTMF “1”. If the FoxBox can hear you and you can hear it, you will hear its very distinctive sound. It will transmit for 30 seconds, ID and then go back to sleep. You can make it transmit as often as necessary to find it.

Once someone has been able to bring it up and hear it, please report that information to the other fox hunters. Feel free to reply to the group. Do not reveal its location, just a location (and direction if possible) from which you are able to hear it. This then becomes a starting point for the other fox hunters to use.

You do not actually have to touch the box to claim finding it. Eye ball contact is sufficient. It is located less than 500 feet from a safe parking location. 

Good luck in the wilds of Manchester