Operating

Christopher Thornton W1TRK, writes on the HCRA mailing list on October 6, 2021 at 3:01 PM:

Attention ALL Foxhunters! 

The HCRA foxbox #2 has escaped its den and has gone into hiding. FB #2 is transmitting on […] with a PL of […]. You can activate FB #2 by […]. A short depress will activate it if you are close enough.

FB2 is transmitting at 1 watt into a tall ducky antenna. The location is in a publicly accessible area with some nearby parking and can be heard along Rt.20 in West Springfield, MA. This is a good opportunity for base stations to get in on the fun. If you can hear the fox please give its signal strength and direction if possible. Please do not reveal its location, just a location where you can hear it from, this then becomes a starting point for the other fox hunters to use. It’s just as important for the hunters to know where it CANNOT be heard as well as where it CAN be heard!

[For fox frequency and PL tone information, email gchris364@aol.com]

Ken Dion, KD1KU, writes on the WMAFoxHunters mailing list on October 6, 2021 at 5:38 PM:

As of 1500 hrs local time (3pm), October 6th, HCRA FB-1 has gone back into hiding!

It’s long overdue that both HCRA Fox Box’s are both in hiding so all fox hunters can try to locate that diabolical fox! Are you up to the task?

HINT, I was able to wake it from its slumber with 25 watts from the old K-Mart parking lot on Rte.5 in Holyoke, MA. (coordinates below)
Hint Coordinates are: 42.18626, -72.63128 with an elevation of 247ft.

FB1 is running one watt into an 18-inch antenna. To activate FB1 go to the 2-meter simplex frequency of […], key your transmitter, identify yourself with your call sign then press […]. If the Fox can hear you (and you can hear it) you will hear its very distinctive sound. It will transmit for 30 seconds, ID, and then repeat 2 more times before going back to sleep. You can make it transmit as often as necessary to locate it.

This is a good opportunity for base stations to get in on the fun. If you can hear the fox please give its signal strength and direction if possible. Please do not reveal its location, just a location where you can hear it from, this then becomes a starting point for the other fox hunters to use. It’s just as important for the hunters to know where it CANNOT be heard as well as where it CAN be heard!

If you do locate FB-1 you do not have to touch it to claim finding it, eyeball contact is sufficient with a photo for good measure. Post a photo of the FB (not revealing its location) as there might be other hunters still out there trying to find it. It is located less than 500 feet from a safe parking location. Announce it and post the photo here on this group and the HCRA Facebook Group that you found it along with any comments other than its location. We want to know who has found it and who hasn’t.

I can tell you it’s in a publicly accessible location with nearby safe parking. Getting to FB-1 may require a short walk on mostly flat ground.
 
Please do not post the frequency or PL on social media, websites, or email lists.

ALL Fox Hunters are welcomed to participate regardless of affiliation!

Happy Hunting!
Ken, KD1KU

[For frequency and PL information, email Ken, KD1KU, at kd1ku -at- yahoo -dot- com.]

Rod Bungard, N1RUU, writes on the ctfoxhunter list on October 6, 2021 at at 5:20 PM:

Greetings Fox hunters,
 
Fox #5 PL 123.0 Is out Hiding. The fox is running 1.5 watts into a 18 inch antenna. You may want to try from home first. You do this by going on the 2 meter simplex frequency of 146.550 MHz (PL 123.0), 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.

Hint:Located in Glastonbury
extra hint: should be within the hunting range of Dale, WA1UUU.

Charlie Morrison, N1RR, writes on the YCCC mailing list:

If you haven’t read about the planned events to celebrate the 1921 successful Trans-Atlantic tests here’s some links. In addition to the special event stations, a 160M operating event (RCA Transatlantic QSO Party) has been announced for the weekend between the two Sweepstakes. Get your 160M antenna ready and don’t miss it !!

*Radio Club of America (RCA) Transatlantic QSO Party <https://www.radioclubofamerica.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=500767&module_id=475160>, 1200 UTC on November 13 to 0400 UTC November 14, 2021 (16 hours total).

http://www.radioclubofamerica.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=500767&module_id=475160

http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-rsgb-announce-joint-events-to-celebrate-centenary-of-ham-radio-transatlantic-success

http://arrl.org/transatlantic

-Charlie N1RR

Dave Tipping, NZ1J, writes on the ctfoxhunter list on October 2, 2021:

We’ll have a live Fox Hunt on Sunday in Wallingford from 9:30 am until 11:00 am.

We’ll be using these three frequencies: 

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

The 10 mW transmitter is on 147.475 MHz and will beep every three seconds and will ID in Morse Code every minute.

The 1mW transmitter is on 146.290 MHz and beeps every three seconds.

There is no central starting location.  Other Fox Hunters can be contacted on the W1NRG repeater 147.360 with PL 162.2

Good luck.

Dave NZ1J

From Connecticut Hams Facebook Group:

Are you interested in learning about the Parks On The Air program?

Please consider joining me on Saturday, October 23 at Hammonasset State Park in Madison. When you arrive at the park, please call W1FYG on 146.52 simplex. You will be directed to the location within the park. 

This will be an informal, yet fun session for everyone to share ideas.

Learn more about activating and hunting using your HF/VHF gear.

If you are a current activator, please consider bringing your equipment for a Show ‘N Tell session.

Rain date: Sunday, October 24.

Questions? Email W1FYG at dizzo32@gmail.com.

For more information about the Parks On The Air Program, go to https://parksontheair.com. Click on the tab labeled ** Help/Getting Started **

 

 

Jim Savage, N1ZN, writes on the ctfoxhunter list on September 25, 2021:

I will be putting out two fox-in-a-boxes tomorrow, Sunday 9/26, starting at 9:30 AM and running till around 11:00 AM.

They will be Rob’s FIAB #1 broadcasting 1w on 145.700.  I will be with the box.

There will also be FIAB #3 nearby broadcasting 12mW on 145.300.

They shouldn’t be too difficult to find.  I’ll be monitoring the repeater if you need help.

Jim N1ZN

The K1USN Radio Club has announced the 1st Annual Autumn New England Parks On The Air event on Saturday, October 16, 2021 from 0000-2359 UTC. Activation from as many different POTAs as possible.

The goal is to have one group/individual at each site to enable the activation of as many NE POTAs as possible.
 
Officially listed POTAs from throughout New England are required.

Maps and lists can be found at <https://parksontheair.com/>.
 
Since this is not a “contest” official log submissions will not be required but summaries would be encouraged. A post-event link will be available at <www.k1usn.com>. 
 
We hope to give the public a chance to learn a bit more about Amateur Radio by obtaining some free pre-event publicity and with the use of informational handouts. Here are samples you could use:

<http://www.bellevuearc.org/docs/WhatisHamRadioFlyerA.pdf>
 
<http://www.arrl.org/file/file/Brochures%20and%20Exhibit%20Materials/What%20is%20Amateur%20Radio%20flyer%208_5x11.pdf>
 
<https://flysnf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/ham-Radio-Flyer.pdf>
 

The weekend of Oct 16 – 17 is also JOTA weekend and all participants are encouraged to reach out to local Scouting groups: <https://www.jotajoti.info/>.

Remember that this will be a New England-wide event so folks that attend NEAR-Fest on Saturday, October 16th in Deerfield, NH may wish to activate a NH park on the way home.

Okay, who is interested in jumping onboard the NE Autumn POTA event?
 
BTW, Bob, WC1N, has created a spreadsheet so that we can keep track of individuals/clubs as they sign on. You can sign up at: <http://www.ilovepota.com/index.php>.
 

 
For those of you with additional questions or comments please reply to <k1rv@arrl.net>.
 

Dan Thayer, W1CDT, writes on the ctfoxhunter list on September 18, 2021 at at 5:13 PM:

Greetings Fox hunters:

FB-3 has been deployed.

146.550 MHz Simplex; CTCSS 114.8 Hz

 UPON REACHING THE “HIDE,” HUNTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARK ON THE PUBLIC ROAD, AND WALK INTO THE PROPERTY.

(THERE IS NO PLACE TO TURN AROUND)

It is located in the Town of Stafford, CT. 

It may be heard in parts of Stafford and Tolland.

As there is no starting point for finding the FB, it is recommended that as you go about your regular travels, you periodically try to activate the FB.

You may also try from home.

To try to activate the FB, set your radio to the 2 meter simplex frequency of 146.550 MHz, with a CTCSS of 114.8 Hz. Next, key your transmitter, ID and then send a DTMF “1”. Having done that, unkey your transmitter and listen.

If the FB 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.

Once someone has been able to hear it, please report that general location to the other fox hunters, by replying to this message (This needn’t be a place where you can hear it very well, just a place from where it can be heard.

You can make it transmit as often as you find necessary to locate the FB.  

You do not actually have to touch the box to claim finding it.

FBs are located within 500 feet of a safe place to park. While unimproved (dirt) roads may be involved, they will be ones that are passable using a regular passenger car.

Dan, W1CDT 

 

From the WS1SM Blog:

THE 2021 MAINE QSO PARTY IS SEPTEMBER 25-26!

Contest Period: 1200 UTC Saturday September 2, 2020 to 1200 UTC Sunday September 2, 2021.

Bands and Modes: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10, CW, and phone (SSB, FM, AM).

Exchange: Stations in Maine send signal report and county. Stations outside of Maine, but within either the United States or Canada, send signal report and state/province. DX stations send signal report and “DX.”

For more details and complete rules visit <http://www.ws1sm.com/MEQP.html>.