Operating

Foxbox-1 Has Escaped the Den and is in Hiding Once Again, Chicopee MA Vicinity

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Hampden Co RA logoKen Dion, KD1KU, writes on the HCRA mailing list:

Attention Foxhunters!

As of 1500 hrs, June 4th, HCRA Foxbox #1 has escaped from the den and has gone back into hiding!

That sneaky fox is running one watt into an 18-inch antenna. I was able to wake it from its slumber with 50 watts in my mobile at the intersection of Memorial Drive & Pendleton Ave in Chicopee, MA., co-ordinates 42.18646, -72.57745. FB1 is running one watt into an 18-inch antenna. To activate the FB1 go to the simplex frequency of 147.550 MHz (PL 100.0Hz), key your transmitter, identify yourself with your callsign then press the DTMF “1”.

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 and then go 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 locate the Foxbox, you do not have to touch it to claim finding it. Eyeball contact is sufficient but please post a photo (not revealing its location) as there may be other hunters still out there. It is located less than 500 feet from a safe parking location.

Announce it and post the photo here on this group and on thegroups.io/g/WMAFoxHunters
<http://groups.io/g/WMAFoxHunters?fbclid=IwAR30fmV8_w0SOPK2qsnFm-0lIJCd9WJs-LY7xr2hGh57mRg9K6a9L-6A7mM> group that you found it along with any comments and a pic of FB1 (not showing its location). We want to know who has found it. It’s in a publicly accessible location with nearby safe parking. Getting to either FB 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

Norfolk County (MA) Radio Association Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary With Special Event Operation

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From ema.arrl.org;

The Norfolk County Radio Association is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year with a special event operation from 0000 UTC June 5 to 2359 UTC June 12, 2021 on the suggested frequencies of 3.825, 7.225, 14.235, 21.285, and 28.325 MHz as well as other frequencies at the discretion of club members.  Club members will operate their own stations using the club call W1AGR during this operating event. A special QSL will be available with an SASE to the club station trustee, K1HC, 422 Everett Street, Westwood, MA 02090. 

The club had its beginnings in Norwood, MA in 1921 when a group of young radio amateurs gathered to exchange ideas and help each other build their home-made radio equipment.  It originally became affiliated with the ARRL two years later, in 1923.  The club grew to include hams from local area towns and then re-organized in 1932, calling themselves the Norfolk County Radio Association.  The spirit of those early years continues today; its members are always ready to help others and mentor new hams getting started in amateur radio. NCRA members have made memorable contributions to amateur radio in technology and communications, including support for various public service needs such as municipal events, SKYWARN reporting, Red Cross, and local disaster training. 

Congratulations to the Norfolk County Radio Association for reaching this historic milestone. 

 

HCRA Foxboxes Deployed in Chicopee, MA Vicinity, May 28, 2021

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Hampden Co RA logoKen Dion, KD1KU, writes on the Hampden County RA Facebook page on May 28, 2021 at 2:45 PM:
 
Attention all fox hunters: HCRA Foxbox1 and Foxbox2 have gone into hiding! Both are located somewhere within the City of Chicopee, MA.
 
I would like to issue a special challenge to all hunters (and future hunters) to locate both Foxboxes this Memorial Day weekend! Are you up to the task?
 
FB1 and FB2 are transmitting on the 2-meter simplex frequency of 147.55 with one watt into a duck-type antenna. PL tones and additional details can be found at the link below.
 
For more details go to https://groups.io/g/WMAFoxHunters.
 
Happy Hunting!?

KD1D Fox is Deployed in Westford (MA), May 21, 2021

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from ema.arrl.org:
 
Alan Hicks, KD1D, writes on NEMassFoxHunters list on May 21, 2021 at 9:10 AM: 

I placed the KD1D Fox out this morning. As usual, it transmits a 30 second message every 60 seconds on 146.565 MHz FM.

It is located in Westford Conservation land named after an aquatic mammal once highly prized for making men’s hats.

The Fox can be heard along Concord Rd somewhere between the 99 Restaurant and the railroad crossing at Forge Village. A good place to take a bearing might be near the Robinson School or the old cemetery at the corner of Concord Rd and Country Rd (Interesting, but useless fact – Country Rd used to be called Cemetery Rd, but that tended to “spook” the real estate folks, so it was changed.)

Happy Hunting and 73 de KD1D

KC1PEN, Scouts On The Air Event, Near New Haven, CT, Suggestions Requested

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North Haven, CT vicinityDavid Henry, KC1PEN, writes on May 20, 2021 on the Meriden Amateur Radio Club Facebook page:
 
I’m planning to do a Scouts-On-The-Air event with a local cub pack during their upcoming camping trip. I’ll have VHF/UHF FM voice and DMR capability at the location and am planning a DMR private call (I think I have a volunteer for that) and then a CQ call on DMR North America or WW English to try to get a distant contact for the Scouts to interact with.
 
Any thoughts or suggestions?
 
~KC1PEN~

“Flatlanders vs. Highlanders: The Story of the Blue Hills Group POTA”

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“When we decided to have a group Parks-On-The-Air event on a gorgeous 70F spring day, coinciding with the relaxing of the COVID mask mandates, at this special location, I was pleased, but hardly shocked, at the great turn out. From my vantage point, who wouldn’t want to be here?! Several area clubs had members in attendance, including STARS, Wellesley Amateur Radio Society (WARS), Long Island CW Club (LICW), Boston Amateur Radio Club (BARC), K1USN, and the Mystic Valley Amateur Radio Group (MVARG). [Full story]

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[See also: Parks On The Air Activation, Blue Hills, Milton, MA K-8402, May 15, 2021

 

KD1LE Fox is Operating in Westford (MA), May 14, 2021

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From ema.arrl.org:
 
Stan Pozerski, KD1LE, writes on NEMassFoxHunters list on May 14, 2021, 10:27 AM: 
 

The fox is out as of 9:30 this morning. It is on the regular 146.565 MHz frequency transmitting every five minutes. Sending an * within five seconds of the end of transmission will halve the cycle time if you’re in range.

It was a beautiful morning for a walk, the trees and lilacs are in bloom and the turtles are sun bathing. But if you were thinking about a picnic lunch you are a few years too late. Since everyone found the intersection of Gould Road and Westford Road [in Westford, MA] last time it’s not a bad place to start.

Stan KD1LE

Greater Bridgeport ARC Fox Hunt, Trumbull, CT, May 16, 2021

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Greater Bridgeport ARC loogoFrom GBARC groups.io wiki:

On Sunday May 16 2021 at 11am we will have our monthly fox hunt.  All members and non-members are invited to attend.  The purpose of the fox hunt is to track down a hidden transmitter and find some information, then relay that information according to the instructions on a sign where the fox is located. […]

Recommended Starting Location:  Home Depot Trumbull

Starting Time: 11:00 AM Local 

Fox Frequency:  147.485 MHz Simplex

Fox Power:  5W into a 1/4 wave antenna dropping to 1W at Noon

Sponsor:  Emily N1DID

Check in on:  441.700 or 146.445 Repeaters or Echolink

En-Route Communications:  Contact N1DID on 146.52 Simplex or call 203-522-6750

Hampden County (MA) Radio Association “Fox Box 2” Has Been Deployed

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Hampden Co RA logoLarry Krainson,W1AST, writes on the WMAFoxHunters list on May 10, 2021 at 3:37 PM:

As of 3:00pm on Monday, May 10th, FB2 aka Fox Box 2 has finally been deployed!

All are invited to hunt for this Fox Box.

FB2 has a new, better hearing radio, is transmitting on 147.550 Mhz with a PL of 151.4. You can activate FB2 by depressing the DTMF key #1. A short depress will activate it if you are close enough. FB2 is transmitting at 1 watt into a tall ducky antenna.

I ask that all base stations and mobiles try to activate FB2 and then announce where you can hear it and how strong the signal or audio is. This will help the mobile hunters to find it.

This is a walk up foxhunt. You can park your vehicle and safely walk up to FB2. It is on public property in a safe area.

When you find FB2, please take a picture of it and post it here. Please do not say where you found it though.

Happy Hunting!