Fox Hunt
Locating Hidden Transmitters - Radio Direction Finding
A "fox", which is a low power transmitter set to transmit a tone or
id for a set length of time, and then goes silent until its time to transmit
again. By using various radios and antennae and attenuating systems, the
teams start out from a set start line to locate the "fox". The first team
to locate the "fox" is the winner. (The "fox hole", which is the location
of the transmitter and the "fox howl", which is the tone or id transmitted
from the transmitter).
Objective: To develop radio direction finding skills, foster
the construction radio direction finding tools, and have a good time through
competition and social interaction. Designed to be a fun event for all.
General rules: The location, the game frequency and the call
frequency should be determined before the start of the fox hunt. Usually
the morning hunt starts at 9:00 AM until 12:00 noon and the afternoon hunt
starts at 2:00 PM. until 05:00 PM. The fox howl should be copied at the
starting point by the majority of the hunters present. The fox howl
will be at a regular interval of every 5 minutes duration, in omni direction
for one minute (First 30 seconds will be at 5 W and the following 30 seconds
at 300 mw.). The fox transmitter should maintain constant power throughout
the hunt. The antenna may not be changed during the course of the hunt.
The fox antenna and transmitter shall be within 500 feet of access by standard
passenger cars in a publicly accessible area with no charge for admission.
Reasonable care must be taken to ensure that hunters can safely get to
the hidden fox. The fox may not simultaneously transmit another signal
to interfere with the fox. The fox must also monitor the talk-in (Call)
frequency to collect drop outs and announce if he is having technical difficulties.
A good map of this area should be available among the hunters. The hunters
can ask the first clue one hour before the end of the game, from the game
controller who will be available in the call frequency and also the second
clue 30 minutes before the end of the game. At the end of the fox hunt,
the game controller will announce the fox hole and the winners. There should
not be any QSO at the game frequency. (Winner may be also determined by
the least mileage on the odometer of the hunter's vehicle at the time of
finding the fox). The fox hunt may be on vehicle or on foot. Any rule modifications
must be announced before the day of the fox hunt and should be announced
at least a week early.
The
first National level Fox Hunt
The first national level fox hunt was held at Bangalore on 20th August
2000.
Kerala fox hunt
Kerala fox hunt is conducted every year in Kerala and the Rolling Shield
and the awards are presented to the first three winning teams. The fifth
Kerala VHF fox hunt was at Quilon on 14th November 1999.
For more details
For more info on Fox Hunting, please visit
BMG
Engineering, Inc.
Homing
In
Build your Radio Direction Finding Tools
Clear Rx
KE4HOR
PSRDF
WB2HOL
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