[CTSARA] [GNARC] Projects and Activites: An Idea and InformalSurvey

Wed Aug 19 15:27:56 EDT 2009

I missed this one on the first time around...

Assuming this is as described on the Norwalk website, I think this fox hunt
is an excellent idea!  I've read about fox hunts but only as one-day events,
a longer-term unofficial one is a unique and exciting project.  I would be
inclined to try my hand at it...

I'd suggest a good way to organize such a thing would be to first have a
meeting or briefing, the contents of which would then be posted on a
website, with an introduction to foxhunting, and some suggestions for
building antennas.  Plans for a few simple homebrew antennas should be
included, ideally with part numbers for radio shack etc.  I realize that
does some of the work for people, but I think it would result in a greater
number of 'players'.

Another thing to consider, have you ever heard of Geocaching?  Short
version- someone hides some random small items, a pencil and a notebook in a
waterproof container, stashes it somewhere out-of-the-way (state parks are
popular) and posts the GPS coordinates for it online at www.geocaching.com .
Finders then punch said coords into their GPS units and try to find the
cache.  Once you find it, you take one item, leave something to replace it,
and then write about your visit in the logbook.  Optionally you can also
post your find on the geocaching website.
A tie-in of some kind between the two might be fun...  perhaps the fox would
contain coordinates to a geocache (a typical multi-cache has the first cache
contain the coords to the 2nd, and so on), with this one could create a
string of a few caches and foxes that would result in a fun weekend
activity, especially for a family...

With a small solar panel, I suspect your 'fox' could stay online for quite
some time if not indefinitely.  With the permission of a local park, such a
setup (I'm assuming it's not that big) could be strapped to the side of a
tree or something...

I know I have several friends that enjoy geocaching, such an activity would
be a great way to get them interested in amateur radio as well...

thoughts?

-----Original Message-----
From: Curt Seaton [mailto:seaton.1 at netzero.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 7:38 AM
To: Franklyn A. Ballentine, jr
Cc: ctsara at mailman.qth.net; gnarc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [CTSARA] [GNARC] Projects and Activites: An Idea and
InformalSurvey

Good day Franklyn.  I applaud your desire to get things going and I think
they are, it is tough to get folks to devote a lot of interest in some of
these projects with this being the peak of vacation/summer/other interests
other than ham stuff.  It will pick up more after the kids return to school
and things settle down after Labor Day, so keep reminding us all. 

I have several things going on that are 'working' now, and will need to
continue to generate interest as folks become interested and find time 
to devote to these new fun things.   I have the "FOX" that was working 
then the power connector broke on the radio and I will repair it by weeks
end and have the "fox" running loose somewhere, that will get some players
on foxhunting and that will be fun as well as preparing all of us for 'stuck
transmitters' or jammers.  The Dstar is already on from the Norwalk Hospital
as a repeater and will shortly have the gateway connected and that will spur
on some different activity for those interested in persuing another
operating mode, and if one were to search ebay and sites like that they will
find Dstar equipment for about 300ish plus shipping to begin to play with
this mode.  We are planning on a presentation of Dstar at the GNARC meeting
in Sept, not confirmed yet, but that can offer some insight as to spawning
some interest there and all of it's modes.

So, yes, keep going, and yes, set up another food place, if you feed 
them, they will come does work.....    I think we should consider 
posting some of your ideas to some of the other radio clubs in the area
also, consider the FARA and CARA and I'm not sure who all else, how 
about the SARA sister club in Westchester????    This is the kind of 
thing to bring more activity to those willing and interested.   Maybe an 
email to all the listed hams in the area as obtained from QRZ.com or 
such????    Many hams are not members of any club and therefore would 
not have access to your suggestions for persueing some of these ideas, 
yet they may well be interested themselves.......   Tis always difficult 
to 'spread the word'   BUT by all means "go for it".

Later

Curt

Franklyn A. Ballentine, jr wrote:
> I'm not sure if this is the best way to go about this.  Heck, I'm not 
> sure emailing both lists at once is a good idea, but here goes...
>
> As some of you may or may not know, I've been wanting to get more 
> group\local projects and activities going, especially on subjects that 
> don't seem to get a lot of attention.  Few Saturdays ago, a meeting 
> was held concerning this at Wilson's BBQ.  I do apologize again for 
> the short notice but i though it was a good start.  I definitely would 
> like to do it again and take over another fine dining establishment in 
> the area.
>
> I haven't been a ham for long and please don't take this as rude, but 
> things seem slow.  Please correct me if I'm off base.  I guess what 
> I'm aiming at is a way to increase activity.  Can't raise interest in 
> this fine hobby\service if the current crowd isn't doing much (besides 
> community service) right?
>
> One other thing I'd like to throw out there is just an informal survey 
> of interests\topics relating to what's above;
>
> Ham radio in the schools
> Microwave
> Satellite
> D-Star
> Packet
> Other digital modes (DominoEX on FM for example) Wifi and other high 
> speed networking technologies (Microwave Engineering Project for one 
> or whatever can be snagged of Ebay) VoIP (Echolink, IRLP, Asterisk & 
> app_rpt \ communication interoperability) One beer and\or Fanta 
> projects
> VHF+ weak signal
> Bending equipment to the will of the ham SDRs Other
>
> So thanks for your time,
> who's in?
> and don't hurt me.
>
> 73
> Frank B.
> KB1QZH
> ______________________________________________________________
> GNARC mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/gnarc
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:GNARC at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email 
> list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
>   
______________________________________________________________
CTSARA mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/ctsara
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:CTSARA at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html