[FoxHunt] ELT Training

[Bob]

My $.02...

I think you want to train in three different levels, three
different approaches and different equipments. The ARDF
foot-races are great training for finding transmitters that
are within a mile or so. The multipath effects are different
for the 5-20 mile problems and in rugged terrain, gotta give
serious application to off-road mobile approaches to finding
bearing spots and resolving multipath. For the "long-range"
10-200 mile probably doesn't have much application for ELTs
for ground teams, but it also has a unique set of problems
and issues.

Bob, WB6JPI

Kuon & Dale Hunt wrote:
> 
> I spent 10 years on a search and rescue team, and we trained on the DF
> equipment only
> once a year at best, and then not everyone got their hands on the unit.
> This just is
> not often enough to remember how to do it when you need to, and leads to
> situations such
> as knocking on the wrong door at midnight, or trying to take a bearing from
> a VOR site
> (and suffering severe desense.)
> 
> This is why hams who hunt regularly are often faster at finding the transmitter
> than SAR crews - it becomes second nature to them how to use the equipment,
> where
> to go to get a good bearing, and what to do when they get one.  And this is
> where
> ARDF training really helps once you get out of the car - you should see the
> serious competitors literally plotting bearings while running through the
> forest!
> I've never seen a SAR team that was THAT fast!  (Though there are some training
> for the upcoming ARDF National Championships...)
> 
> My philosophy is that, to be good at ELT location, you have to like DF enough to
> do it regularly - like once a month or more.  It doesn't really matter if
> you use 2m
> or 121.775.
> 
> Here in Yamhill County, Oregon, we got some old ELT beacons and
> recrystalled them for
> 121.775.  We have invited the SAR team (as well as CAP and anyone else
> interested)
> to have practices with us.  So far we're still developing our equipment,
> but there is
> a lot of interest.  We are thinking of holding monthly hunts and rotating
> them through
> the surrounding counties, since there are hams involved in ELT search in
> several of them.
> 
>   - Dale WB6BYU
> 
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