[FoxHunt] How we do it.
Marvin Johnston
[email protected]
Fri, 22 Mar 2002 17:31:19 -0800
I have two L-Pers, one for the 2M ham band and the other for 243 MHz. If
anyone is interested in the 243 MHz unit, it is available for $150.00.
The only problem is that the mast was cut short for some unknown reason
and thus, has no convenient place to hold the unit. I had originally
bought it to modify it to the ham bands, but have since gotten a more
convenient unit for 2M ARDF.
It sounds like you bought one of the original 300 units that they
*thought* would last quite a while (they were all sold before they were
completed.)
I've been using the 2M ham band L-Per for several years on a regular
basis (I used it at both World ARDF Championships in Hungary, 1998, and
China, 2000) and find it works VERY well with a tape measure beam in
Receive Mode. The only problems with DF Mode is that it takes quite a
bit of experience to recognize and deal with reflections, and of course
horizontal polarization brings in a new set of problems. On the other
hand, DF Mode works very well in the absense of reflections and when you
start to close in on the transmitter.
Marvin, KE6HTS
Bob wrote:
>
> I have LPER Serial number 6 that I bought before they came
> out. I have been using since on a monthly basis (25+
> years??). I always use it in the DF mode and seldom have any
> problems with going the wrong way. The big problem is using
> it for horiz pol. I don't use it on signals that are weak
> enough not to require the attenuator cranked in a bit. In
> other words, I mostly use it within 500 ft of the
> transmitter as I drive the offroad thing that close. (
> remember that hidden transmitters are hidden by people and
> therefore much closer to places you can drive than ELTs
> usually find themselves.)
>
> Bob, WB6JPI
>
> "J. Craswell" wrote:
> >
> > -While CAP has many dedicated members, and provides very good training
> > programs,
> > -I think that one of their primary limitations(as far as DFing goes) is that
> > they
> > -only have one tool in their bag of tricks, that being the Ltronics ELPer.
> > While
> > -an ELPer can be very effective, Ive seen many instances where that is not
> > the
> > -case. It also helps be familiar w/ the readings that you get from it, and
> > how to
> > -properly deploy it, which can be hard of you only use it once or twice a
> > -yr...Ive also think that (more)CAP Ground DF training should focus on
> > DFing w/o
> > -assistance from aircraft. All too often, Ive seen training scenarios where
> > -Ground teams are brought in(directed from the aircrew) simply to "finish
> > off"
> > -locating the target which has already been IDd by the aircrew. As this does
> > very
> > -little to hone the skills of the ground team... In all of my experience to
> > doing
> > -Ground DF, Ill say that having an aircraft avaible for DF, can be an
> > EXTREMELY
> > -useful asset, and save countless hours in searching. And that there are
> > many
> > -aircrews that are VERY good at narrowing down the location of a signal.
> > However
> > -in reality, there are also many instances where using an aircraft for DF is
> > -simply not an option, and the job falls entriely on the Ground team. Or
> > that by
> > -the time an aircraft takes off, the approximate location of the signal has
> > -already been determined.
> >
> > Not to offend anyone but for many years I assumed Aircrews would not be very
> > useful in helping to locate ELTs. I was proven 100% wrong with a great
> > Aircrew from Viking and Valley Squadron not only pinpointed a practice elt
> > but were "orbiting" in a circle exactly over the target. More and more I
> > see quality Aircrews doing a bang up job. Clearly the same problems we
> > ground pounders have (lack of experience - not being familiar with the
> > equipment) happens in the air as well. The solution is to train train
> > train!
> >
> > The Little L-Per is a strange thing. I've given many classes on it's use.
> > I personaly focus on one mode. Receive mode. Too many people come in with
> > the unit in recv mode (Becuase we ARE receiving.) and use the meter to point
> > to the target. They don't find many ELTs that way! I don't like the
> > confusion, plus DF mode has a few problems such as speeding off in the
> > exact opposite direction or flaky results with weak signals. One point I
> > make is to say this. "If you forget everything you have learned remember
> > there is a sticker on the side of the L-Per and a big white arrow on the
> > "sticks" that will remind you how to operate it." The other point I make is
> > that the training equipment is not a "holy relic" USE IT! I've had groups
> > of cadets who borrow the gear for a week or more and they sped around on
> > bikes hiding the trainer beacon and these guys got good! Plus they have a
> > ball doing it! I wish I had more seniors who would do the same thing.
> >
> > Last of all I have built up a few secret weapons. "Ol' Yelper" which in
> > reality is just a 3 element Yagi made from spring steel (Measuring tape) and
> > a offset attnuator so I can dial in 121.5 and 243 (ranges) on my Ham type
> > reciever. You don't need to use harmonics. I try to steer my students away
> > from using this scheme which I hear about often. Some tell me that 243 is
> > good listening to 121.6 is better and other weird stuff. With Ol' Yelper
> > you can be standing on top of the transmitter (Really! We hid it in a hole
> > under a matt outside the airport hanger and tell right where it is. I wish
> > I had a picture of the Senior member holding the Yagi Facing down and saying
> > "What gives?" It seems good with reflections as well. We did a lot of
> > testing hiding transmitters in between/inside and on top of hangers. I've
> > got a 5 element version going in the shop here for 243. If you want one
> > make me an offer I have a nice pile of measuring tapes to convert into
> > antennas! The big plus over my version is that they are not damaged by
> > running around in the woods. Cadets can sit on them on the way to the
> > mission and no problem! If you want to see a semi crappy picture of one
> > check out my unit web page (It's under RDF) The big fat boob on the front
> > page is me. And No, I do not know html (as is clear if you look at this
> > page)
> >
> > http://www.mnwg.cap.gov/130th
> >
> > Hey! Check out the model Rockets page. We put an ATV camera in one to see
> > what it looks like to go from zero to nearly supersonic. The AVI files are
> > huge but WOW!
> >
> > Question: How many are fully set up to work 243? Do you train on 243?
> > How? What Freq? What equipment???
> >
> > 73 - Jay W0VNE
> >
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