[FoxHunt] The Joy of Rec mode.

[J. Craswell]

Well don't get into attack mode.  I'm not insulting the way you use your
gear.  Heck maybe your wife is better DFing than I, or your Serial #6 unit
is a better unit than ours!  All I know is I can get our unit to point 180
degrees away from a true signal in DF mode.  Maybe it's me fighting
reflections?  I duno.  With weak signals I can also get it to point almost
anywhere in DF.  Frankly I don't have time for that.  I simply don't have
those problems using recv mode.  And without blowing my own horn our units
turn around time from signal heard to signal found is at the top in our
wing.  "Ease of use" i.e. follow the pointer is all ok but I prefer the weak
signal feature of Recv mode and I don't mind spinning around to get it.  We
use the Flex-o Yagi and this helps with signals that are horizontal.  Plus
we don't really do all that much spinning around since we just wave the flex
around like a magic wand.

I teach a few things.  Number #1 is get to high and open terrain (if you
can)  Our crew have some favorite high spots (such as Goat Hill) that they
try to take initial readings from.  In recv mode we do a number of 360s
(That's #2) to look for signals and the peaks.  Lot's of newbees get a minor
peak and start running.  Reflections and snap judgments = bad news I think.
We map the bearings out and keep on the move.  A little "self" triangulation
helps.  We also always try in enlist the help of other local teams to do the
same thing and this speed useful triangulation.   BTW How many "educate" the
MCs that two DF teams are better than one?  How many fight you?  Of course
you also need to steer clear of power lines.  Maybe that should be #1 since
following powerline "leaks" catches a lot of the fellows.    And beware
reflections.  I think that trust your equipment is important also.  Had a
weird conversation with a team that was sure a signal was East when all the
indications from the equipment were West.  I asked "why" and they said they
just had a feeling.  The L-Per in this case was right.  Feelings smeelings.
BTW has anyone else noticed that real ELTs with good batteries travel a very
long way?   A heck of a lot further than our training beacon. (I think)

Well that's my 2 cents worth.

de Jay W0VNE