[FoxHunt] hunt report

[Anthony Levand]

Fifth Saturday Start Anywhere Hunt

We parked on Spring Hill, on the water tower access behind the car
dealer. Weather was +5F, clear with little wind and 6 inches of light
snow cover, winter in Chicago. Chris called us on the ACL repeater and
Charlie broke in thereafter. Charlie could hear the 2 meter signal in
Hillside, but Chris could not detect the 10 meter signal in Cary. We
gave Chris a heading of not north or west. Charlie was hunting with his
typical directional BMG gear on 2 meters, and omni whip on 10, while
Chris had the inverse, a freshly finished untested detuned unshielded 10
meter DF loop and a HT. Chris drove south and got a bearing in
Barrington. Charlie also had a direction on the input and the hunt
started at 7:55 PM. I expected Chris to arrive first, since he was
closer but Charlie surprised me at 8:30. He was driving by on Route 25
during a transmission as the bearing swung to the right. He reported the
10 meter signal was a good indicator of proximity but the AM modulation
level was very low. Munchies was announced. A while later we called
Chris on the repeater, he was in Glenview, 20 miles away, headed east
and the signal was getting weaker. Apparently the loop was responding in
an opposite sense to the near field source he used to tune it with. With
that corrected he headed west for the tollway. The police showed up
around that time with the spot light shining on us. I got out of the car
to explain what we were doing there. Upon reaching the car I told the
officer that this as an amateur radio transmitter hunt. "Oh a fox hunt"
he replied. I was taken back by his familiarity with the subject, but
recognized Greg's voice subsequently. The spot light had blinded me. He
reported not hearing the 10 meter signal in Addison but the 2 meter
signal strength enticed him, thinking we were close. This was his "one
hunt of the year". He returned home. Chris took Higgins to Route 25,
stopped for gas and found us a few minutes later. Munchies were at
Rosatties Pizzaria.


Charlie and Alexis  KB9DIM 8:30
Greg N9SA                  9:00
Chris KA9MGS               9:29
Don                        DNH

Tony and Linda
AA9CC

146.385 & 28.500 MHz
January 31, 2004