[HCRA] FoxII - Basic Training -This SUNDAY - !!!

Fri Oct 17 12:55:14 EDT 2008

Sunday  10.19.08     9am.

If anyone would like to participate in the Fox hunt this Sunday but is
not sure of how to go about it, I will be at the parking lot from 9am
to 10 am on Sunday and will help you get started.  I am reprinting
the basic instructions below so that you do not have to go hunting for
them.  Send me and email if you have any questions..  I will
be monitoring 146.670 on Sunday morning (except when testing the Fox
which usually takes about 5 minutes)

Jim    k1jaw 

From: Jim W <k1jaw at yahoo.com>
Subject: [HCRA] FoxII  Rides again - SUNDAY !!!
To: "'HCRA'" <hcra at mailman.qth.net>
Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2008, 2:05 PM

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This Sunday (10/19) in Longmeadow.    

OK, here goes!   If you want a challenge then 9am to 5 pm in Longmeadow and 
DON'T READ ANYMORE  or if you would like more details, read to the end.
Transmitter range is just under a mile.

This terrain is a little more rugged and rustic but you could bring binoculars
for the birds and other wildlife. Many residents walk their dogs here on
leashes. It should be cool enough so that there are no bugs and parking is
plentiful. Always bring water.  Each trip out should add something so as a
refresher;  Letter E is new but please be careful!

1. This is an automatic Fox.  You go when you want, between 9am and 5 pm this
Sunday.   You may re-activate as many times as you want.
2. To activate the Fox, transmit on 146.565 and then push a DTMF 2 on your
handheld - MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE AN RESONANT ANTENNA ON!
3. The Fox will respond with a 10 wpm cw message "QRZ HCRA FOX HUNT    CAN
U FIND ME?   DE WB1Z WB1Z     K" and then shut itself off.  (Be sure to ID
every 10 minutes with an antenna on to keep legal)
4. This is a good hunt to have a friend/ham/YL along with you. When you get
close, it is better to have two transmitters so that you do not forget to have
an antenna on when you transmit a DTMF "2"
***
A. Some are going to use a yagi.  This will get you to the general area
quickest but become less valued when you get within range.
B. Body fade - Remember to keep the transceiver close to you and turn a full
360 degrees slowly without stopping.  Note the nul(s) which are the weakest
signal.  If you have one nul, the Fox is behind you.  Two nuls are caused by
reflection. If you have two nuls, look between the two nuls and the fox will be
behind you.
C. Off Frequency - If you are too close to get nuls, and before you remove the
antenna, another method you might like to try is changing frequency to either
146.560 or 146.570 AFTER activating the Fox.  (See, something new each time we
go out!)
D. Substitute antenna - If you have a BNC connector (quarter turn to put on or 
off) you may use a small paperclip for a shorter antenna. If you have a SMA
(screw on) do NOT use a paperclip, find a quarter watt resistor or short piece
of wire that fits snugly but is not forced in or fall out.
E. You may have to remove your antenna totally. READ CLOSELY the following.
Sometimes it is necessary to wrap you HT in tinfoil to keep stray RF out of the
receiver.  PLEASE TAPE ALL DC CONTACT POINTS ON YOUR HT WITH GOOD ELECTRICAL
TAPE BEFORE YOU TRY WRAPPING YOUR HT - LOOK AT THE BACK AND BOTTOM, AND TAPE
WELL! 
F.This is a public place.  When you are real close to the Fox, try not to call
attention to yourself so that it does not fall into the wrong hands. If it has
become too visible, please adjust it accordingly. You do not have to touch it
for the bragging rights.  Being able to say "its gotta be here.." is
what it is all about.

I will be monitoring 146.670 all day while I am doing honeydews.  Have fun... 
If there is a chance of rain, I will still deploy the Fox;  If is going to rain
all day, I will not.  Call me anytime on 146.670 (147.000 as a backup) if you
have questions. 

After this one, with the help of some of you, I am going to provide a RDF
antenna design to build, and then maybe a simple attenuator as a winter project.

Jim    k1jaw 

The following is letter backwards, words correct for those who did not want to
know more.  It only gets you to the parking lot!

  renrut krap no smailliw teerts

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Address any comments to:
-Jim, KK1W  -  kk1w at charter.net
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