[HCRA] FW: Foxhunting championships to be held in BostonMassachusetts

Sat Apr 11 10:27:05 EDT 2009

Rich,

Thanks for the forward of an interesting event. I might take a drive out
over that weekend to see it in action. (can't go on Friday, I got tapped for
jury duty :>( ). 

Interesting in this day and age that male/female is a category.

Orienteering is fun as well and I would encourage anyone to try it, sort of
like foxhunting without a radio!

'73...

Jim, KK1W

> -----Original Message-----
> From: hcra-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:hcra-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
> On Behalf Of n1kxr at comcast.net
> Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2009 6:49 AM
> To: HCRA
> Subject: [HCRA] FW: Foxhunting championships to be held in
> BostonMassachusetts
> 
> ______________________________________________
> -------Hampden County Radio Association-------
> -----------e-mail list (reflector)-------------
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> 
> Greetings,
> The below text message is being forwarded by;
> Richard H. Wheeler - N1KXR
> http://www.qrz.com/callsign/n1kxr
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> 
> The original post can be found at:
> http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2009/02/10/10639/?nc=1
> 
> ----- Begin Text Message Below -----
> 
> ARDF Update: Bearings in Beantown: USA's 9th ARDF Championships
> 
> By Joe Moell, K0OV, Contributing Editor
> ARRL Amateur Radio Direction Finding Coordinator
> k0ov at arrl.net
> 
> February 10, 2009
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------
> Get your direction-finding gear ready and start practicing. Then make your
> travel plans for Boston and the next on-foot foxhunting championships.
> ------------------------------------
> 
> 
> 
> Amateur Radio operators in California, Georgia, North Carolina, New
> Mexico, Ohio and Texas have something in common:. The USA national
> championships of Amateur Radio Direction Finding ( ARDF ) have taken place
> in their states. Every year since 2001, hams and future hams have gathered
> to see who is best at finding hidden radio transmitters in the forest.
> Besides ARDF, the sport has other names such as foxhunting, foxtailing and
> radio-orienteering.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> This year, for the first time, our national championships will take place
> in the Northeast. Foxhunting fans of all skill levels will gather near
> Boston June 5-7 for two days of intense competition. Saturday's
> competition is on 2 meters, while Sunday's is on 80 meters. Early arrivals
> can have a day of practice and equipment testing on Friday.
> 
> 
> Maps and Compasses for All
> 
> 
> 
> 
> In accordance with standard ARDF rules of the International Amateur Radio
> Union ( IARU ), participants will be divided into nine age categories ,
> five for males and four for females. With their direction-finding gear and
> a full-color orienteering map in hand, they will set forth each day with
> the goal of finding all of their required transmitters (five, four or
> three, depending on category).
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Each person is individually timed and transmitters may be found in any
> order. There is no need to dig in the dirt, because a special flag will
> mark the check-in point at each fox location. After that, contestants will
> head for the finish line, guided by their map and a homing transmitter on
> a separate frequency. The goal is to find the most transmitters in the
> shortest elapsed time. Medals await the winners each day, as well as
> opportunities to join ARDF Team USA for the next ARDF World Championships,
> scheduled for 2010 in Croatia.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> The 2009 USA Championships offer another first: A combination of
> championship ARDF and classic orienteering. Our transmitter hunts will
> share the forest with local sessions of the New England Orienteering Club
> . Besides reducing costs for everyone, the inclusion of ARDF at the NEOC
> meet will expose orienteers and local Scouts to Amateur Radio and to this
> radio sport.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> This year's site is the Blue Hills Reservation , a 7000 acre open space
> about 10 miles south of downtown Boston. It is the largest conservation
> land area within a major metropolitan area in the USA. There are 125 miles
> of trails that wind through forests, marshes, swamps and meadows, as well
> as an Atlantic white cedar bog.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> The concurrent ARDF and classic orienteering competitions will have
> separate electronic scoring systems. Distinctive flags will be at each
> hidden transmitter to avoid confusion with any nearby orienteering
> controls. The foxboxes each send a distinct Morse signal for 60 seconds in
> rotating sequence. You don't need to know the code, because a fox's number
> can be easily determined by counting dits.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> The Blue Hills Reservation area is now off limits for anyone who will be
> entering the 2009 USA ARDF Championships. To avoid any unfair advantage,
> potential competitors may not go to these woods until competition time.
> Maps showing the boundaries and finish location will be issued just before
> start time.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >From Russia, with Radio Foxes
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ARDF first grew to prominence in Eastern Europe and former Soviet Union
> countries more than two decades ago. The organizer and host of this year's
> USA championships experienced that for himself. He is Vadim Afonkin,
> KB1RLI. Vadim, as UZ3AYT, learned the sport in his native Russia. After
> winning his first medal in the USSR Championships at age 16, he joined the
> Soviet team for several international and military competitions.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Upon moving to the USA with his ARDF gear in 1994, Vadim was disappointed
> to learn that there was no international-rules on-foot transmitter hunting
> here at the time. Almost a decade later, he found out about the Third USA
> Championships in Ohio. He entered the competition and won medals on both
> the 2 and 80 meter bands. This encouraged him to resume his physical
> training, propelling him to two gold medals at the Fourth USA
> Championships in California, as well as a place on ARDF Team USA at the
> 2004 World Championships in the Czech Republic.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Vadim has won gold in the five-fox M21 category at the USA Championships
> every year since then. He has been on Team USA for the World Championships
> in 2006 (Bulgaria) and 2008 (South Korea) . In Korea, he took fifth place
> worldwide in the M40 category on 80 meters.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Vadim is an expert on ARDF course design, so you can expect challenging
> contests on both bands this year. I think they will be reminiscent of
> courses that were set in Umstead Park near Durham, North Carolina by
> former USSR champion Nadia Scharlau. She and husband Charles, NZ0I, hosted
> the USA Championships in 2006 . Nadia captured USA's first World
> Championships medal in that same year.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Competitors are responsible for bringing their own direction-finding gear
> to the national championships. Extra sets might be available for loan from
> other attendees, but inquire ahead of time. Receivers must not radiate
> signals that can be heard by others. Transmitting on the course is not
> allowed, except in emergencies. Using GPS to find your way is also
> forbidden. Each person competes as an individual. There is no teaming or
> person-to-person assistance on the courses.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Everyone Can Get Involved
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Even if you aren't up to the challenge of a big-forest foxhunt, there is a
> good chance that someone in your family or circle of friends is a
> potential champion. Tell them about this opportunity and offer to help
> with RDF equipment and local practice sessions. As always, USA's ARDF
> Championships are open to anyone who can run or walk through the forest
> while carrying RDF gear for 5-10 kilometers. A ham license is not a
> requirement.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Vadim is putting out the welcome mat for ARDF beginners and experts from
> all parts of the world. Expect to meet radio-orienteers from elsewhere in
> the Western Hemisphere, because this year's USA Championships are being
> combined with the biennial championships for IARU's Region 2 . Foxhunters
> from other countries have expressed interest in attending and competing as
> visitors.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> To encourage first-timers and foreign visitors, the competition entry
> charge will be waived for persons who have never participated in the USA
> ARDF Championships, as well as for persons coming from outside North
> America. They will have the option of purchasing event t-shirts. The two-
> day competition fee for all others will be $50 per person, including a t-
> shirt.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Vadim is now accepting pre-registrations and inquiries via e-mail . He has
> a Web site about the 2009 championships with his blog entries and
> opportunities for your replies, inquiries and comments. Plenty of lodging
> and meal options are close to the Blue Hills Reservation. Expect daytime
> high temperatures in the low 70s. There is a 1-in-3 chance of rain each
> day, but only a 1-in-10 chance of a thunderstorm.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> For a quick introduction to ARDF Rules, techniques and gear, visit my Web
> site . You will see equipment ideas for both 2 meters and 80 meters. Photo
> pages from previous championships will give you a good idea of what to
> expect in the woods of Massachusetts.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> These cold winter evenings are ideal for building simple ARDF gear such as
> tape measure Yagis and offset attenuators . As soon as warmer weather
> arrives, schedule some ARDF practice sessions in local parks. For even
> more fun, make it a club activity, perhaps with a barbecue or potluck.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I am looking forward to meeting radio foxhunters from your town at the USA
> Championships!
> 
> 
> ----- End Text Message -----
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