[PPRAANet] How Do You Hunt for a Hidden Transmitter?

[Paul Signorelli]

How do you get started Transmitter Hunting?
...You need a good shielded receiver that won't overload when you get close to the transmitter.
...You need a receiver with a signal strength meter, and a Lighted display for night hunting.
Surprisingly the Baofeng UV-5R has better receiver isolation than my Yaesu FT-411.
...You need a 4 element yagi tuned to the frequency you are hunting and you need to
practice  with it so you know it is working right. You need to learn how to ignore  reflections.
   If you chase a signal to the Southof the city  and run up into the Zoo and the bearing switches back to the North, you have been chasing a reflection.
   The best way to track down a station is to mount the beam on the side of the car so it
can rotate when you are in motion and have a driver do the driving for you.
...You need to have a 60dB attenuator to drop the signal strength as you close in.
   If the signal is just to powerful when you are close to the transmitter you can tune off the frequency and find a spur and track down the spur.
   If you suspect there is a Ham involved you can get a list of hams in the area by ZIP code at: http://www.arrl.org/fcc/search , This can save a lot of time, Look call letter auto plates, and for antennae too. Ask the Neighbors/Post Man if they have seen any one with a Walkie Talkie... etc.
   Don't let the person who is causing the interference know you are tracking him. The best thing to do is to ignore him. So do not transmit on his frequency. Don't try to block him out because someone else my need his signal to track him.
   Use a different coordination frequency, Like 446.5 or 146.58, if you are hunting with a friend.
Never, Never,  Transmit into your attenuator or you will blow it up.
Paul   w0rw