| Today we
had a meet at the old ARDF site that used the WB8WFK .045 watt
80 meter microfox transmitters ( see below photo).
Click
for large image
Everything placed in the field fits into one day
pack. The Sport ident, vertical wire HF antennas, control markers
and all 5 transmitters.
Scott KC5VVB stayed at the start point to keep an
eye on all of the start location equipment while I placed the
equipment in the field (see vet results).
The mocrofox has been in use in New Mexico for several
years now ( first version schematic is dated May 19th 1994) and
is our temporary replacement for the ammo can transmitters until
the new SDR fox is finished. They run all day on a 9V battery.
We had 4 hunters (see results) come out for a nice
cool New Mexico October day at ~ 7400 feet.
It was also nice to see Jack Stump KD5OUO come out
to the hunt. I hope to see Jack at upcoming meets.
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Meet results were processed using
the FJWW
ARDF score keeping software.
Note: We had 1 runner who did not have
an SI card so I hand edited the HTML reports generated by FJWW
to add Jack to the results list, there may be a way to enter someone
with out SI into FJWW direct. Just have not found out how to do
that yet.
Meet
Results for all runners.
Meet
Results for all runners with links to pages with hunt order and
stats for each runner ( click runners name for complete stats)
Map
showing all controls (with out home). Since this is a microfox
hunt the exclusion circle has a radius of 200 Meters.
Note the homing beacon was not used. A control flag and SI station
was located ( and hand marked on the maps).
No on air RF source each runner had to punch the non RF homing
beacon (MO) by finding it via map location. An easy task as it
was very close to the finish area.
After the last finish Scott, Kevin and Jack assisted with transmitter
removal. I also removed transmitter number 5 and linked up with
Scott and Jack as they were in the process of removing transmitter
number 4.
Mike (K5ATM) stayed at the start point and kept an eye on all
the equipment that was located at that location and also monitored
the radio in case anyone in the field needed assistance.
Kevin needs to get an award for good map reading and control
plotting. He had very good fixes for all required transmitters
in M40 plotted on his map. Plots are well within the control circles
on the meet map posted on this website. GOOD JOB Kevin and keep
up your attention to detail. Do you want to go to a national championship
sometime?
The Fox transmitters had good signal across the entire meet location.
At home in the City, I have received then as far away as 2 miles
from my home QTH using the Fox Finder 80 as the receiver(the transmitter
was using the standard club 22 foot vertical wire antenna in a
tree and 2 each 22 foot wires for the ground plane). Matching
coil is built into the transmitter.
At doc Long the range is shorter around ~ 1.5 KM ( maybe due
to the deep canyons).
It may be possible to use much longer courses at this meet location.
Some range testing is in order. Maybe an upcoming weekend outing?
After the meet Mike, Scott , Jack and I stopped by the local
mountain convince store ( located a few miles from the ARDF site)
to get something to drink and a snack and talk about the meet.
No wildlife encounters of the > 300 pound type occurred at
this meet location.
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