September Foxhunt

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Good afternoon all,

I’m happy to announce CVARC is planning a foxhunt for Saturday, September 19th! This event is expected to run from mid-morning until the afternoon. We encourage everyone, club member or not, to participate in this event.

“Foxhunting”, transmitter hunting, “t-hunting” or radio direction finding is a practice to locate a radio transmitter or source of RF. Hams often do it for fun, but it also has practical applications like locating downed aircraft in an emergency, locating stolen equipment, or sniffing out sources of RF interference. Since the main operation that takes place during the hunt is receiving, even those without a license may participate, and so it’s a great exercise for those looking to join the hobby.

Spread the word, but not the virus: COVID-19 information here

Since this event will be outdoors, we can still comply with local restrictions regarding the pandemic. What will likely happen is the fox transmitter will have a laminated score sheet attached to it with a marker. Those that find it should put their name or call sign and the local time they found it. While on the hunt, please wear a mask if you’re unable to keep a safe distance from others in public. CVARC is a part of the local Vermont community, and we want to set a positive example when representing the club.

Preliminary details: The ‘fox’ is expected to hide within the limits of Washington County and transmit on the nationally-accepted RDF frequency of 146.565 MHz. Please keep your eyes open for website posts and further details or rules closer to the date.

Foxhunt information page with tips on radio-direction finding

Please contact us with any questions.

73,
-Patrick, KC1DPM
CVARC President

Foxhunting information

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As stated in our July meeting, the club is in the early stages of planning a fox hunt (or transmitter hunt) for August. As promised, here is another website with a fountain of information on the art of radio direction finding – also called fox hunting, transmitter hunting, or T-hunting.

http://homingin.com/index.html

http://homingin.com/SCalStyle.html

Pictures of a foxhunt transmitter detailed during the November 2019 CVARC meeting

Transmitter schematic

Details on the “body fade” technique

The information mostly pertains to the Southern California foxhunting scene, so not all info may apply to Vermont’s mountainous terrain, but the basics are still valid. If you are interested in being a part of the planning team for the fox hunt or have ideas and past experiences to contribute, please leave a comment on this post or contact us.

We will be adding a “Rules” page to the website soon to illustrate the rules of the event, and special information regarding compliance with VT’s COVID-19 ordinances. As this event will be outdoors, the risk is substantially lower, but we feel it is necessary to ensure the safety of all participants.

Thank you and 73,
-Patrick, KC1DPM
CVARC President

Skywarn teleconference 7/31

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Hi all,

For anyone interested, there is a virtual SKYWARN talk to review the severe weather event in Vermont that occurred on July 8th. This event is free and open to all, hosted by the National Weather Service in Burlington: https://www.weather.gov/btv/July8thSevreEventReview

NWS website: https://www.weather.gov/

Information on the skywarn program: https://www.weather.gov/SKYWARN

NWS amateur radio station in Burlington: https://www.weather.gov/btv/hamradio

July meeting 2020

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Good afternoon all,

I hope everyone enjoyed their Independence day weekend. We will be having our monthly meeting this Wednesday, July 8th at 6pm, hosting online via Jitsi. You do not need to provide any personal information, nor do you need an account to join. You may use a microphone and webcam if you like, or you may dial-in: +1.512.647.1431 PIN: 1339 1611 95#

You may join the meeting using the link below:
https://meet.jit.si/W1BD-JulyMeeting

The password to join the meeting is the output frequency (in megahertz) of the Williamstown repeater.

Please contact us with any questions.

We’ll be discussing some club updates, field day results, and activity ideas for the summer/fall. See you then!

73,
-Patrick, KC1DPM
CVARC President