The First Annual GVARC Transmitter Hunt is now history, and what an event it
was! Following two great workshops, at which we made our antennae and
attenuators, we eagerly anticipated this Sunday afternoon challenge. The
pictures below show the hunters with their mostly homemade equipment.
With about 25 people participating, we assembled in the SAV parking lot for a final mission briefing by Transmitter Hunt Chairman Gene Schouweiler, WØKAD...
After the briefing we all made sure our transceivers were tuned to the frequency on which "Lloyd, The Fox" (N7GV) was transmitting prerecorded recitations from class sessions he has taught at a local school...
Departing at two minute intervals, each team set out to take initial bearings...
Along the way the hunters continued to refine their bearings as they homed in on the "Fox"...
Five hunter teams were successful in locating the "Fox," which was carefully hidden at the base of a tree on a local golf course. The photos below show the coax running up the tree adjacent to the transmitter...
Of course we couldn't have had a successful and fun afternoon without the skilled and devious services of our two transmitter "hiders," Dave & Susan, AB7VE & KC7TAC, shown at right in the pictures below...
Naturally, a large part of the hunt was the time of fellowship following the hunt at a local restaurant...
I would like to thank several GVARC members for their help in Sunday's Transmitter Hunt:
Lloyd, N7GV, and Carolyn, AB7KC, for building, testing, and making sure the hidden transmitter worked. Also, for doing the engineering and testing of the attenuator, not to mention making a kit that allowed the rest of us to build those attenuators. What would we do without them?
Jack, AD7NK, for all the antenna work, which made it possible for some of us to build an antenna that we could afford and use.
Ron & Dee, AD7FV & AD7NM, for keeping us focused and bringing cold drinks — and Dee for the cookies (we all helped Ron by eating those cookies so he does not).
Jim, KE7KCX, for the use of his garage for the attenuator workshop, wherein was built the attenuators some of the participants used.
Tim, KE7SFB, for taking pictures (looking forward to seeing those).
Dave & Susan, AB7VE & KC7TAC, for a great job hiding the transmitter. They got to laugh at some of us wandering around like lost puppies looking for ghost riders in the sky.
And every one who came out to have what was a fun afternoon playing RADIO.
Results:
5 stations found the transmitter.
2 got to within a few feet of it.
One was there at 1600 hrs and found it only when Dave & Susan took it down.
The last 3 are still looking.
Those of you that did not come out – YOU MISSED A GOOD ONE!
Gene WØKAD
Note: If you have any ideas that would make the next hunt better, please send them to me.