Archive of Past Rules:


FOX HUNT RULES
April 20, 2010

WHO: Anyone interested in finding the hidden transmitter (i.e., the “Fox”).

WHAT: A timed hidden transmitter hunt.

WHERE: Hunters begin hunting at the Ken Groom, ZR5AAD, Technical & Training Center, 280 East 8th Street, Holland, Michigan.

WHEN: 7:00 PM EST / 23:00 z , until 9:00PM EST / 25:00 z, April 20, 2010.

WHY: Because it's FUN ! And because the ability to locate an unknown transmitter is an important skill for the well rounded ham operator.

HOW: Commencing 23:00 z, the Fox will transmit periodic announcements, one minute in duration out of every 5 minutes, on the Frequency 145.530 MHz simplex. Hunters shall use radio direction finding equipment to locate the Fox, using the shortest traveled distance, as measured by their automobile odometers. The winning hunter(s) shall have traveled the least distance (in miles) to locate the Fox, prior to the expiration of the two hour hunting period. In the case of a tie in mileage, the hunter(s) who have tied, and who found them in the least time, shall be the winner. The Fox shall be in a place open to the general public. Locating the Fox means the Hunter has, himself, traveled to within ten feet of the transmitter and announced his presence. Hunters may work alone or in teams. Advanced antenna scanning equipment such a Doppler antenna system or any computer assisted scanning devices are not allowed. Transmitter power may vary at the discretion of the Fox. No hunters shall transmit on the fox frequency except in case of emergency or when directed by the fox.

POST HUNT MEETING: The Fox and others shall meet after the Hunt concludes for a brief social at the Burger King located at187 North River Street , Holland, Michigan. All Hunters are welcome to join in the fun.

SAFETY: SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE. Low Mileage is the test, not speed. Take your time, and be super careful as you drive, and especially if you exit the vehicle for any reason.

Click here for map to Holland Clubhouse and starting point

Fox Hunt Rules

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

All hunters are more than welcome to participate.  If you don’t have fox hunting equipment yet, ride along with someone and see how it’s done…or see how it’s not done, depending on who you’re with.  In any case, the more the merrier.  The hunt is free and open to anyone who wants to participate or just ride along, have fun, and maybe learn a bit.

The hunt will begin at the parking lot of the Ken Groom Technical and Training Center, 280 East 8th Street, Holland at 7:00 p.m. (1900 hours for the technosquad) and will end at 9:02 p.m. (that's sunset, for the romantics and those without watches) on Tuesday, May 18, 2010.

Odometer readings will be taken before the hunt begins.  The winner will be the person or team whose vehicle puts on the lowest number of miles finding the Fox.  In case of a tie, the person or team who found the Fox first will be deemed the winner.  To “find” the Fox, one person from the team must identify him/herself to the Fox by name and call sign and give the Fox the final odometer reading.

Once a team has found the Fox, they will be given directions to the site of the “Post Hunt Social Hour” and should then exit the hiding place without giving other hunters any hints as to the whereabouts of the Fox.  Taunting, gloating, bragging and razzing will be reserved for before and after the hunt.

Any type of direction finding equipment may be used, but Doppler users will compete only against each other and will not be eligible for the Grand Prize...if there is one.  The Fox will be hiding within an eight mile radius of the clubhouse.  The Fox will remain in or near the car in a publicly accessible spot.  The geeky stuff - the Fox will use a robofox, transmitting one minute on, two minutes off at 145.53 and there's something about a vertically polarized whip antenna and the frequency and power not varying, blah, blah, blah.

All traffic rules and regulations must be obeyed.  Driving backwards to conserve mileage, while somewhat effective, is not recommended.  Be careful when jumping out of the car to get a reading.  You don’t want your family to have to explain to the other mourners just exactly what it was you were doing when you were hit by the truck and why that antenna is sticking out of your chest.

Be safe, have fun, and try to find me!

73,

K8AJ, The Fox

Details from the Fox Den
Tuesday, June 15, 2010 Hunt.

All hunters, hunter wannabees, relative strangers, and strange relatives are invited to participate. You don’t need to be a ham or a club member. If you don’t have fox hunting equipment yet, this is your chance to learn from someone else or at least from someone else’s mistakes. It’s free and it’s great fun!! What more could you ask?

On Tuesday, June 15, hunters and any other interested parties will start gathering at the parking lot of the Ken Groom Technical and Training Center, 280 East 8th Street, Holland at about 6:45 p.m. to check equipment, sort out who’s riding with whom, take beginning odometer readings, and taunt each other mercilessly. The hunt will begin at 7:00 p.m. sharp and end at 9:00 p.m. or when all hunters have found the Fox. In other words, the hunt will end at 9:00 p.m.

Any type of direction finding equipment may be used, but Doppler users will compete only against each other and will not be eligible for the Grand Prize...if there is one.  The Fox will be hiding within an eight mile radius of the clubhouse.  The Fox will remain either in, or in the vicinity of, the vehicle in a spot that will be either publicly or privately owned, but will not be posted for trespassing and will not require an admission fee, passport, or DNA sample for entry. In fact, leaving DNA samples is strictly forbidden. 

The geeky stuff you’ve been waiting for - the Fox will use a robofox, transmitting one minute on, two minutes off at 145.53 using a vertically polarized whip antenna and the frequency and power won’t vary. Some assembly required and batteries not included…yeah, whatever.  

Clues will be available as before. The winner of the hunt will be the person or team whose vehicle puts on the lowest number of miles finding the Fox.   In case of a tie, the person or team who found the Fox first will be deemed the winner.  To “find” the Fox, one person from the team must identify him/herself to the Fox by name and call sign and give the Fox the final odometer reading. 

If a team finds the Fox, they will be given further instructions regarding where to go and what to do when they get there. (The Fox really enjoys that part.) Teams that don’t find the Fox should just backtrack down their own trail of abject defeat and humiliation, or radio for directions to the same site. The post hunt gathering will feature the usual toasting to the winners and roasting of the uh…non-winners.

Safety first. All traffic rules and regulations must be obeyed. Anyone who is fatally injured during the hunt will be automatically disqualified from the competition, but will still meet the qualifications to be the Fox for future hunts.

   

Be careful out there, good luck, have fun!! Betcha you can’t find me!!!

 

73,

K8AJ, The Vixen (That’s what a female fox is called…glad it’s not a dog hunt.)

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