Sorry about the local nature of this post, but hopefully some of my readers are local to SE Michigan and be able to attend this event. We had Joe, KE8MKR, speak to our club just before the pandemic, and he was very enthusiastic about getting some ARDF activity going here, but then the pandemic hit. I might head out there myself next week and have a go at it….Dan
Hello fellow HAM, ARDF, foxhunting, etc enthusiasts!
I am pleased to inform you that Huron-Clinton Metroparks has approved a small Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) event at Kensington Metropark on Wed, 25 Aug 2021, 4:30 to 8:00 pm, staging out of the toboggan/sledding area and you are all invited and welcome to come try it out!
This should be a nice after-work summer evening of brief mini ARDF courses perfect for beginning and veteran ARDF-ers alike.
We will have equipment available for your use if you don’t have your own, and of course I will be happy to help w/ instructions for getting you started.
The course will entail some minor hiking/walking (or running for those who want a good workout and want to do it competitively) hunting for small, very low-powered transmitters (aka “foxes”) hidden in a few spots in the park. Total walking distance should be ~ 2km or so. Sunscreen and bug repellant recommended.
At a minimum I am planning on having 3.5 MHz (80m) TXs hidden (again, if you don’t have your own RX we will have some you can use to try it out). There is the possibility of adding some 144 MHz (2m) TXs but I won’t know for sure until the day of the event, so if you have your own 2m yagi/RX kit I recommend brining that with you in case I can add a 144 MHz (2m) course in addition to the 3.5 MHz (80m) course.
The event is held in conjunction with an orienteering event organized by the Southern Michigan Orienteering Club (SMOC). Since you will need a map to hunt down your TXs that get pre-printed, and for insurance purposes, you will need to pre-register before 8pm on 23 Aug if you plan on attending. Here is the registration link: https://smoc-runs.com/events/view/4501.
If you also want to try your hand at orienteering you are more than welcome! Just included the beginner or advanced sprint course in your registration in addition to the “radio” entry.
For the radio events, in the event of rain/storms we will reschedule. For the orienteering it will go forward rain or shine barring hazardous storms.
If you want to do multiple courses (like both 80m and 2m if 2m is offered, or a radio course and an orienteering course, etc) please arrive earlier to allow enough time to complete both courses before the courses close at about 8pm.
Let me know any questions or if you need help with anything! Appreciate spreading word/forwarding to anyone you know who is interested in radio direction finding. Hope to see some of you there!
73,
Joe Burkhead, KE8MKR
ARRL ARDF Committee
Southern Michigan Orienteering Club
[email protected]
734-433-6824