Start time 5-10-2002 2348 HST.
First bearings taken from parking lot at 11th Ave/Harding Ave. MOE located East toward Kahala, MOI located West towards Moiliili
Drove near the Diamond Head/KCC area, but losing signals of MOE and MOI, determined that first MOE bearing was a reflection from nearby buldings.
Next bearings from park near 11th Ave and Kilauea Ave. Both MOE and MOI East of this location.
Drove towards Moiliili, signal strengthened for both in Moiliili/McCully area. Attempted obtaining bearings from several areas, but aborted 3 attempts due to questionable persons and activities in chosen areas.
Drove towards Downtown Honolulu, gave up on MOE for the moment as it's signal faded out, found MOI signal full scale to picketfencing. Third harmonic breaking squelch passing HMB, near State Capitol, Punchbowl St/South King St area. MOI seems to be near the State Library.
At 0115 HST., Co-pilot asleep, postponed further hunting until later Saturday.
Round two, 5-11-2002 1430 HST.
Headed up to Round Top Drive lookout for some bearings.
MOE appears to be slightly West of South, MOI due East.
Down the mountain to Makiki District Park.
Interesting that we should bump into KH6HAK there.
MOE appears to be in the direction of University Lab School. MOI just North of West.
Next stop, Washington Middle School South King St parking lot. MOE's signal goes along South King St in the East direction. MOI's goes West along South King St.
Next stop, Honolulu Stadium Park. Questionable headings, lots of desense from some RF source. Possibly reflection of signals. KH6HAK spotted in area.
Kept driving in the Moiliili area hoping to get consistent full scale signal, never happens.
Moiliili Field, MOE seems to be in the direction of University Ave and Dole St. Drove by the pedestrian overpass near Isenberg St and Bingham St, choppy signal. Gave up for the moment, focusing on MOI.
Parked on Punchbowl between the State Library and Honolulu Hale. Walked around the Library lawn, no 3rd harmonic.
Parked fronting Skygate. Walked around Honolulu Hale, HMB, parking lot, no 3rd harmonic. Back in car, circled the block another time, still no 3rd harmonic. Was last night's 3rd harmonic finding a fluke?
Gave up about 1715 for the moment. Off to errands and a baseball game.
Round three, 5-11-2002 2145.
Ala Wai Field, MOE's signal follows Wiliwili St towards Round Top lookout.
Wiliwili St & South King St, signal follows path towards University Lab School.
Driving along Beretania St, signal still choppy between Isenberg St & McCully St Crossing the freeway on McCully. Dole St & University Ave, signal a bit choppy still.
Parked on Metcalf St fronting University Lab School. MOE's signal North. Followed roads North, signal strengthened, but no 3rd harmonic.
Parked Kamehameha Ave & Hunnewell St MOE slightly West of South. Drove along Hunnewell St & Vancouver Dr, 3rd Harmonic appears but fades going West. Heading East on Vancouver Dr, full scale 3rd harmonic, MOE spotted across the street from Manoa Valley Inn. Code noted, photo taken. 5-11-2002 2311 HST.
Round three, part 2. Heading to MOI.
Drove around State Capitol, signal choppy. Drove through downtown streets, choppy.
Parked at Vineyard Blvd & Pali Hwy (Long's parking lot), MOI's signal Southwest.
Irwin Park area, found reserved parking area well guarded, unable to take readings.
Keawe between Ilalo St & Ala Moana Blvd Squelch breaks on 3rd harmonic. Lucky break!
Coral St & Ilalo St. Squelch breaks on 3rd harmonic, but no S reading.
Cooke St & Ilalo St. Squelch breaks on 3rd harmonic, but no S reading.
Oha St outside Kakaako Waterfront Park. No 3rd harmonic. Must be on the other side of Ala Moana Blvd.
Pohukaina St near Keawe St heading Southeast, S9+ on 3rd harmonic, then fades away.
Parked Halekauwila St near Keawe St. MOI seems to be near intersection of Pohukaina St & Keawe St.
Parked Keawe St near Pohukaina St. Signal is West of this location.
MOI found, Pohukaina St between Keawe St & South St. Code noted. Photo taken. 5-12-2002 0016 HST.
Lessons learned:
Beware of signal reflections.
Plot headings even if questionable. Triangulate!
Signals tend to follow streets since they're open pathways, but signals down streets need to be rechecked at crossstreets.
Hunting by watching signal strength on mobile omni antenna is usually futile unless you're working the 3rd harmonic.
Find the signal direction and follow that path for a bit, then recheck signal direction.
The Moiliili/McCully area has many strange people doing strange things late at night.
Need to be mentally prepared, thinking logically and utilizing equipment rather than hunches.
I got lucky on Foxhunt 2001.
Equipment used:
Yaesu FT-50RD handheld transciever
Icom IC-2710 dual-band mobile transciever
Comet SBB-5NMO dual-band mobile antenna
Silva Starter Type 1-2-3 compass
Maps printed from Topozone.com