FOX-HUNTING, YOU SAY? WHAT'S THAT? excerpt from WB8WFK's web site
Who are all those people with the funny antennas on their cars? They're Amateur Radio operators doing a radio direction finding exercise. The antennas are used to tell what direction a radio signal is coming from. The antennas, plus the other equipment in their vehicles, are used to track down the source of the radio signal. It's all part of a contest called a hidden transmitter hunt or simply a "foxhunt."
WHAT HAPPENS ON A FOX-HUNT ?
Somewhere out there is another Amateur Radio operator with a transmitting setup. He might be in a car, our out in the open in a park, or on a hill, or in a canyon out in the boondocks. Every one of the hunt teams is trying hard to find him by figuring out where his radio signal is coming from. Depending on the rules of the hunt the winner will be either the first to find him or the one that finds him with least mileage. That's why sometimes hunters drive very slowly. and other times they go right at the speed limit.
IT'S JUST FOR FUN,RIGHT?
well, it certainly is a challenging contest, but T-hunting has lots of practical uses. Direction finding equipment is used to locate downed airplanes, boaters in distress, and sources of radio interference. It can also be used to find illegal and unlicensed radio transmitters. T-hunters use contests like this to test their equipment and practice their skills in preparation for more serious searches.
AMATEUR RADIO -- IS THAT LIKE CITIZENS BAND RADIO ?
No . They are totally separate activities. Amateur radio has been around since radio was first invented. Amateur radio operators, sometimes called "ham radio" operators, are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and can use radio equipment to transmit on thousands of frequencies throughout the radio spectrum. Hams cal legally talk all over the world. Citizens band (CB) radio, on the other hand, has only been around for about 30 years. CB requires no license, and is intended to be a short range service. There are only 40 legal CB frequencies.
THIS SOUNDS LIKE FUN HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE?
Anyone of any age can qualify for an amateur radio license with just a little study. There are books and tapes for home study available. there's even a book on transmitter hunting available.