It was back to beautiful Umstead State
Park at Camp Whispering Pines, on a crisp late-fall afternoon, for this
transmitter hunt. The pines seemed to be whispering "br-r-r-r-r it's cold".
Because of the chilly temperatures, and brisk breeze, an abbreviated course
was used. Three transmitters were placed near control points of the Yellow
orienteering course. Two transmitters were kept at the starting point to
familiarize hunters, and curious visitors, with the transmitters used in
these events.
The hunt, like all of the on-foot transmitter
hunts sponsored by the Backwoods Orienteering Klub (BOK), was similar to
an international-style Amateur Radio Direction Finding competition. However,
the course was short (roughly one mile), and two of the three controls
were located along major trails running through the woods, so little off-trail
hiking was required. No decoys or other distractions were placed on the
course. A transmitter was placed within 10 meters of three of the orange-and-white
control marks on the "Yellow" orienteering course. The transmitters were
the same Alinco DJ-S11 HTs, with Montreal Fox Controllers used during previous
hunts, and they identified with a voice ID.
Hunters were given the choice of using
a "normal" map of the forest, or they could choose a map on which the locations
of the control points were marked. The map with the control points marked
revealed the approximate locations of the transmitters, allowing hunters
to use a map and compass to get close to the transmitters: an excellent
way to learn the orienteering aspect of this sport while becoming familiar
with the radio equipment.
The majority of the Cornejo family braved
the weather conditions to try their first transmitter hunt. David (KG4IVB),
Alli, Luke, and Roger used two tape measure beam antennas to track down
the transmitters in a very respectable 75 minutes. You can read the orienteering
club's description of this event at http://www.treklite.com/bok/news/event-00-12-10.htm.
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