- This event has passed.
CVRS DF Hunt
20 June @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
This event is being organised By Ewan 2E0HOE.
When:
∙ Thursday 20 June 2024
∙ Briefing at 7:30pm local time, first team will start straight after. The start and end times will be recorded.
Where:
∙ Sydney Arms Pub, Old Perry Street, BR7 6PL (Sidcup/Chislehurst border near Frogpool Manor. Halfway between Chislehurst War Memorial and Queen Mary’s Hospital)
∙ The pub has a car park and garden. Additional on-street parking is available and there is another car park nearby
∙ The recommended entrance for the hunt is almost opposite the pub, leading into Scadbury Park Nature Reserve
∙ The evening is social. Those not competing are welcome to attend… food/drink etc.
Car Park Entry requirements:
∙ Individuals or teams may enter in the same category. Members of a team may not split up ∙ No more than one receiver may be switched on at a time in each team
∙ Only conventional equipment may be used – antenna, attenuator, receiver etc. No doppler DF equipment permitted.
∙ GPS, mapping and magnetic compass equipment are all permitted
Equipment minimums:
∙ A receiver (or transceiver) for 2m FM, (battery operated/portable). A radio with a built in S meter makes things easier but isn’t essential. Choosing a ‘selective’ radio will help. Cheap radios, many Baofeng being an example, will struggle when overloaded by strong adjacent signals. The effectiveness of your equipment’s internal screening/shielding is also important when close to a transmitter
∙ The receiver should be capable of tuning to a Beacon transmitters at 25kHz spacing at the top end of 144MHz. They will periodically identify in CW/Morse with a tone modulated onto an FM carrier – G3RCV . There is no requirement to be able to decode the CW as there will only be one transmitter – ∙
∙ A portable directional antenna. The transmitters are vertical polarisation. 3 element tape measure YAGIs are a popular antenna choice – many designs are published online
∙ Attenuator. Switched/stepped versions work well
∙ Sturdy footwear for woodland paths.
∙ Clothing appropriate for the weather – rain or shine!
∙ Torch (depending on your start time)
∙ A pen/pencil and any other stationery items
What to expect:
∙ Start times will be informal
∙ Start and stop times will be recorded at the pub
∙ There will be one transmitter to be found. it will not be visible from paths, but easier to spot up close, around head height, marked with an A4 laminated sign
∙ A ‘codeword’ should be recorded to prove that you found the transmitter
∙ Your end time will be noted when the last member of your team passes through the door/gate of the pub
Additional info:
∙ If you have hunting equipment to loan, please let me know (contact number below). I have one set to loan
∙ If you are happy to host a DF novice in your team, please let me know (contact number below)
∙ If you’re new to direction finding and you’d like to join an existing team, please let me know (contact number below)
∙ If you would like to borrow equipment, please let me know (contact number below).
∙ Do you like a project?! Why not build a tape-measure Yagi? Maybe even a switched attenuator? Or, if you’re looking to ‘up-your-game’, how about an “offset attenuator”?
All questions to Ewan Kimmins 2E0HOE – mobile: 07397 077757
We are always happy to welcome guests to our twice-monthly CVRS club meetings. If you are planning to attend a club meeting, just drop us a note via the contact form so that we can make sure you find us and have a contact number to call.