Amateur Radio Direction Finding: Foxes, Fitness and Fun in 2010

Written by By ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV

Click here to find out more about the 2010 ARDF USA Championships to be held this May in Ohio and the Wold Championships, scheduled for September in Croatia.

"Geeks in the woods!" That's how Jay Hennigan, WB6RDV, of Goleta, California, describes Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF). Several times a year, Jay gets together with friends for a session of this international Amateur Radio sport -- also called foxtailing and radio-orienteering. California hams (and would-be hams!) arrive from cities as far away as San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Lancaster to these local events.

As they set out, five 2 meter "foxes" are somewhere in the woods, transmitting for one minute each in sequence. Armed with a special ARDF set or just a handheld transceiver with a measuring-tape Yagi and attenuator, they see how fast they can run or walk from the start to each transmitter in optimum order and then back to the start, or perhaps to a separate finish point. To help them navigate, they carry compasses and special orienteering maps, but they aren't allowed to have GPS displays or other high-tech navigation aids.

Standardized ARDF courses provide a good test of equipment performance and hunter skill. It's friendly competition combined with great exercise. It attracts "techies" and "jocks" of all ages, who don't need a ham license to get started. And for some, it leads to medals at national and international competitions.

Similar informal sessions take place regularly during weather-friendly months in other places around the country, including Albuquerque, Boston and Cincinnati. If there are no such opportunities in your area, why not get the ball rolling yourself? Read about the international rules and simple equipment then talk it up at your local radio club. A future championship foxtailer may be sitting there, waiting for your encouragement and support

Read more: Amateur Radio Direction Finding: Foxes, Fitness and Fun in 2010

Public Service: Injured Colorado Skier Uses Amateur Radio to Summon Help

Written by Loyd C. Headrick

Steve Priem, N0YIV, shows off his handheld transceiver before a ski trip this past March. [Rick Casey, Photo]

When  of Boulder, Colorado, decided to go backcountry skiing near Yankee Doodle Lake in the Guinn Mountain area of Colorado's Roosevelt National Forest on Friday, February 19, the 60 year old ham made sure he was well prepared: Not only did he take along a rescue whistle, he made sure his handheld transceiver was fully charged and in his pack.

It's a good thing he did: When Priem was injured while skiing, he used his radio to summon help. According to ARRL Colorado Section Manager Jeff Ryan, K0RM, a ham more than 100 miles away in Colorado Springs answered Priem's call for help and called 911. Priem was able to provide GPS coordinates for his position. Read more here.

Rookie Roundup

Written by Loyd C. Headrick

The ARRL Rookie Roundup is designed to help newly licensed amateurs build their operating skills on HF. It is a contest specifically for those new to Amateur Radio, similar to the ARRL Novice Roundup that ran from 1952 until 1995. The Rookie Roundup brings the fun and Elmering of the old Novice Roundup into the 21st century. Three Rookie Roundups will be held each calendar year: SSB in April, RTTY in August and CW in December.

The Rookie Roundup will be scored 100 percent in real time through the www.getscores.org scoring system. There are three ways to participate: by using your favorite logging software with the real time scoring support, by downloading a simple logging program from the www.getscores.org Web site or by logging your contacts directly into a www.getscores.org Web page. No separate logs are required -- it all happens online in real time and final scores will be available online within hours of the end of the contest! More information is available on all of these options at www.getscores.org. Of course, you can get on the air and make contacts without logging them, but you won't have as much fun!

Who Can Participate?
Any ham licensed for 3 years or less qualifies as a Rookie. If you were licensed in 2008, 2009 or 2010, you can compete in the 2010 Rookie Roundup. Non-Rookies may only work Rookies, while Rookies may work everybody. A major part of the success of this contest will be non-Rookies getting on the air and working the Rookies, just as in the Novice Roundup. Just like in the Novice Roundups of years past (when Novices could work anyone and non-Novices could only work Novices), Rookies may work anyone, be they Rookie or non-Rookie; however, non-Rookies are limited to only working Rookies.

Entry Categories
Single Operator Rookie, limited to a maximum of 100 W. Spotting assistance or using call sign and frequency alerting systems is allowed, but self-spotting or asking somebody to spot you is not. All Rookies must identify themselves as a rookie. Example: "Kilo Bravo One Quebec Alfa Whiskey, Rookie." Non-Rookies only need give their call; no designation is needed.

Awards
Certificates will be available for all participants to download. The top five high scores from each US call area, Canadian province and Mexican call area will be recognized on their certificate. No national winners will be recognized.

Go to www.getscores.org for more information on how to participate. Be sure to check out the April 2010 issue of QST for complete rules and other information. The Rookie Roundup -- a fun event for all amateurs!

W1AW

Written by Loyd C. Headrick

Beginning Monday, March 15, W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, will alternate the digital modes used for its digital bulletin transmissions. While Baudot, PSK31 and MFSK16 still make up the digital mode complement, W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, says that the schedule will be altered to give more exposure to PSK31 and MFSK16. "Because of time constraints and the varying lengths of digital bulletins, there were many instances where only Baudot was used," he said. "With the new schedule, amateurs preferring either PSK31 or MFSK16 will find these modes no longer secondary."

The regular callup will be made using the mode that is transmitted first. The digital bulletin times remain at 6 PM and 9 PM (Eastern Time) daily. The Tuesday and Friday Keplerian data bulletins will continue to be sent using just Baudot and PSK31.

The new digital schedule is as follows:

• Monday: Baudot, PSK31, MFSK16
• Tuesday: PSK31, MFSK16, Baudot
• Wednesday: MFSK16, Baudot, PSK31
• Thursday: Baudot, PSK31, MFSK16
• Friday: PSK31, Baudot, MFSK16

"Given time constraints and bulletin lengths, all three modes may not always be transmitted," Carcia explained. The complete W1AW schedule can be found on page 100 of the January issue of QST, or on the ARRL Web site