January Foxhunt video

A video documenting a very rainy Muncie January foxhunt is now up!

Foxhunt video 11/30/19

This is a YouTube video of the November 30, 2019 Muncie foxhunt.  It was a great hunt, with slow-scan!  Neat idea.

Fox Hunting Class for Beginners

MAARC will be hosting a presentation on Radio Direction Finding-- Fox Hunting-- at the Maring-Hunt Library this weekend.  The session is aimed at newcomers to the sport and will include hands on field demonstrations for participants on the library grounds, weather permitting.

No equipment or prior experience is required, nor do you need to be a licensed Amateur to participate.  However if you have a 2m HT, bring it along.  All are welcome !


Maring-Hunt is located at 2005 S. High Street in Muncie (map link).  Hope to see you there !

Muncie Fox Hunt Results

Courtesy Peter G. Trimming (CC License)

It was windy and cold, but the fox was found !

We had only two hunters out on Saturday, but it was a successful game and a fun time for all involved.

Participants:

Fox: Ryan N9TIG and family
Hunters: Wayne WD9HPQ, Robert KB7ZGB
Fox Location: Thomas Park, Westside Utility Easement
Total Time: 1 hr, 20 minutes

With only two hunters, Wayne and Robert formed a team and traveled in one car.  Initial bearings from Downtown indicated South with significant reflections.

1st fix: Heekin Park, 12th & Madison.  Stronger signal, bearings indicated SSW with notable multipath reflections.  Hunters decided to eliminate the Southern signal by trying to go past the fox.

2nd fix: Southway Center @ Marsh's Parking lot, 29th & Madison.  Weak signal on 3-Element beam, clear bearing NW.

3rd fix: Maring-Hunt Library Community Garden, 13th & Liberty.  Strong signal and sharp bearing W.

4th fix; Thomas Park @ SE Corner, 15th & Rochester.  Very strong signal, unclear bearings indicating S to W.  Hunters decided to rule out reflections with relative signal strength averages while mobile.

5th fix (Mobile): Compared relative signal strength using two radios, a 1/4 wave mag mount and a duck inside the car.  Course began heading S from (a) 15th & Rochester to (b) 19th & Hoyt, then NE to (c) 12th & Hoyt, then W back to (d) Thomas Park @ NE Corner.  S-Meter readings and signal quality clearly placed the fox in the immediate vicinity of Thomas Park.  Hunters had a clear view of the entire park, fox was nowhere in sight.

6th fix: Previous location at Thomas Park @ SE Corner, 15th & Rochester.  Same ambiguous bearings showing S to W, very strong signal.  S was ruled out with the mobile fix, Hunters proceeded W on 15th St.

FOX FOUND:  Far W side of Thomas Park in the utility easement behind landscape trees.  The chain link fence around the baseball diamond really made this a challenge in close.

Here's an interactive map of the hunt.  Zoom in/out, drag to move, click the icons for more info.

View MAARC Fox Hunt 27Oct12 in a larger map

Muncie Fox Hunt Coming Up This Weekend

Courtesy Peter G. Trimming (CC License)

It's going to be cold windy this weekend...

but that ornery fox needs to be found !

Come join us for a friendly fox hunt this Saturday in Downtown Muncie.  No special skills or equipment is required, everyone is welcome.  If you haven't ever been on a transmitter hunt, don't worry: we'll show you how and help you along the way.

When: 3:00 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012.  Hunt begins at 4:00 pm sharp.

Where: Muncie Children's Museum, South Parking Lot (515 S. High Street, Downtown Muncie)

What to Bring: Aside from proper attire-- it WILL be windy and chilly-- no equipment is required.  We do recommend you bring an HT, and of course any RDF gear/antennas you may have.


New to the game ?  We've got you covered.
Come early and pick up the basics with Robert, KB7ZGB.  We will have a brief orientation for new hunters starting at 3:00 pm covering equipment, basic radio direction finding (RDF) technique and fox hunting strategy with plenty of time for questions.  If you have family and friends who aren't licensed but have interest in Amateur Radio, this is a great opportunity for them to participate and learn.  And to all the scanner enthusiasts out there... remember: tracking a fox only requires a receiver.  You're welcome to join the hunt too !

So how is this going to work...  What's the plan ?
New hunter orientation will start at 3 pm and run for about 30 minutes.  As we approach 4 pm, we'll sort out how many folks we have and figure out cars and teams.  Hunters who aren't attending the orientation should be on-site by 3:45 pm.  If we have enough experienced hunters and car seats, we'll split up into competitive teams.  If not, we'll travel as one unified blob and track that fox down together.  Competition isn't the main objective here... having fun, making sure everyone can actively participate-- and finding the fox !-- is the mission.

Game format and rules:

• Fox will hide within Muncie city limits at a publicly accessible outdoor location with suitable nearby parking
• Fox will remain stationary in his chosen spot with regular voice transmissions every 5 minutes beginning at 4 pm
• Although the fox must stay put, TX power, antenna type/orientation and dispensing clues is at the fox's discretion
• The hunt frequency will be 146.565 MHz Simplex
• Hunters begin from the same point at the Children's Museum parking lot
• The game begins when the fox starts transmitting at 4 pm
• The game ends when all hunters have found the fox OR 6pm, whichever comes first
• Please... Drive Smart - Be Safe - Remain Aware of Your Environment

Let's have some fun this weekend, see you there !