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Fort Steilacoom Park
Click for Google Map... that will give driving
directions.
Start point is in the gravel parking lot that is nearest to the lake,
very close to the "A" balloon indicator on the Google map. View the
satellite version of the Google map from the above link. Magnify the image and see the
parking lot closest to the lake. It is white colored gravel in
the image.
| Look for my vehicle. It
will have a tape measure Yagi or some other obvious ARDF ICON on the
windshield. You are there. |
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Regarding
the Hunt:
CQ MAGAZINE... this hunt coincides with CQ
Magazine's set date for the international hidden transmitter hunt -
world wide. So, our little hunt can be considered a 'worldly
event'.
CLICK HERE for the CQ
Mag Blurb.
8 TRANSMITTERS...
Your hosts Alan N7OMS, Chuck AC7QN, and Rich KR7W of the South Wahkiakum
Amateur Radio Club... plan on hiding
8
transmitters:
ONE thru FIVE... Five
transmitters are of the international type: All on the same
frequency with #1 on for 60 seconds and shuts off. Then #2 on for
60 seconds and shuts off. Then #3 on for 60 seconds... and around
the circle. Example: If you are close to XMTR #1... and it
shuts off, you gotta wait 4 minutes for it to start back up.
Tune to 146.430 MHz for XMTRs 1 to 5
FIVE INTERNATIONAL...
The XMTRs are
lower power output (40 mW)
and all of them may not be heard from the start location if you are
using an active attenuator with a Handy Talky.
SIX-SEVEN-EIGHT...
The remaining three XMTRs are the Ammo Can type on separate frequencies.
These transmitters transmit for approx 30 seconds ON... then 35 seconds
OFF.
One of these XMTRs will be an easy one for the beginners.
One
will be of intermediate difficulty for the beginner who just graduated
to the intermediate class because he/she found the easy one.
Tune to: 144.990 MHz 145.780 MHz
147.575 MHz
OF A HIGHER POWER...
The AMMO can XMTRs are higher power (500 mW to 1500 mW) and shoud be
heard with active attenuator hunt equipment from the start
location.
ACTIVE ATTENUATOR... When using a 4 MHz off set attenuator...
Program your HTs to be 4.0 MHz lower than the indicated freq shown above...
EXAMPLES: to receive 144.900, program your HT to 140.990.
145.780 is received on 141.780, 147.575=143.575, and so on...
TRICKERY... The third
AMMO CAN XMTR will involve the use of TRICKERY (as Neil likes to call
it) and hopefully will be challenging to find.
CLICK HERE to
see last years champion of TRICKERY.
POLARIZATION... of the
XMTR Antennas will be
HORIZONTAL.
WHACHA LOOKIN' FOR
MISTER?...
No postage
stamp sized thingys in this hunt.
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FIND THE ICON... that
is attached to the antenna. The transmitter is not always next
to the antenna. The icon will have a secret code of some type
on it and you write it down... as well of the time of day...
on your provided score card.
ICONIC...
All XMTRs will have an icon similar to the foto to
the right. This is what you will be searching for.
On the difficult XMTRS... most of the time you will not be able to see
the icon unless you are right
on top of it. |
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CLICK foto to see the rest of the stuff that goes with this ICON.
Actually... the ICON is hidden pretty well. Once the guy in the
foto faces it... it will be obvious to him. |
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MAPS... Your hosts will provide
two different maps and a DIY cardboard clipboard for your use.
The maps will have north-south meridian lines for the map n compass
hunters who attend.
MORE MAPS... Here's PDF
copies of the maps we will hand out. Print one of each out so you
can begin your winning strategy. The XMTR
frequencies are shown on the maps.
DELORME MAP w/
Meridian Lines
Google Satellite MAP w/ Meridian Lines
EQUIPMENT #1...
The above pdf maps have the frequencies listed incase you
would like to program HTs or Sniffers ahead of time.
EQUIPMENT #2...
So often we have interested folks who want to hunt hidden transmitters
and they bring their Handy Talky and other equipment... but they are
challenged on how to change the frequency of adjust the squelch.
So with this in mind... be sure to bring your equipments
instruction manual... as it is just as
confusing to us as it might be to you.
Also, consider bringing a spare
battery.
EQUIPMENT #3...
I have two sets of Tape Measure Yagi antennas and Active
Attenuators on hand to loan out... but
please bring your own 2 Meter Handy Talkie...
>>Note: most of my loaner equipment uses BNC coax connections to
the Handy Talky antenna jack.
>>Bring the HTs instructions if you are not totally familuar with it.
>>If you are new to Bunny Hunting... you can be paired up with
another newbie to find the XMTR.
HOW DO I WIN?...
The winner is established in a
Double Secret Probation meeting of the SWARC (aka AC7QN, N7OMS, KR7W). We can be bribed.
WHAT DO I WIN?... The
selected winner gets 100 Kb of fame on this website... aka recognition.
Regarding Ft Steilacoom Park:
This is a
big
park... almost 400 acres, and it is all accessible on foot.
If you have not been to the park I suggest you use the Google maps
Satellite view and zoom in. Also, see the fotos from the Sept 2009
Hunt and scroll down to the map for an idea of what I am attempting to
explain... CLICK HERE
for fotos.
THINGS TO DO #1... There
is a fenced Dog Park within the parks
boundaries. Your partner can do the dog thing while you hunt
rabbits. Dogs must be on a leash if not in the dog park and if
around me.
THINGS TO DO #2...There is
also a large children's play area. You can take the kids there
while your partner hunts rabbits. Lots of stuff to do in this
large park.
CLICK HERE for more PARK INFO.
PERSONAL COMFORT #1... If
it rains or is extremely warm and sunny... there is no shelter... so
dress accordingly. There are Sani-Cans located in high use areas
of the park
as well as bushes to hide behind in the low use areas.
CHECK WEATHER REPORT HERE
PERSONAL COMFORT #2...
There is no food, drinks, or water to purchase in the park.
Supermarkets, McDonalds, and Quicky-marts are nearby on the way to the
park. Your transmitter hiders suggest you bring your own survival
kit to manage your own personal comfort.
ACCESSIBILITY... The
gravel parking lot and the path to and around the lake is stroller /
wheelchair friendly as I remember. The parks link
above may have more info regarding this.
REFRESH...
Your transmitter hider hosts will provide bottled water and a limited
amount of low glycemic snacks. There is a small chance we will have
fresh coffee. As mentioned above... take care of
yourself by bringing stuff to meet your needs.
email me with questions: bunnyhunt@kr7w.org
Thanks...Rich kr7w |
