Every spring, ham clubs in Orange County organize an outdoor day at Tri-City Park in Placentia where they operate radios, find hidden transmitters and eat lots of good food. The annual "Antennas In The Park" (AITP) event is organized by the Fullerton Radio Club. This year it will be on Saturday, May 14 and FRC will be joined by the Western Amateur Radio Association (WARA) and the Catalina Amateur Repeater Association (CARA). CARA members are providing burgers, hot dogs, and soft drinks. A $5 donation per person is requested if you want to take part in the barbecue.
As usual, this year's AITP brings an opportunity to get involved in on-foot radio-orienteering, also called ARDF. It's in celebration of the fourteenth annual CQ Worldwide Foxhunting Weekend. All ages are welcome, so bring the family. AITP transmitter hunts will be simple, informal and intended primarily for beginners. There will be no charge for participation in the hunts, which will begin around 11 AM and continue until 2 PM. Be sure to bring your two-meter handi-talkie!
If you don't have the antenna/attenuator system for on-foot foxhunting on two meters with your ham radio handi-talkie or scanner, you can easily make one during this session. Beginning at 10 AM, Marvin Johnston KE6HTS will conduct a clinic for building his kits for measuring-tape yagis and for 90 dB offset-type attenuators. An assembled/tested attenuator in a special housing that goes inside the boom of the yagi is also available. If you want one or more kits, please register in advance by sending e-mail to marvin@west.net, so he will have the kits reserved in your name waiting for you.
It takes about an hour to put the antenna and attenuator kits together with tools and soldering irons that will be provided. If you're not an electronic technician, don't worry because there will be plenty of experts to help you. We want you to succeed! Then with your HT and the kitbuilt equipment, you will be all set to hunt.
Besides the transmitter hunts, AITP participants will probably have at least one HF station on the air and will do some radio-controlled sailboating. The traditional Worldwide Foxhunting Weekend cake will be served to participants in the transmitter hunts. A few canopies and tables will be set up, but for eating and sitting around, please bring your own lawn chair.
The main entrance to Tri-City Park is at the corner of North Kraemer Boulevard and East Golden Avenue in Placentia. From the 57 freeway, take the Imperial Highway exit, go east to Kraemer Boulevard, turn right (south), continue to Golden Avenue and turn right into the park. This event will be in the northeast corner (to the right as you enter the park). Look for the FRC banner. Entry and parking are free, but empty spaces near the event site may be difficult to find if the park is crowded, so consider carpooling.
Call K0OV on K6QEH/R, 146.97(-) PL 136.5 for two-meter talk-in.
Questions about the transmitter hunts? Send e-mail to k0ov@homingin.com before May 12.
73, Joe Moell K0OV