The next southern California on-foot radio direction finding session will be in the Travel Town section of Griffith Park on Saturday, February 13, 2016. It is intended for both beginner and intermediate level transmitter hunters. All ages are welcome, so bring the family. A ham radio license and/or knowledge of radio equipment are not requirements. Try your hand at some easy two-meter transmitters set by Joe Moell K0OV plus a 5-fox two-meter international-rules course of beginner-to-moderate difficulty, set by Marvin Johnston KE6HTS. One or more fox transmitters on the 80-meter band may also be set up to try.
The emphasis in this session will be training to help you improve your bearing-taking, map-reading, navigating and course-planning skills. Experts will be on hand to help you. This is the second of three sessions for those preparing to compete in the 2016 USA ARDF Championships in Texas during April.
If you have receivers, scanners, directional antennas, attenuators, or other equipment suitable for on-foot RDF, be sure to bring it. Make sure all batteries are fresh. A limited amount of RDF gear will be available for loan.
For those who want to build RDF gear for use with their own two-meter hand-held radios or scanners, Marvin will have kits for measuring-tape yagis and active attenuators. There will be tools and soldering stations for building. If you're not an electronic technician, don't worry because there will be experts to help you. Send e-mail to Marvin (marvin@west.net) to pre-register and get more information about equipment. The building session will only take place if there are sufficient advance registrations. If you already have equipment and just want to hunt transmitters, you don't need to pre-register.
If it takes place, the building session will start at 9:30 AM. Please be prompt. Beginner transmitters will be on the air at that time. The main 5-fox hunt will start about 10:30 AM. Hunters may start the courses at any time until 1 PM. Courses close at 3 PM.
For the advanced 2-meter course, electronic scoring will be used. If you have an "e-stick," be sure to bring it. A $5 donation is requested for the advanced course to cover expenses related to the use of Los Angeles Orienteering Club's e-punch equipment and maps. The beginner course and the 80-meter transmitter hunt are free of charge and e-punch is not required for them.
Trails are primitive in some areas of the park, so wear sturdy shoes. All ages are welcome, but young children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
This event begins in the Mineral Wells picnic area in the northeast part of Griffith Park, nearby to "Travel Town." Look for signs and an orange-and-white orienteering flag at the starting site.
From the 134 freeway eastbound or westbound, take the Forest Lawn
Drive exit and go south. Turn left into park area on Zoo Drive towards Travel Town. At the entrance to Travel Town, turn right (south) onto Griffith Park Drive and follow it straight past Mt. Hollywood Drive (gated) on right and then a quarry on the left. You will soon see the picnic grounds (starting area) on your right. If you see the driving range, you have gone too far.
From I-5 northbound, exit at "Griffith Park." Turn right (north) on
Crystal Springs Drive and continue past the Ranger station on your right and the large picnic areas on your left. At the stop, turn left on Griffith Park Drive and head past the golf clubhouse and driving range to the Mineral Wells picnic area on your left.
A map to the site is at www.homingin.com. If heavy rain is forecasted, check that site on February 12 for possible cancellation. Call K0OV on 146.52 simplex if you have trouble finding the gathering area within the park.
73, Joe Moell K0OV