Fox Hunts

What is a Fox Hunt? 

Amateur Radio Direction Finding more commonly known as a Fox Hunt is an activity where amateur radio operators attempt to locate a hidden transmitter or a "fox". A fox hunt is both a competition and a skill building exercise. While the goal maybe the first to find the fox, the skills used are the same you would use to track down sources causing interference in radio communications or locating a lost transmitter.  The ARRL has established rules for ARDF competition at the US level and there are guidelines for ARDFs at the international level. Different ham clubs across the country may establish their own rules to tailor the fox hunt for its club members and goals. Listed below are links to the rules the RARC has established to be used in its club fox hunts as well as the U.S. rules and international guidelines. There are also references to some construction projects useful for fox hunting.

The Next Fox Hunt is: 

• Saturday October 4

• Start time: 10:00a

• End time: 11:30a

• Starting point is expected to be: 

First Baptist Church Rockwall South parking lot

812 S Goliad St, Rockwall, TX

GPS: 32.92232 N, 96.46063 W

• The Fox transmitter frequency: 146.580mhz simplex

We will use the KK5PP repeater on a frequency of 441.525 MHz with a PL tone of 141.3 for check-ins and comms during the hunt. The K5RKW (Fate) repeater at 442.8375 MHz NFM with a PL tone of 162.2will be our backup.  

For those of you who have not done a fox hunt before you don't need a lot of fancy gear to be competitive. Having a directional antenna such as a yagi or quad antenna and a signal attenuater doesn't hurt, but the fox hunt has been won with just a HT and a rubber ducky antenna. At the end of the day it's the operator's radio skills that wins the hunt.

RARC Fox Hunt Rules 

Pictures for RARC Fox Hunts

Construction Projects for Fox Hunting

2 M Antenna Construction

Simple Field Strength Meter

RF Passive Attenuator