Fort Wayne Radio Club

The November foxhunt, the last one of the year, was held on 5 November, 2017. Three foxhunting teams awaited the start of the contest at Cobin Memorial Park. They consisted of the team of Charles Ward, KC9MUT, Fred Gengnagle, KC9EZP and Tim Hearld, KE8ECF, a visitor from Galesburg Michigan, the team of Steve and Linda Nardin, WA9’s SAN and LAN, and the team of Jim and Annie Pliett, K9OMA and KA9YYI plus Carole and Al Burke, WB9’s RUS and SSE. Jim was trying out a new piece of software he had acquired that depicted our GPS derived current location on a Google Maps type display and allowed him to draw vectors from our current location on the true DF bearings we were getting off the roof mounted quad antenna. The idea was that after a few bearings were taken the crossing point of the bearings would indicate the general location of the fox, i.e., it was quasi automated triangulation.

Their prey was provided by Don Glick, K9LI who was ensconced a little over seven miles from the starting point at Buckner Park off Bass Rd. The weather was very freaky around the start time of the hunt with torrential downpours occurring off and on. (Weather Underground was forecasting ¾ of an inch, just between 1:00 and 2:00 pm, and further significant downpour through the rest of the day)! With all of the rain predicted Don decided to hide the microfox in the trunk of his car rather than put it out in the park thus likely preventing (somewhat) the drenching if not downright drowning of the hunters.

As it was, Don parked his high power equipment under an open-sided pavilion which provided some protection until the rain was driven horizontally by the high winds accompanying the storm. Needless to say he got WET and cheered his pursuers on. His high power fox consisted of a 25 watt radio driving a soggy four element beam situated about seven feet of the ground.

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The November 2017 Issue of the Allen County HamNews newsletter is now available for download using the link below. This and previous issues are also available for download by clicking the “Files” link in the main menu and then clicking “Newsletters.”

The Fort Wayne Radio Club is again offering an incentive prize for those who pay their 2018 club dues prior to and during the Fort Wayne Hamfest.

This year’s incentive is a TYT MD-380 Analog & DMR 70 cm hand-held transceiver. Check your November QST for an in-depth review of this radio. DMR is expanding rapidly and is quickly becoming a major digital mode.

Some points to remember:

1. If you are already paid for 2018, you are automatically entered!
2. Pay your 2018 dues at the Hamfest prior to 1:30 pm on Nov. 19 and you are entered!
3. You need not be present to win.
4. Additional chances can be purchased for $1 each.
5. Drawing for the radio will be at 1:30 pm on Sunday, Nov. 19 at the hamfest.

Send any questions about this opportunity to Steve Nardin, W9SAN@ARRL.NET.

The October 2017 Issue of the Allen County HamNews newsletter is now available for download using the link below. This and previous issues are also available for download by clicking the “Files” link in the main menu and then clicking “Newsletters.”