Friday, July 15, 2016

Fox hunt 14JUL2016

The third Fox hunt of the 2016 summer season is behind me.  The hunt starts at 8PM Central time and lasts for 90 minutes.  The two Fox were Brian, K0DTJ, near Half Moon Bay in California and Paul, K4FB, operating from the Polk County EOC (between Orlando and Tampa, FL).

I needed to mow at the XYLs Mom's house (2 + acres) so I was busy for a couple of hours before the hunt and finished at 830PM.  I threw a rope into a tree in her front yard and pulled an EFHW up to about 20 feet.  The other end stretched out in a north/south alignment along the driveway and was hooked via bungee cord to the bed of my truck.

I pulled the K2 out and setup in the bed of the truck to operate.  Here's a picture taken after the hunt was over.
As you can see, it is a working truck.  From this spot, yes standing, I operated. 

I found Brian immediately and bagged my first pelt at 01:54Z (8:54PM local)  Then spent the next 20 minutes looking for Paul.  Finally found him, but he kept rising in and out of the noise, never hearing my call. Ah well.....  9:30PM arrived and the hunt ended.

So hunt #3 is done and I bagged one pelt.  Not too bad for operating pickup portable.  And having fun at the same time!

For information on the QRP Foxhunt, check the web page here.

Hope to see you on the air.

Mike
N5BGZ