FARSC invitational foxhunt August 22, 2015

Description

The foxhunt featured 12 transmitters, an orienteering flag and punch at every location. The ten minifoxes had a mini-flag which was shown at the starting location practice fox. (see example photo in figure 1 of site for fast mini 1). The other two transmitters are continuous high-power beacons with standard-size flag and punch.

The two beacons could be heard anywhere on the course. One beacon was located at the finish, operating on 3600 kHz, sending MO. The second beacon was located about the middle of the course, on 3550 kHz, sending MOS (for sentre :-).

The remaining 10 Tx, low-power minifoxes, on 3580 kHz, were arranged in two groups of 5. The two groups were spatially separated, so they should not interfere with one another. One group sends MOE, MOI, MOS, MOH, MO5 at 10 wpm morse, taking turns on a one-minute schedule (that is, on for 12 seconds, off for 48 seconds). The other group sends the same 5 IDs with a 14 wpm Morse speed. This arrangement was described as a 'quasi-sprint'--the transmitter timing conforms to the IARU sprint competitions, but the spatial separation (instead of frequency separation) doesn't.

The overall organization for finding was that, from the start, first find the low-speed group, then navigate to the mid-course beacon from where you will hear the second group to find. The map provided shows the start location, the mid-course beacon location, and the finish beacon/finish location. There were no start or finish corridors. The map had 12 punch spaces.

Figure 1 – minifox 1(fast) deployment Figure 2 – mid-course beacon deployment

Results

More Photos

(not too many 'action' shots...photographer was a little slow off the mark)

John at finish station

Keith approaching finish

Keith at finish beacon

Doug at finish beacon