"Two in a Million"
Both myself and John Wood had set out from Nottingham, wondering just what
an IARU DF hunt would really be like. We had plenty of experience of DF events at club level,
but they were over a 40km diameter area and based on 1:25000 mapping using cars. The only
on foot hunting we had ever done was the last 150m of our 144Mhz club hunts, or our round
the streets 70cms fun pursuits.
The Million:
So it was with feelings of trepidation that I stepped out of the car and got my first proper
view into the large woodland called 'The Million' near Stourbridge.
It consisted mainly of tall pines and calf to knee high ground cover of bracken and brambles.
We were guided to the registration area and were warmly greeted by Bob Titterington, G3ORY.
He talked us through the basics and gave us our paperwork.
I have to admit I was a little taken aback by all the talk of 'orienteering', and phrases like
'running through the undergrowth' but as we both had made up our minds to 'enjoy the day whatever',
these feelings soon subsided.
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Registration completed, we headed back to the car to 'stoke up' with our packed lunches.
We then assembled our DF equipment and checked if we could hear the homing beacon (callsign MO.)
Contact established, we proceeded to the holding pen where we deposited our receivers ready for
the call up of the first group.
As we all assembled a minor glitch with one of the transmitters helped to heighten the tension.
I was in the second group to go and was given final start instructions by Geoffrey G8UKT who also
issued me with my map.
Orienteering map? Wow I had never seen one of these before what have I let myself in for?
I carefully slipped the map into my waterproof sleeve and waited for the off.
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11:45 GO! And we are off. The other hunter in my group set of at a blistering pace.
I had already decided to walk the hunt, having no real idea of just how much area I would have
to cover, or what the limits of my energy reserves were.
As I climbed the sloping track I could hear transmitter 3 weakly to the left, then transmitter
four came on, ahead and much stronger.
Right, time to look at the map, where is it, "50 metres behind on the track that's where".
Bother! I must have dropped it whilst fiddling with the radio.
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First lesson learned, I recovered my map and set off again heading south.
As I reached the level ground I encountered my second problem, radio breakthrough from what appeared
to be emergency services. I could barely hear the fox transmitters when the interference was present.
Even though my shifter/attenuator was double screened the shift 'image' must have been an unfortunate choice, allowing the interference straight into my radio!
Twenty minutes gone, and with all these distractions I have to admit I am not quite sure where I am.
I reach a crossroads but there are three to choose from on the map!
Time to push on and head towards transmitter four, maybe I will pick up a clue as to where I am
after I find my first 'fox'.
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Thirtyfive minutes gone and one 'fox' found, I was a little surprised how far from the path it was
located. Another lesson learned.
I wonder how John is going on, I have seen him a couple of times in the distance, but that's all!
Transmitter five is very strong now so that's my next goal. I've abandoned trying to understand
where I am on the map so it's 'point and go' from now on.
I'm having to retune my radio slightly (to reduce the interference) on each transmitter, so my hands
are full of hardware. Yet for some reason I still cling to the map instead of discarding it!
Ten minutes later and I feel I am 'on top' of 'fox' number five, but every time I get really close, I
lose directivity. A few moments calm reflection and I deduce that it must be 'shining' down from
above. So I follow a track that swings upward and then to the right, tracing a half circle.
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Tall bracken here now, so with exaggerated steps more akin to a Monty Python sketch, I reach my goal.
Card duly stamped I set off down the easier 'access path' in search of transmitter three.
"Fifteen minutes wasted looking for number five!", "don't panic, still got one hour left and I have
already found half of my quarry"
Heartened by this thought I am soon in a large clearing with a frustrating wait for numbers one or
three to come 'on air'. A good time to have a break, and a jolly good drink. Transmitter one is on
first and with 30dB's in circuit it is equal strength in opposite directions! OK let's see what
transmitter three brings. A definite bearing, so it's off I go across the clearing towards a tree
covered rise. I am walking as fast as I can........
"Funny how short these one minute transmissions are getting!"
The good news is that both transmitters now seem in the same direction.
Climbing again and transmitter three has not got much stronger. Transmitter one however is really
strong. I pass by an open area with a hut at one side, is the 'out of bounds' area? better skirt
round it just in case, (told you I was lost!). One is stronger still, yet I am heading on a bearing
for transmitter three.
I am now walking along a wide track and both signals are coming from my right, transmitter three
comes on and it's a rock-crushing signal. As I enter the bracken I catch a glimpse of the marker
tag some twenty metres away. My first lucky break!
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Fourty minutes left, "plenty of time" but then I remember I have to get back to the finish as well
as find transmitter number one! It is so strong though, I must be right on top of it?
I followed the bearing for the next two transmissions and reached a steep bank. On the next
transmission I was sure it was at the top of the bank but if I was wrong I may not have enough time
to register a finish. As it's now 13:26, my time is nearly up so I better head back.
Regretfully, I start back to the Start/Finish point following the Home beacon, and wondered if I
had cut it 'too fine'. The track was wide here and I just hoped it was the track I thought it was.
Cars, yes I could see parked cars, great, and as I came round the bend there was the finish committee
urging me on. I even managed a slight jog to come home inside my two hours. Phew!
The Competitors:
Reflections
I knew it would be tricky having never had to hunt for more than one transmitter before, however I was
fairly confident that it wasn't beyond my capabilities.
Energy levels were a worry, and as I didn't want to run, the fact that other competitors seemed more
Orienteering based, meant I was never going to be first.
Neither of us had any 'feel' for 1:10000 scale hunting, this is something we will have to work at, to
synchronise our brains to the new scale maps.
My radio setup was far from ideal, FT290 with lightened battery load (8 x AA cells I can now report,
will last 2 hours!). And my shifter/attenuator albeit well screened, had a bad choice of offset. So I
must finish my boom mounted system for future events.
Strategically I feel that I had the right idea, I decided to take the transmitters furthest from the
start first. (Psychologically, I would be on my way back all the time, once the first transmitter was
found)
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I imagined I had taken my transmitters in a circle and even without the map I almost had, so that's one
thing that went to plan. If I had been more aware of where I was though, I would have had plenty of time
to find transmitter one and finish within time!
John was using a boom mounted system and bought a new crystal for the event frequency. His system
suffered swamping and he can only put this down to a bad screen since the crystal changing operation.
Consequently he only managed to find one of his three foxes. (Ironically, transmitter one!).
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Overall View.
We both really enjoyed our day, we were impressed with the organisation of the event and how welcome we
were made to feel. The team had put in a great deal of effort and deserve a big round of thanks.
As a complete beginner to IARU ARDF style hunting, I ended up coming fourth in my group (over 50's).
If nothing else, I feel I have demonstrated that even with all the wrong equipment, having no idea where
I was on the map and walking rather than setting off like a marathon runner, it is still possible to field a good result.
I hope this light hearted commentary will serve to dispel some of the myths about International rules
hunting, and spur others to come along and 'have a go'.
Dave Bullock G6UWO.
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