Meathead
All Day Transmitter Hunt
On March 23-25, 2012, amateur radio operators N6MI (Scott), KJ6SSU (Karen), and KJ6SSY (Jon) hid nine transmitters on a regular Southern California transmitter hunt.
With the recent spike in gas prices and a major rainstorm on the way, we planned an urban transmitter "start anywhere, start anytime" hunt. The transmitters were clustered between Kagel Canyon (to the northwest) and La Cañada Flintridge (to the southeast). KJ6SSU and KJ6SSY did all the hard work; KJ6SSU made the cookies.
The first transmitter was activated on Friday afternoon; KF6GQ gave a grossly inaccurate bearing on the t-hunter blog.
KAGEL CANYON CLUSTER
One transmitter (N6MI, CW id, 1.5 watts, whip) was hidden near the intersection of Kagel Canyon and Dardon Drive. The transmitter was intermittent and failed. No one checked in, but WA6RJN was close when it died.
A second transmitter ("KJ6SSY voice box," 50 milliwatts in Altoids tin, whip) was hidden in a large bush just west of Kagel Canyon (just north of the Sholom Memorial Park). The teams of WA6RJN and KF6GQ/KD6LAJ teams checked in. The latter duo spotted an arm...coming...out...of...the...ground. We have learned that RJN, GQ, and LAJ provided clues to WB6JPI (e.g. "Use dead reckoning," "It will kill you to find this transmitter," etc.), but JPI did not sign in.
A third transmitter (KF6GQ box, "N6MI T3" CW id, whip, six feet up in a skinny tree) was hidden in an undeveloped field near the intersection of Terra Bella Street & Terra Vista Way. The sign in sheet was missing, but our investigations confirm that this transmitter was found by WA6RJN (Doug, is this correct?), WB6JPI, and KF6GQ/KD6LAJ. The WB6JPI post-hunt report is amusing. ("I lost my bluetooth there. I wear earphones with my broken bluebox and I forgot I had the BT on when I jammed on the phones to find my first T of the day. I should be lying in the shoulder of the road beeping away indicating my phone is 100 miles away.")
OCEAN VIEW CLUSTER
A fourth transmitter (N6MI, CW id, low duty cycle, 23 watts, whip, green ammunition can) was hidden at the top of Ocean View Boulevard in La Cañada Flintridge, California. This road has concrete barriers to control excess water and debris flow from the mountains after the major forest fires of a few years ago. The teams of WA6RJN, N6AIN/N6EKS, KF6GQ/KD6LAJ, WB6HPW/Peter, N6ZHZ, and WB6JPI found this transmitter.
A fifth transmitter (KF6GQ box, "N6MI T3" CW id, whip, four feet up in a tree) was placed at the end of Whiting Woods Road, overlooking the 210 freeway and line of sight from the loud Ocean View transmitter. WA6RJN, N6AIN/N6EKS, and WB6JPI found this transmitter.
A sixth transmitter ("KJ6SSU, cookies" low power voice transmitter) was hidden in a mailbox on Hillhaven Avenue near Tujunga. Cookies were eaten by WA6RJN, N6AIN/N6EKS, KF6GQ/KD6LAJ, WB6HPW/Peter, N6ZHZ, WB6JPI.
A seventh transmitter ("This is N6MI hidden t" voice box, whip) was hidden on the gate at the end of Amidon Place (not far from the cookies transmitter). WA6RJN, N6AIN/N6EKS, KF6GQ/KD6LAJ, WB6HPW/Peter, and N6ZHZ checked in.
An eighth transmitter (KF6GQ box, "N6MI" CW id) was hidden nearby on Sevenhills Drive. However, this transmitter malfunctioned. No one checked in.
A ninth transmitter (Micro-Fox by Byonics, "N6MI" CW id, 15 milliwatt transmitter with a small whip) was hidden up a hill near the Foothill Athletic Club, on Lowell Avenue, in La Crescenta-Montrose. N6AIN/N6EKS was the only team to complete the long sniff, though WA6RJN was in the area.
RESULTS
After a review by the officials, there was a change in the scoring.
WA6RJN is the winner with six transmitters (if he actually found the Terra Bella Street & Terra Vista Way transmitter). WA6RJN hides the August hunt, barring a successful appeal to the full t-hunting board or his confession about finding the Terra-transmitter.
KF6GQ/KD6LAJ (originally thought to be the winners, sorry!) with five transmitters and the best (only) bearing published on the t-hunter blog. Good for a controlled second place.
N6AIN/N6EKS, five transmitters and a bonus (best sniff) for climbing the hill.
WB6JPI, with 4.34 transmitters, including an adjustment (.34 transmitter) for his lost gear.
WB6HPW/Peter, three transmitters.
N6ZHZ, three transmitters and 6 cookies.
Thank you for coming out.
March 24th 2012 Meathead Report
73,
N6MI
KJ6SSU
KJ6SSY
