Hiders: Scott N6MI and Jim AF6O


On August 22, 2020, J. Scott Bovitz (N6MI) and Jim Forsyth (AF6O) hid eight transmitters for the Southern California all-day transmitter hunt on 146.565 MHz.

The weather was warm, with a peak reading of 104 degrees on N6MI’s truck thermometer. There was a flash flood watch in San Bernardino County, but few clouds were seen in the hunt area.

Jim hid three transmitters in ammo cans with whips. All three sent “AF6O” in rapid CW and sounded exactly alike to everyone (except Jim).

The main AF6O transmitter that could be heard at the start (by KA6UDZ, on his sniffer) was located in a meadow just below the parking lot at Table Mountain (just west of Wrightwood). This one had a long whip. The signal was very weak in Diamond Bar, at about 10 degrees.

A second AF6O transmitter was hidden near the intersection of “O” Avenue and 240th Street in Lake Los Angeles (near El Mirage dry lake).

A third AF6O transmitter was hidden on a dirt motorcycle path next to Highway 395 just north of Adelanto.

The three AF6O transmitter signals melded into one another on the north side of Highway 138.

I (N6MI) hid five transmitters (on Friday) to round out the hunt. This allowed me to join the hunters at the starting point.

One transmitter was hidden near the intersection of Big Pines Highway and Ball Flat Road. This transmitter ran two watts to a log periodic antenna; it identified “N6MI” in fast code.

A second transmitter was hidden .7 miles down the road from Big Pines Highway to Rollin N Ranch. This is an unmarked dirt road and descends rapidly. This one watt transmitter identified “N6MI T22” and was heard briefly at the start point in Diamond Bar. It could be heard all over the desert.

A 50 milliwatt transmitter (on a rubber duck) was hidden between Highway 2 and Big Pines Highway, on 3N26, near the Boy Scout trail to Jackson Flat Group Campground. This identified with tones and then “N6MI T29.”

Another 50 milliwatt transmitter (also on a rubber duck) was hidden between Highway 2 and Big Pines Highway, on 3N26, about a mile north of T29. This identified at “N6MI T9.”

A final 50 milliwatt transmitter was hidden on 4N56 (the start of Pinon Ridge). This was fed into a three element quad pointing north. The transmitter repeated an “annoying” (N6AIN’s comment) recording about “eight transmitters.”

 

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// KA6UDZ -- 1/2 transmitter //

KA6UDZ was able to hear two transmitters at the start -- the main AF6O transmitter and N6MI T22 -- using his three element yagi on the grassy knoll to the north of the parking lot at Ronald Reagan Park in Diamond Bar. Most hunters took bearings off UDZ’s equipment. About a dozen other ham radio operators were engaged in a picnic/ham radio demonstration in the park; these hams enjoyed watching the t-hunters (using social distancing). While he “had no signal from the start point until the intersection of Highway 138 and Highway 2 junction,” KA6UDZ made it to Table Mountain. KA6UDZ “spent over an hour looking for the AF6O transmitter [on Table Mountain].” He was “within 50 feet of it but never found it. 3 second transmissions were tough.” on Sunday morning, AF6O reported that he could not find his transmitter for about 20 minutes; it was well hidden. KA6UDZ -- zero transmitters found, but .5 transmitters have been awarded because he gave a good starting bearing to everyone else.


// WA6CYY -- DNS/DNF/zero transmitters //

WA6CYY was two hours late to the starting point and went home because there was no longer a signal at the starting point. WA6CYY -- zero transmitters. We were not able to chat on the telephone until later because coverage was limited in the hunt area.

 

// WA6RJN -- zero transmitters //

WA6RJN hunted all day in the desert. He repaired his 50 year old antenna (your grandfather’s axe) twice. At dusk, WA6RJN ordered a pizza with pepperoni, olives, and metal shavings. Then he went home. WA6RJN will be back next month. WA6RJN -- zero transmitters.

 

// KF6GQ -- 1/2 transmitter //

Don is still recovering from a recent operation. But KF6GQ called N6MI during the hunt to show his support for the group. KF6GQ -- .5 transmitters awarded for good sportsmanship.

 

// N6AIN -- one transmitter //

N6AIN drove around the El Mirage transmitter on dirt roads for hours. He found this AF6O transmitter at 4:45 p.m. N6AIN reminded me that he feels about 108 years old and it was really, really hot. N6AIN also complained about the N6MI voice transmitter because it jammed the AF6O transmitters. Nice! N6AIN -- one transmitter.

 

// KI6RXX -- two transmitters //

While Greg did not text me photos of his transmitters, he spoke with me on the cell phone. KI6RXX trounced the regulars by finding two transmitters. Good job! KI6RXX -- two transmitters on his first all day hunt. He is always welcome on our hunts.

 

// K6VCR/K6AUW  -- three transmitters //

The K6VCR/K6AUW team found the three AF6O transmitters, with the last one (Adelanto) in the early evening. This was a hard trifecta. Great job. K6VCR/K6AUW -- three transmitters, and the winner of this hunt.

 

// N6MI -- minus four transmitters //

N6MI found all three AF6O transmitters. But N6MI was forced to get Jim’s help with a bearing on the Adelanto transmitter, so he is subtracting that transmitter.  Since N6MI knew that the main transmitter would be around Table Mountain, he is also subtracting that transmitter. Since no one found any of N6MI’s transmitters, he is subtracting those five transmitters. N6MI -- minus four.

 

73,

N6MI

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