Mini All Day
Transmitter Hunt
Hiders: Tom K6VC R and Bruce K6AWU
It was a very nice day with good weather. T-1 was heard weakly at the Pathfinder start point by Scot, KA6UDZ using his handheld 3 element beam. It appears that none of the mobile antennas were in a position to be able to look south.
The hunt started on time and the hunters were off. 6 teams started from Pathfinder and 3 unofficial teams, 2 from San Diego and Paul WB6HPW with his friend N6PL from Poppet Flats. Most seemed to head to Palomar Mountain, a total surprise to the hiders.
T-1 was atop Black Mountain running 25 watts into an omni vertical whip. I was concerned with the condition of the 5 mile dirt road leading to the top so the plan was to have a transmitter at the base of the trail, T-11 (squawk box with 5/8 vertical), with a special instruction telling the hunters they didn't need to go to the top. As it turned out, the VW Vanagon didn't get the message and was found overnighting at the top when I placed T-1 on Saturday morning.
T-1/T-11 was found by everyone except Deryl who uncharistically did not find any of the transmitters on this hunt.
T-2 was a Picon controlled 5 watt transmitter with a vertical omni antenna, found only by the San Diego team of N6SZO/KE6PHB/W6BAF. T-2 became inoperative around 4pm so it did not come into play for scoring the official teams.
T-3 was an AF6O 2 watt box with a vertical omni antenna. It was found by all teams who found anything. It seemed to pose a problem for some... It was strategically positioned next to a metal horse fence that loaded up very nicely.
T-5 was another AF6O 2 watt box with a vertical omni antenna. It was found only by the San Diego team of N6SZO/KE6PHB/W6BAF.
T-0000 was a 5 milliwat squawk box with a rubber duck vertical antenna attached to a metal fence post a couple hundred yards off of the main road on the trail to Black Mountain. It was found by everyone that found anything.
Most teams concluded their hunt by 5:30. RJN and RXX continued to hunt T-3 until 8:30.
Scot KA6UDZ found 4 transmitters with 181.9 miles and is declared the winner!
WA6RJN, WA6CYY, KI6RXX, KF6GQ with KA6TAS, WB6HPW with N6PL found 4 with higher mileage
The unofficial San Diego team of N6SZO/KE6PHB/W6BAF found all transmitters.
Another unofficial team from San Diego, Bill, W6ZM and his lovely wife Robin, KM6OUL found at least 2 transmitters, maybe more.
Deryl, N6AIN had a bad day...
Bruce and I had fun putting on the hunt and really appreciated those hunters that used APRS so that we could enjoy their follies. It was very nice to see Don, KF6GQ and his lovely bride Lynn, KA6TAS out enjoying the perfect weather.
Thanks to all for coming out!
Photos from the November 28th 2020 Mini All Day
It was a very nice day with good weather. T-1 was heard weakly at the Pathfinder start point by Scot, KA6UDZ using his handheld 3 element beam. It appears that none of the mobile antennas were in a position to be able to look south.
The hunt started on time and the hunters were off. 6 teams started from Pathfinder and 3 unofficial teams, 2 from San Diego and Paul WB6HPW with his friend N6PL from Poppet Flats. Most seemed to head to Palomar Mountain, a total surprise to the hiders.
T-1 was atop Black Mountain running 25 watts into an omni vertical whip. I was concerned with the condition of the 5 mile dirt road leading to the top so the plan was to have a transmitter at the base of the trail, T-11 (squawk box with 5/8 vertical), with a special instruction telling the hunters they didn't need to go to the top. As it turned out, the VW Vanagon didn't get the message and was found overnighting at the top when I placed T-1 on Saturday morning.
T-1/T-11 was found by everyone except Deryl who uncharistically did not find any of the transmitters on this hunt.
T-2 was a Picon controlled 5 watt transmitter with a vertical omni antenna, found only by the San Diego team of N6SZO/KE6PHB/W6BAF. T-2 became inoperative around 4pm so it did not come into play for scoring the official teams.
T-3 was an AF6O 2 watt box with a vertical omni antenna. It was found by all teams who found anything. It seemed to pose a problem for some... It was strategically positioned next to a metal horse fence that loaded up very nicely.
T-5 was another AF6O 2 watt box with a vertical omni antenna. It was found only by the San Diego team of N6SZO/KE6PHB/W6BAF.
T-0000 was a 5 milliwat squawk box with a rubber duck vertical antenna attached to a metal fence post a couple hundred yards off of the main road on the trail to Black Mountain. It was found by everyone that found anything.
Most teams concluded their hunt by 5:30. RJN and RXX continued to hunt T-3 until 8:30.
Scot KA6UDZ found 4 transmitters with 181.9 miles and is declared the winner!
WA6RJN, WA6CYY, KI6RXX, KF6GQ with KA6TAS, WB6HPW with N6PL found 4 with higher mileage
The unofficial San Diego team of N6SZO/KE6PHB/W6BAF found all transmitters.
Another unofficial team from San Diego, Bill, W6ZM and his lovely wife Robin, KM6OUL found at least 2 transmitters, maybe more.
Deryl, N6AIN had a bad day...
Bruce and I had fun putting on the hunt and really appreciated those hunters that used APRS so that we could enjoy their follies. It was very nice to see Don, KF6GQ and his lovely bride Lynn, KA6TAS out enjoying the perfect weather.
Thanks to all for coming out!
Photos from the November 28th 2020 Mini All Day
