ALL DAY FOX HUNT
Saturday 23 January 1999

On a clear Saturday morning at around 10:00 a small group of hams assembled in the North East corner of the Kmart car park at East Burwood.

Their aim was to track down a hidden VHF transmitter located no more than 75 kilometres away.

After a short delay, caused by the transmitter team getting lost, the first signal was heard at about 10:35.

By 11:00 the hunters were on their way. A very weak signal from the east lead the hunters to a bigger hill in the hope of more signal.

Mark VK3JMD and Ian VK3MZ plan their attack

The fox was being keyed automatically every two minutes for about 20 seconds. This proved to be a very handy feature for the hunters as they knew exactly when to expect a signal.

Over at Mount View, near the police academy, the signal was indeed stronger and a very good bearing was obtained, again from the east.

As this was not a time based event the hunters made their way east getting better and better signals as they approached the Bunyip State Park, a treed hilly area about 65 km east of Melbourne.

This was where the easy stuff finished. Once into the forest area the signals started coming from everywhere. Ian, VK3MZ, reported it was very difficult to get two DF's from the same direction. Mark, VK3JMD, thought the fox might be at Mt Beenak so a visit there was in order but the fox was not there. The directions showed the transmitter was still further east.

The fox antenna

The hunters spent the next 2 hours driving around the forest chasing reflections from one side of the fox to the other without actually going past the fox. Sue, VK3LSL suggested some better quality maps would help the hunters in their quest.

At about 16:00 the hunters had just about had enough. A quick call to the fox and the hunters confirmed they were within about 5 kilometres of the transmitter and they decided to keep searching.

The job was not getting any easier despite getting closer to the transmitter. Ian, VK3MZ, was still getting signals from all over the place and it seamed the hunters were just driving along the forest roads in hope of stumbling across the fox.

At about 16:30 a good bearing was obtained and followed with vigor. At last a good signal from within the forest. The hounds were about to make the kill.

But about 200 metres further along the signal had swung around, back to where they had come from. Mark, VK3JMD, ignored this latest signal and kept heading on the old bearing.

At 16:40 and about 170 kilometres from the start, the hounds found the fox.

The fox was not even hidden. Luke VK3EM, Chris VK3TXA, Simon VK3TUG and Peter VK3ZPF had set up camp at the top of a hill, erected a 10 metre mast with a horizontal dipole perched on top. Running 50 watts had ensured a good signal.

The exact location of the transmitter was at Spion Kopje, Vicroads Map 80 F8.
Australian Map Grid Zone 55, 5802830S, 398500E. Lat: -37° 55' 4" Long: 145° 50' 45".

After exchanging stories of the hunt and a enjoying a cup of tea, the site was packed away and we all headed home.

A great day was had by all participants with the inaugural event being won by a team of Mark VK3JMD, Sue VK3LSL, Jarrod and Ian VK3MZ.

Planning is underway for another all day hunt on Saturday 10th October 1999.

ALL DAY FOX HUNT Saturday 23 January 1999

ALL DAY FOX HUNT
Saturday 23 January 1999