On Saturday, May 18, dozens of people roamed up, down, and around Paradise Point armed with what resembled an old-time TV antenna for the Transmitter Hunting Clubs On-Foot annual Fox Hunt.
“Fox Hunting is a popular, challenging, and educational activity among amateur radio (Hams) operators,” said event co-organizer Joe Loughlin. “A radio transmitter (Fox) is purposely hidden somewhere, hunted down, or located by using radio direction finding techniques.”
Bill and Pam Hober were among the hunters casually roaming the hills, mounds of grass, and beachfront, all the while listening for thes elusive foxe’s hiding place.
“We found all five transmitters,” said Bill Hober. “It took us about an hour and a half, it was a beautiful day, we took our time and enjoyed the day. A lot of people call us geeks because we’re into electronics, but the people who enjoy this type of activity are creative types who enjoy sharing this experience with like-minded people. There are no prizes for finding the Fox, bragging rights only.”
Pam Hober added, “This is my first time hunting on foot but I’ve been on a couple of car hunts, it’s interesting, but truthfully, I’d rather be shopping.”
The Fox el Hobers were hunting was about three inches by one inch – it sends out a signal picked up by a directional receiver on the antenna, it sends out a frequency using this information allowing the hunter to plot a position on the map leading them to the location of the Fox.
Many of these hunters got their start in Fox Hunting, known as T- Hunting in Ham lingo, with some type of electronic gizmo like a Crystal set, which was popular in the 1940s.
“When I was a little kid we found a Crystal radio in the trash,” said Bill Hober. “My dad was into short-wave radio and knew exactly what we’d found. He got it up and running and I would stay late at night listening to stations all over the world. I wanted to know how they did that. Dad explained how short wave signals would bounce all over the place, especially at night. That’s how I got started.”
“This is an event that Joe Corones and I hold once a year in selected parks in the San Diego region,” said Joe Loughlin. “We are also in the process of making a video explaining the rules of the hunt and what kind of equipment you will need.”
