Colchester Multi-Tx Radio Direction Finding 12/06/11
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Fordham Heath
13:30 Operator Roy G4JAC Location Brightlingsea Maxi, 5 Minis and 4 Micros |
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| Having lived within a mile of this site for the
past 30 years it had often been on my list when a DF was coming up.
However, apart from playing the 'water card' on one occasion when I hid
at the creek beyond X I had not used it because the large wooded areas
were private and the small bits that did have access were not big
enough. However, with ten Txs and the dreaded triffids at my
disposal could I challenge the experienced DFers and perhaps offer a
local or two the chance to try DF? In the diagram
Maxi A was placed centrally so that I could use most of the area under
the 1 Km radius rule. The micros were all located close to
the main track so that any beginners could use their cars to
gain access to three starting points where the micros would be audible
(i.e. beginning, middle and end of the track).
Unfortunately the event clashed with a local show and in the
end only one beginner stepped forward, Joe a veteran of one
previous event and, as an octogenarian, life in
general - an example to us all. The weather forecast for the day was for torrential rain possibly during the event - I decided to get on site at 9 am to get things in place and under plastic in case it arrived early. A few station positions were tweaked compared to my original plan as I gained intimate knowledge of the site. J and Y were placed within 5 metres of each other to see if any would rush off after finding one (yes they did!). W was placed within 200m metres of its parent but with the small matter of a lake in the way (oh and a power line that linked the two). H was off the edge of a pile of sand and I spent happy moments erasing my footprints to it and making others to unrewarding places. K and J were a bit obvious being close to footpaths with no access off to the sides but I figured that coupling the earths to the wire fences should increase the challenge. L had the luxury of some serious cover, it really didn't need the power line but I figured their wasn't time to ask the electricity board to move it and since it fed the sewerage works a power cut might have made the smell in the vicinity even worse. Originally Tx I was going to be at the full 1 Km from A but being in a generous mood (and perhaps because there was a shower as I was walking with it) I placed it at a mere 800m. By 12:00 all Txs were in place, time for lunch. 13:00 - the car was used to visit the Micros, switch them on and check that they could all be heard from their parent Minis. 1:30 a nervous check that A, H, I, J, K and L had all fired up at their appointed times - phew yes! I became a bit concerned when checking from H that the power lines were playing havoc with the signal from W but just then Joe showed up (as a beginner he was invited directly to the site). Starting from the corner between H and W he managed to DF Tx W so I decided to leave it where it was. |
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 Meanwhile at Fordham Heath the other side of Colchester ........ |
 ...... it is the serious matter of drawing jokers |
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 Philip was first to arrive at the site closely followed by Ian. |
 Third at the site was Gary. |
 Colin spotted heading for W. |
 Rosie attempting the difficult way into H. |
 Ian approaches from the easier direction |
 Philip running for J but Joe's car is closer ....... |
 ............ yes there is Joe closing in on J, X and Y. |
 Gary approaching Maxi A ...... |
 ........... playing safe banking some tickets early. |
Philip spots
H, note the triffid by his right knee.
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 ....... on the road below Z and K. |
 Ian has also banked some tickets at A and is now heading for L ...... |
 ...... he is
in such a rush that he doesn't notice what is on the water to his
right.
To be successful at DF you must start your children young! |
 I am at a funny age .. I keep dreaming of women leaping out of bushes ...... |
 .......... see it happened again. |
 Larby and
Rosie discover just how much they have in common.
Both have flat batteries and neither can find L! |
 Philip making
quick work of I.
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 Joe approaching A from the West ........ |
 ................... Tim from the East |
 Age before beauty ..... Joe wins on both counts. |
 Colin ready to post his tickets. Ian rings to say he has found all 10 Txs. He is helping Richard to find his lost mobile phone. Good luck guys. |
 Philip posts 9 tickets ... couldn't hear W. ........ |
 ..... you better enlist the help of chief photographer Ray. |
 Ray going for the elusive W ........ getting warm ....... ish. |
 At the pub ... time to study maps and add up those points. |
| Results Well done to Philip and Ian. Ian got all 10 stations but Philip still managed to beat him with higher scores on the 9 that he found. Can any one beat the Cunning Ham? 100% average this season! |
 Yellow - joker Green - wild joker
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| And well done to our beginner Joe, even though he started on site
that is a very good
score. Larby did his bit by making everyone else feel happy - don't forget to charge those batteries before the next event. Richard managed to find 5 stations and a mobile phone. So what happened to Tim???? You know those roumers about him having a girl in every port ... Rowhedge, Wivenhoe, Alresford ..... . Thanks to Ray for videoing the whole thing - the DVD will be on sale 'soon' (perhaps in time for Christmas). And yes, it did rain but by then we were in the pub - RESULT! |
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